Getting to Know.. Kennesaw National Battlefield Park

image courtesy of terra2055

We recently had a chance to head out to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and hit the trails for a hike. The park is actually part of the U.S. National Park Service.  The day was sunny but a little bit chilly. We took the big dog with us to get him a little bit of exercise. I had read from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles that the Burnt Hickory Loop trail was actually the toughest in the book so I was ready for a long hike. The book was correct that it was a tough trail, about 5.5 miles total with a lot of up and down. We came across a lot of serious hikers and day hikers and a good amount of dogs. You can't ask for better views. When you reach the top, you can look out to the east and see the entire city of Atlanta all the way up to Alpharetta and over to Stone Mountain. Looking west and north will give you a view all the way up to the north Georgia mountains. It's a great reward for the steep hike that you just took. You get all of this within about 1 to 1.25 miles. If you continue

The mountain is rich in history. It is where the Atlanta Campaign began on June 19, 1864. It was a bloody battle that lasted about two weeks taking the lives of over 5.300 soldiers. You can see many civil war relics while hiking through the park. The park is well maintained with a very nice visitors center. If you are looking for a quick place to get outdoors, this park is a great idea. It does get crowded so be prepared to see people (and dogs).


Check out the offical site here
If you are interested in the hiking trails GeorgiaTrails.com has a good roundup here