During this year of COVID-19, we’ve been looking to short walks through outdoor areas as a way of breaking up the stay-at-home monotony while getting some needed exercise. That’s proven more challenging as we reach midsummer, when the temperature and humidity meet at 85 and above and the breeze abandons us when it’s needed most.
On days like these, we love ambling along wide shaded paths that keep the bright sun away and allow us room to veer around fellow hikers to maintain proper social distance. This week, we enjoyed two of these near our NW Cobb County, GA, home: The Noses Creek Trail at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park and Allatoona Pass Battlefield.
Before describing the trails, we should warn you that the parking areas at both locations are relatively small. Thus, you may want to avoid weekends and other peak days. And also recognize that Noses Creek requires a $5 parking fee, or the use of a National Park, Federal Lands, or Kennesaw Mountain limited-use pass available for this park.
Noses Creek Trail
This walk offers a few different options depending on your fitness and curiosity. The main trail from Burnt Hickory Road to Dallas Highway is a wide, shell-covered, gradually-sloping 3.0-mile round-trip route shared by hikers and horses. If you’re not in the mood for the full walk route, the trail crosses scenic Noses Creek approximately .75 miles from the Burnt Hickory Parking lot, thus offering a scenic and relatively-easy 1.5 mile walk if your turn around at the bridge.
Like the rest of Kennesaw Mountain park, historic markers identify key areas of the Civil War encampments and fortifications here throughout the spring and early summer of 1864. Most of the actual battle was fought to the North of Burnt Hickory Road near Pigeon Hill, and to the South of Dallas Road, so you won’t see many references to key battle points or actions on this walk.
Our favorite route is walking the main trail from the Burnt Hickory parking area to Dallas Highway, then hiking back on the narrow Hardage Mill Trail. This path through the woods adds some additional elevation change, and requires good balance and greater attention on the exposed roots and water-eroded sections. This trail parallels sections of the Civil War-era earthworks constructed by Confederate troops to defend this entry-way to Atlanta.
Before rejoining the main trail, Hardage Mill Trail drops down to the banks of Noses Creek. We often see families here, allowing the younger ones a few minutes to play in the slow-moving water. It’s easy to walk across the creek in several places, rejoining the north section of Hardage Mill Trail on the opposite bank rather than climbing up to the bridge, then following the trail down again.
If you’re looking for beautiful vistas, overlooks or other scenery, this is not the trail for you. However, we’ve frequently encountered small herds of deer on our visits, and a coyote sprinted across our pathway on the most recent walk. And there’s always something interesting to see looking down at the forest floor, where a variety of colorful mushrooms and insects often peak from beneath leaves, brush and fallen trees.
Allatoona Pass Battlefield
Hidden in the woods along an abandoned railroad right of way, the Allatoona Pass Battlefield park offers an easy walk with a forest canopy providing shade to most of the path.
Tracing the shores of today’s Allatoona Lake, the wide main path is an easy 1.8 mile, out-and-back walk, with only the gradual elevation change of the Civil War-era Western & Atlantic Railroad right-of-way. For the adventurous and those who can handle elevation changes, side trails offer the opportunity to climb the high points and explore former Union gun battery and stronghold locations which contributed to a Federal victory in an attack by Confederates with heavy artillery and superior numbers.
The first half of the main trail passes beneath the elevated positions occupied by the Federals on both sides of the railroad. A star-shaped earthworks fort occupies the hill on the left as you walk outbound, while the hills on the right are home to an elevated artillery battery position. On the hills on both sides, numerous signs explain troop placements and battle conditions. However, the only marker on the main trail is near the entrance, so you may want to stop there to acquaint yourself if you’re interested in the battle history and not just the walk.
Also near the entrance, a small memorial stands to the troops from each state which fought in the battle. While it’s surprising, there is no Georgia memorial as no troops from Georgia were present on the site during the battle.
Just past the hills and about half-way on the outbound walk, a small trail branches off to the right, dropping downward on a penisula into the lake. We usually save this side-trip for the return journey, walking out on the shaded path to the lake’s edge and taking in the panoramic view. Unfortunately, we often find this area littered by uncaring park users. We often pick it up and pack it out, but the potential for COVID transmission by touch has discouraged us from this lately.
Beside the panoramic view, just off the end of the peninsula is 40-foot-tall platform, home to an osprey nest. During late spring and early summer, you’ll often see the mature birds flying over the lake and bringing food to the new hatchlings. In June and July, the baby birds are easy to see as they stretch the heads above the nests calling out for food.
More on the Battle at Allatoona Pass
Many who visit are surprised to learn that unlike nearby battles at Pickett’s Mill and Kennesaw Mountain, this battle did NOT occur as General Sherman steadily marched his army from Chattanooga and through northwest Georgia toward Atlanta from March to July 1864. Rather the Battle of Allatoona Pass occurred three months later, in October 1864, as the Confederates attempted to take the railroad lines and prevent supplies from reaching Sherman’s garrison in Atlanta and his Army marching toward the sea. Historian Brad Butkovich details the battle in his book, “The Battle of Allatoona Pass, part of a Civil War series that also features another of his books on the June 1864 battle at nearby Pickett’s Mill. While I’ve included a link to purchase the book on Amazon, it’s also available in several book stores and historical sites in Acworth and Kennesaw.
For a shorter, faster, overview, you can also use the virtual battlefield tour.
Another bit of surprising history from the relatively-small, late-in-the-war battle: the Christian Hymn, “Hold the Fort for I Am Coming” was inspired by orders given by General Sherman during this battle.
Other Nearby Walks and Trails
We’ve explored and chronicled our walks at several other nearby locations. If you’re looking for walks that range from easy to challenging, check out these:
Red Top Mountain State Park. Red Top offers several trails featuring clear paths, consistent footing, mild elevation changes and some short inclines that will increase your heart rate.
Pickett’s Mill Historic Battlefield Park. Enjoy good hiking and perhaps even learn why Union soldiers and their families were determined to keep the memory of this battle alive even though it was one of the last Union defeats of the war.
Cooper’s Furnace. At Cooper’s Furnace and Allatoona Dam, we explored the Civil War-era ruins, enjoyed an easy hike, and took in the scenery, getting out in nature without the fuss of major planning or a long drive.
KeMo’s Backside. A shapely, well-rounded, and beautiful natural attraction often unseen by those drawn to Kennesaw Mountain’s more recognizable and oft-visited full frontal approach.
Experience Sunrise on Kennesaw Mountain. It’s magical to watch the twinkling transition of the surrounding metropolitan area’s awakening from street and building lights to the early hues of morning sunlight.
Short Drives to Waterfalls
If you have more time and are attracted to the beauty, fury and sound of falling waters, try these:
Short Walks to Tall Waterfalls. After a bit of a drive, you can visit these without over-taxing walks. We highlight the easy trails, but others can up the challenge if you wish.
Cloudland Canyon. There’s nothing near Cloudland, and it takes planning and time to visit. And that’s perfectly OK for nature lovers who dislike hordes of visitors posing for ridiculous selfies instead of pointing their cameras at the spectacular scenery surrounding them.
