48.8 F
Kennesaw
Thursday, March 28, 2024
spot_img
Georgia Small PlatesNearby Summer Walks

Nearby Summer Walks

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.

Wide hiking path on a former railroad right-of-way
The wide, shaded paths at Noses Creek and Allatoona Battlefield parks are for escaping the heat and keeping social distance during these trying times.

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.

Bridge over a stream
The bridge over Noses Creek is near the midway point of the outbound route. It offers a scenic view and is a perfect landmark for those who want a shorter walk.

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.

Historical markers along a hiking trail
Throughout the Kennesaw Mountain Park, historical markers show troop locations and battle information. Most of the fighting occured north and south of this trail section, thus markers reflect troop encampments.

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.

A family plays near a mountain stream
The terrain at Noses Creek is great for families, without steep elevation changes. We often see families playing near the creek. This time, our grandsons joined in the creek-side adventure.

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.

We often see small herds of deer on the Noses Creek Trail. Accustomed to humans walking through, we’ve been able to capture good pictures, even with a couple of noisy young boys walking with us.

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.

Wooden steps lead up a hillside
For the curious, adventurous and fit, side trails lead to the Union Star Fort on one side of the deep cut, and a gunnery placement on the other.

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.

Past the Deep Cut, the trail follows the shoreline of today’s Allatoona Lake. A side trail leads down to the lake shore and offers panoramic views.

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.

Just off the shoreline, a 40-foot-tall platform provides a nesting spot for ospreys. A joint project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia Power, these platforms have been essential to returning osprey to the area. In the Spring, you can watch the adult birds hunt and return food to the nest for their hatchlings.

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.

Today, the former path the the Western and Atlantic railroad is shaded by surrounding forest and an overhead canopy. That wasn’t how it looked during the battle in October 1864.

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.

Red Top Mountain State Park features several trail choices along the lake shore and through the woods. Look closely and you can find the remains of abandoned homesteads along the trails, or spot the bridge from the closing scene of Ben Afleck’s movie, The Accountant.

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.

US Georgia Kennesaw Mountain sunrise hike
For a difference experience, try a pre-dawn walk up the paved road to the peak of Kennesaw Mountain. On a clear day, you can experience a magical sunrise, then take the wooded patch back down.

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.

Hemlock Falls waterfall with colorful leaves
Hemlock Falls at Cloudland Canyon State Park, GA
DeanLand
DeanLandhttp://ourtravelcafe.com
Inquisitive traveler -- 33 countries, 48 states. Sometimes cyclist, occasional hiker, over-experienced diner. Cajun by birth, Parrothead by choice, Baby Boomer by age, Southerner by the grace of God. Semi-retired career marketeer, with a career serving the foodservice and food retail industries. Sharing experiences is an avocation.

Related Stories

spot_img

From the Menu

Newest

Migrating Hummingbirds Stop, Nest In Georgia on Long Journey

Migrating hummingbirds will reach North Georgia by late March on their way to nesting grounds.

Prime Time for Soaring Ospreys at Lake Allatoona

As early blooms peak through the soil and the first leaves appear on trees,...

Six Reasons We Love Winter Hiking

When the winter solstice passes deep into December, many we know pack up their...

Popular Topics

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Verified by MonsterInsights