A Lakeside Trail Close to Atlanta: Hiking at Red Top Mountain

Review of lakeside running and hiking trails at Lake Allatoona just a short drive North of Metro Atlanta.

Clear blue skies, fair weather and hints of Spring make us crave some hiking time in the woods with our black lab – but unfortunately, schedules don’t always permit a day-long drive up to the Chattahoochee National Forest. We’ve found a few nice trails around the metro area that aren’t too far of a drive from Atlanta – and the Homestead Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona is one of them.

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The trails in Red Top Mountain State Park might not offer the stunning vistas or peaceful serenity of the remote sections of the Appalachian Trail – but the Homestead Trail is within a half hour drive from Atlanta’s perimeter, affords pretty views of Lake Allatoona, and offers a decent hike along a moderate 5.5 mile, well-groomed trail. The trail travels through a mixed pine and deciduous forest in the middle of Red Top Mountain’s peninsula, traveling North towards the lake where it follows the winding lake shore during a 3.5 mile loop.

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The hike begins at the park’s visitor center, centrally located on the peninsula. Look for the trailhead – well marked with a sign – to the left of the front porch of the visitor center. The first portion of the trail, well-blazed with rectangular yellow blazes, travels through a mixed deciduous and evergreen forest over fairly flat terrain as the trail heads North towards the lake shore. At 1 mile, the trial crosses Lodge Road and splits into a loop on the other side of the road. Turn right to follow the loop counter clockwise, enjoying the solitude that the woods offer as the trail departs from the road crossing and the sounds of vehicles on the road become muffled by the terrain.

The trail winds downhill towards the lake and at 1.5 miles, the small stream that’s been following trail right begins to open up into an inlet to the lake. This section of the trail winds continuously along the fingers of the peninsula that extend into the lake. Well-placed benches offer a place to rest and enjoy the scenery of the rocky lake shore and the richly iron-laden soil that gives the lake’s perimeter the stunning red color along its shores.

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Just after passing the 2 mile marker, a chimney - a remnant of one of the homesteads for which this trail is named – is visible standing remotely between the trees.

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Continue hiking the trail through the coniferous forest flanking the lake shore as the trail begins its ascent. Two small peaks are visible as the trail winds towards the West side of the peninsula and the trail continues to ascend.

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As the trail begins to level out and finish the loop portion near the 4 mile marker, the trail will begin to follow Lodge Road towards the road crossing. Turn right at the trail intersection to cross Lodge Road and double back on the 1 mile hike back to the visitor center trailhead and parking area.

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