Panola Mountain PATH Trail to Alexander Lake

Run, walk or bike the five-mile, paved Panola Mountain PATH Foundation trail through Panola Mountain State Park to the shores of the glassy Alexander Lake.

Filled with shady forests, lakes, and immense, exposed granite fields covered in lichen, moss, and wildflowers, Panola Mountain State Park offers amazing adventures just east of Atlanta. Plant life and wildlife thrive on the mountain’s varied terrain and its beautiful, natural ecosystems.

This mountainous area is well-loved by hikers, including the popular hiking trails at Arabia Mountain and guided hikes on the Panola Mountain summit. And its popularity is quickly growing with runners and cyclists, too, thanks to an incredible network of more than thirty miles of paved trails that meander through the parks in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.

The Panola Mountain PATH Trail runs through the mountain’s scenic, granite-covered landscape to the still, reflective water of Alexander Lake. The trail’s rolling elevation catches views of the mountain’s unique natural ecosystems from a long wooden platform, arcs over the marshy shoreline of Alexander Lake on a raised boardwalk, runs a causeway between the Upper and Lower Alexander Lakes, and trails through a historic barn over the course of 5 miles. It’s a run – or fitness walk or bike trail – full of interest and beauty.

The Panola Mountain PATH Trail

The adventure begins at a trailhead near Panola Mountain State Park’s main entrance (view maps and driving directions). The trail follows the contours of a road for the first quarter mile before darting into a cleared forest, dipping elevation to cross two trickling streams at just under a half mile. Pine and hardwood trees tower over the path, and lichen-covered rock outcrops bordered with colorful wildflowers dot the trail’s sides.

The trail reaches a trail junction at 1.15 miles. A left turn here follows an extended-length boardwalk over Panola Mountain’s fragile, lichen and moss-encrusted ecosystems. The boardwalk terminates in a wooden platform that offers excellent views of a huge expanse of exposed granite. The plant life that thrives on these rocky stretches at the park is fragile, rare, and slow-growing, so please stay on the boardwalk and paved trails throughout this run to help preserve the mountain’s natural beauty.

Alexander Lake Loop Trail

Departing the viewing platform, the trail continues its eastbound route in a rolling descent to Alexander Lake. The trail meets a second intersection at 1.85 miles, turning right at the intersection to follow the Alexander Lake Loop Trail counter-clockwise. The trail dives through a forest filled with massive boulders before curving to reach the wooden Alexander Lake boardwalk at 2.2 miles. The boardwalk arcs over a grassy wetland bordering the still, glassy water of Alexander Lake, offering beautiful mid-run views.

The Alexander Lake Trail loops eastward, climbing a small rise above the lake’s shore before turning northwest at 3 miles to cross a small earthen dam. The run crosses the dam, catching glassy lake views from both sides of the trail, and arcs to depart the lake’s shore. The run turns right at a trail intersection at 3.5 miles, following the trail through a large, historic barn.

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Looping back to the trailhead

Exiting the barn, the run takes a right turn at the intersection, retracing its outbound route on the Panola Mountain PATH Trail back to the trailhead. The run continues to climb elevation before cresting at 4 miles. The trail rolls elevation for the remainder of the run, reaching the trailhead at 5.15 miles and completing the adventure.

This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route.