Kennesaw Mountain.

I’m in Atlanta for business regularly and am often looking for a quick hike that I can make either before or after work. Stumbled upon Kennesaw Mountain when driving through Marietta and have since been back a few times to make the 5.4 mile round trip hike up and down Big and Little Kennesaw mountains.

It’s a bit of burner since the uphill climb is relatively steep and takes place within the first mile or so. You get rewarded with great views of Atlanta and plenty of Civil War history. In fact, the mountains are part of a large national battlefield which was the site of a famous battle. During the hike, you’ll pass cannons, rifle pits and artillery embankments. Some wildlife, including deer and hawks are often seen.

Once you climb both mountains, you’ll make a slow descent back down and through the park as you loop back to the parking area and visitor center. See the following trip report for directions and specifics. The battlefield offers a total of 17 miles of trails — many of which are good for trail running. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area and want to get some exercise outdoors.