Hiking Near Atlanta: Where to Get Out in Nature When Traveling in Georgia With Kids

There’s so much to see and do in the city of Atlanta, but sometimes you just want to get away from it all and get back to nature. If you’re looking for places to go hiking near Atlanta or need family-friendly trails, the following options are great place to start. 

Hiking Near Atlanta With Kids: What We Like To Pack

 

 

Now that you know what to bring when hiking near Atlanta, take a look at the following kid-friendly hikes to see if they pique your interest the next time you visit the Atlanta area. 

Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve Mountain View Trail

Starting off with an easy trail, this one may not be very well known, but is actually a beautiful hike you must consider taking when you’re here. The Mountain View Trail Loop is approximately 2.5 miles long and generally takes bout an hour to complete; it’s ideal for both hiking and running. 

 

The path takes you through a stretch of granite, a pristine lake, and a lush green forest, taking you right to the junction of the mountain top trail, which is just 0.2 miles up that takes you right to the summit! If your kids enjoy learning in the great outdoors, consider having them work toward their Junior Ranger Badge while you’re there.

Pine Mountain Trail to Cascade Falls

Consider taking the family hiking at FDR State Park. The Pine Mountain Trail is Georgia’s longest hiking trail and offers dazzling views of Allatoona Lake when you reach the summit. Pine Mountain Trail is considered some of the best hiking near Atlanta in that it winds through coniferous forest, across a stream, and offers gorgeous views. At just under forty miles from midtown, the Pine Mountain Trail hike is the perfect day trip from Atlanta.

If hiking with kids, you’ll of course likely not opt to do the entire pine mountain trail, but there are plenty of loop trails and walking paths that are kid-friendly and will keep your entire crew busy. 

The hike through the serene forest can be a blissful experience, and along your way, you’ll also cross bridges, misty waterfalls, jaw-dropping valleys, and a canopy of lush green trees across the forests.  

Sweetwater Creek State Park Trail 

Sweetwater Creek State Park offers plenty of options for family hiking near Atlanta. In fact, it’s located just 15 miles from the city’s epicenter. 

Sweetwater Creek State Park offers nine trails for hiking enthusiasts to choose from, but the Sweetwater Creek Red Trail is the best choice when it comes to family hiking trails.

Here, you’ll also find the New Manchester Mill Ruins where you can take in some of the most gorgeous views of the creek filled with white waters. 

Georgia’s Blood Mountain Trail – Hiking Near Atlanta in the Chattahoochee National Forest

If you are planning on hiking near Atlanta with teens or high schoolers, don’t miss out on your chance to trek the Blood Mountain Hiking Trail in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The trail is 4.3 miles, so you know your kids best if you’re considering hiking this trail with younger children.

Note: My thought on longer hikes is that if a younger child can walk Walt Disney World, provided they’ve got water and snacks on a hiking trail, plus adequate time for rest, then chances are pretty good they’d be able to handle a longer hike than you’d initially think. Again though, you know your kids best.

Blood Mountain – Georgia’s tallest peak on the Appalachian trail – provides sweeping views and countless options for a variety of fitness levels. Blood Mountain is an intense hike, but definitely doable for families with experienced hikers.

At the top of the mountain, be sure to stop for an obligatory selfie at Picnic Rock. 

Dicks Creek Falls 

Dicks Creek Falls is located on the Bartam Trail in North Georgia. Just 30 minutes from Helen Georgia, the hike is 1.5 miles round trip. Shady hardwood trees keep the path out of direct sunlight and the reward for this family-friendly hiking trail is a stunning 60-foot cascading waterfall.

Our Favorite Family-Friendly Spot for Hiking Near Atlanta: Anna Ruby Falls 

And this leads me to our favorite spot for hiking near Atlanta. Anna Ruby Falls is located on Tray Mountain near Unicoi State Park. It is the perfect day trip if you’re spending time in Helen, GA. Visitors can reach the twin falls by way of an easy trail that is a fun, family-friendly paved hike.   

 

Adjacent to the parking lot for Anna Ruby Falls is the Lion’s Eye Trail which was designed for visually impaired and blind visitors.

Th

The Lion’s Eye Trail is fully accessible and includes a paved walkway as well as a hand rail that guides visitors along the trail to the bank of Smith Creek.

There’s an adjacent picnic area in the parking lot across from Smith Creek – you’ll cross a bridge to get to it – and the picnic tables are fully wheelchair accessible. 

 

The Lion’s Eye trail offers a multi-sensory journey along Smith Creek with Braille signage along the trail interpreting the various smells, sounds, and textures visitors may encounter. 

Across the parking lot on the other side of the visitor’s center – which is complete with restrooms, a gift shop, and vending machines – is the paved trail to Anna Ruby Falls; twin waterfalls in which Curtis Creek and York Creek fall parallel to one another. 

While this path is paved, there are stairs leading up to the falls viewing area, and the path itself can be bumpy and uneven in spots. Both Curtis Creek and York Creek traverse through parts of Georgia and Florida out to the Gulf.

John H. Nichols – who owned much of the area around the waterfall – was a captain in the Navy during the Civil War named the falls for his daughter, Anna Ruby Nichols. Nichols’s former home, The Hardman Farm State Historic Site, is a popular tourist attraction in nearby Helen, GA.