Red Top Mountain Trails |

Dec
26
2008

Visitor’s Center Loop Trail - Hiking Red Top Mountain

Length: 0.75 mile Loop

Difficulty: Easy

The Visitor’s Center Loop Trail on Red Top Mountain is a very brief hiking trail that begins at the same trail head of the Sweetgum Lodge Loop. Both trail heads begin in the parking area near the Visitor’s Center. The hike follows along the Sweetgum Trail until it forks to the right after a few hundred yards. The trail is marked with green blazes.

After forking right onto the loop, hikers will find a wooden overlook, and some rock steps that lead down to a small spring. During the drought, this spring appeared to be nearly dry.

Dry Spring Bed

The Visitor’s Center Loop Trail on Red Top Mountain then continues into a small valley and dense forest. The trail also has a few boulders scattered around.

The trail ends back in the parking area near the Visitor’s Center of Red Top Mountain State Park.

Notes: Overall, I must state that this hike is not the first one that I would recommend on Red Top Mountain. There are limited views, and the best feature (the spring) will likely be dry for a while. Check out the nearby Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trails for similar forest views, but with the added benefit of seeing Allatoona Lake.

Nearby Trails:

Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trail-3.5 mile loop

Homestead Trail - 5.5 mile loop

Iron Hill Bike Trail - 3.9 mile loop

Lake Trail - 0.75 Mile loop

Directions to Red Top Mountain:

From Atlanta:

1. Take I-75 North past Allatoona Lake to exit # 285

2. Turn Right and follow the signs into the Park. The visitors center and parking lot is on the main entrance road.

Nov
19
2008

Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trail - Red Top Mountain, Georgia

Length: 3.5 mile loop

Difficulty: Easy to Very Easy - Follow the Red Blaze

The Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trail is a trail that begins at the parking lot near the Red Top Mountain Visitor’s Center, and continues in a loop from the Visitor’s Center to the Red Top Mountain Lodge, camping area, and back to the Visitor’s Center.

The trail takes hikers through the forest of Red Top Mountain with minimal elevation changes. The hike is an extremely easy, but pleasant hike for those short on time, but wanting to take a brisk walk through the woods.The hike also provides a brief walk near the shores of Allatoona Lake, although, its current level of water is somewhat low due to the Georgia drought.

Notes:

There may be some confusion in the area where the trail reaches the lodge. The trail DOES NOT continue to right (that is Lakeside Trail). The trail continues on the other side of the Lodge parking lot.

Cross this parking lot, trail continues on other side

After the parking lot, follow the sign back into the trail, but be sure to notice where the white tail diverges to the right, and the Sweet Gum Continues to the left and then crosses over lodge road. This turn is marked by a double red blaze.