Panola Mountain State Park

About Panola Mountain State Park

An unusual Atlanta park has been created to protect Panola Mountain State Park, a 100-acre granite mountain often compared to Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain. Panolas Mountain is minimally developed, but hikers can explore the watershed and granite deposits of the park on their own or take guided hikes up the mountain, which are restricted by park staff.

Panola Mountain has been declared a national natural monument due to its sensitive ecological features. The 1.25-mile trail crosses a small stream that flows into the Piedmont highlands and is the only paved footpath where bicycles are allowed. Pets are not allowed on most trails, not even children, but children are free on some trails and in the parking lot of the park.

The catchment area is described as an area where streams and rivers flow into large bodies of water. The river flows into the South River, which flows into the Oconee and Altamaha, and into the Altamahas, both of which flow towards the Atlantic. It flows through the Piedmont highlands, where it flows from the mountains into a large body of water.

The vegetative cover of the catchment influences the flow rate and the water quality. Along the way, you will see that poor agricultural practices in the past have greatly increased water erosion and silting. Modern resource management has improved the ability to obtain high quality water, but not its quality.

This 2 mile (3.4 km) trail overlooks the rocky foothills of Panola Mountain State Park and its surroundings. Along the way you will see the plants and animals of this unique ecosystem. The path leads through a second pine and oak forest to the edge of a rock outcrop, where you can see the geological forces that created the mountain and the erosional forces that characterize its current appearance. Some have adaptations that allow them to survive on the bare rock face, but not all.

This enchanting and rugged environment is named Panola Mountain State Park and its surroundings by the National Park Service. The hotel is located on the west side of the park, just a few hundred meters from the hiking trail and the parking lot.