Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
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The parking lot at trailhead is limited and always full during weekends. It's about one mile walk includes boardwalk to the entrance of Arabia mountain, there is almost no sign of the trail, just follow your instinct. It says mountain but it's mostly flat. I also liked to walked the blue labeled trail around the lake. In spring you can see diamorpha, or "red moss". These diamorpha are beautiful. They grow even from rocks. In fall, you can see beautiful yellow daisies all over the hills. My favorite moment at the mountain is the sunset, bring your camera, also don't forget headlight for safety.
The 'AREA' in the title Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is spread out over 40,000 L-shaped acres. It begins near Vaughter's Farm and slides on a Southwest angle to Panola Mountain State Park. From Panola Mountain it travels Southeast to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Distance by car from Vaughter's to Panola Mountain is around 7.5 miles. Distance by car from Panola Mountain to Monastery of the Holy Spirit is about 8.75 miles. MAP: http://arabiaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/AMP-Map.pdf SEE 400 MILLION YEARS FROM HERE Arabia Mountain is known as a monadnock, an isolated rock hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape. It is believed to be about 100-million years older than nearby Stone Mountain. These huge exposures of granite tend to only happen when the softer sedimentary rock around it erode over time. They are typically mammoth masses of magma that slowly cooled under the earths surface. This slow formation is what makes them so much harder and dense. Famous monadnocks (aka inselberg's) around the world include: Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyNJ_spwPQ Zuma Rock (Tunisia) Wase Rock (Nigeria) Mont Niénokoué in Taï National Park Mulanje Massif in southern Malawi Jugurtha Tableland (Tunisia) Mount Monadnock (New Hampshire) Shiprock (New Mexico) Chief Mountain (Montana) Rock of Guatapé (Colombia) Murphy's Haystacks (South Australia) Ayers Rock (Australia) Pietra di Bismantova (Italy) Suilven (Scotland) "Hollows" in the mountain surface create a unique ecosystem that support endangered plant species that survive only in these specific conditions. I must make it a point to return early spring when the bright red diamorpha is in bloom. http://arabiaalliance.org/plant-discovery/diamorpha-blooms/ Highlights on the map include: - Vaughter's Farm - Lyon Farm House - Flat Rock Community - Arabia Mountain & Quarry Remains - Panola Mountain - Evans Mill Ruins - The Parker House - Serpentine Bridge - DeCastro Retreat - Horace King Commemorative Covered Bridge - Monastery of the Holy Spirit FLAT ROCK COMMUNITY An African-American man named T. A. Bryant, Sr. owned a homestead at the very eastern edge of metropolitan Atlanta in a community known as flat Rock, a settlement of emancipated slaves. The origins of Flat Rock even predate the founding of DeKalb County in 1822. When the Civil War ended in 1865, it is said may African-Americans from the area headed north for better opportunity, but T. A. Bryant, Sr. felt it was important to keep the community and their common bond with each other in tact. So he bought land, continued farming traditions and the community thrived despite the harshness of the times. After all, the Civil War ended slavery, but not the battle of skin color. Flat Rock's legacy of resilience will be celebrated at the DeKalb History Center with a two-year exhibit opening in just a few days, on February 28th, 2019. FINAL THOUGHTS The best way to take in the area is via bicycle on a self guided tour. There are over 30 miles of trails waiting to be explored. But for those interested in the rich history of the area, a tour of Flat Rock Archives given by President and Co-Founder Johnny Wait would be richly rewarding. https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/330710 The view from Arabia Mountain was very nice, and kinda felt like you were on some sort of meteor with all the craters in the surface. However, the overlook trail behind the Panola Mountain Ranger Station is a waste of time if you want a true "view" of the mountain. Ride the trails instead and be sure to find your way to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The stain glass windows make for a spectacular kaleidoscope of colors on the pristine white interior walls. ENJOY! 2019/29
Of all my years living in Atlanta (I'm a native ATLien) I had never been to Arabia Mountain before. Even after The Black Lips named an album after this spot, still it has taken me all of these years to go explore Arabia. I will say that I live closer to Sweetwater Creek State Park and go there A LOT, so maybe I have some bias towards it and the wonderful state parks of GA (and their amenities). Let's start with what you'll struggle most with, parking. There are several lots to pull off and park on Klondike and you should be aware that Arabia is not the only park or pathway in this area. There are several parks, including Panola Mountain State Park, that all interconnect in different places, and each has their own parking. So do use a hiking app or make sure you get the exact location of which trail you want to take. The parking lot at the trail you take up to the top of Arabia is very small and cramped. Once you pull in, if there aren't spaces available you'll have to back out of the lot as there isn't enough room to turn around. People often pull over on the road or at the entrance which can block your eyesight as you're pulling out of the lot. I was not a fan at all of the parking situation. Again, this may be because I'm used to the amenities of our great state parks. The trail isn't blazed a color but instead there are stacks of rock columns that are about waist high that guide you up the mountain. Luckily there were a lot of people the day I went so it was pretty easy to pickup that the rock stacks were our guides. The walk up is a little over half a mile. It's similar to hiking up Stone Mountain but without the super steep incline at the end...but you are still going up a (small) mountain. I'm used to doing at least 2 miles out at Sweetwater so I thought it was a rather short and easy hike. It is a completely different landscape and looks almost otherworldly. There is a lot of unique plant life on the mountain that you don't see elsewhere. But with this plant life comes caution, do not step on the plants or in any of the puddles where the unique lichens grow. There are certain times of the year when you can go and see the lichen bloom. I saw some of the small red flowers on some lichen and I'm sure it's beautiful to see swatches of red patches all over the mountain. Once you get to the top there is a spectacular view. I was there until about an hour before sunset and I could tell that it would be a great spot to catch a sunset - but be sure you have a flashlight or headlamp to help get you down. Just like most parks it does close at sunset so be ready to take a quick hike back down. There was some information at the start of the trail about the plant life and how the parks and trails in the area all connect. I'm sure I'll go back to Arabia, and next time I'll probably check out the Mountain View Trail that goes through a forest and around a lake where you can look up at the Mountain.
Nice clean running trail. I prefer to park at Stonecrest Library. Lots of parking available at different sections based on the kind of activity you crave. I prefer jogging at a decline to warm up personally and when on a long run I don't like running in circles so I choose Arabia for those . I've seen deer in the middle of the day and several snakes so pay attention where you step.
One of favorite photo shoot locations! I've done about five shoots here over the past year and get stunning photos every time. This place is HUGE. There's a ton of different colors and backdrops to shoot on. Most of what I have shot here has been swimwear or boudoir. The park is usually secluded enough of weekdays that my models and I may run into one or two other hikers walking around. There's parking to the left of the entrance onto the mountain and parking towards the actual heritage building. There's a porta-potty typed of thing in the parking lot as well if you need to go! If you walk to the top of the mountain, there's a beautiful view! It's quite windy up there too :)
Endless sights and miles of trails. The parking can be difficult during peak times but we found a place after doing a loop around. The hike was quite enjoyable, though we wish we would have packed a picnic. Definitely a great hike for the family and a day full of exploring!
I absolutely loved this trail! I visited vary early on a Saturday so I was able to find parking easily in the main lot. There's lots of trails but the main trail has markers so you know where you are going. The incline is not so bad so if you are looking for a light incline and not so strenuous hike. Since it had not rained in awhile there were no pools which was sad but I will be back to see those. The view is incredible especially if you go when the sun is rising! I ventured off the trail and found a nice peaceful lake. The crowds started to roll in towards early afternoon and there were several people doing photo shoots as a heads up. Don't forget to be mindful of the plants and vegetation growing!
Such a fun place to explore!!! Couldn't have been happier wandering around with my best friend and her pup. So many paths to choose and you meet tons of cool people. I brought my Canon and it was a dream shoot.
My friends and I met up at 8:00 am on Sunday for the weekly walk with a naturalist. We went on a 4 mile hike with 3 rangers. Each ranger was so welcoming, knowledgeable, and answered all our questions. One ranger was so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna in and around the mountain. One ranger was a bird expert and shared their binoculars with us and showed us how to use a bird call app to figure out how to identify all the fowl we saw. The other ranger told us lots of stories of the history of the park. It was a great experience and I highly recommend you try it. read more
2 years ago
2nd time at this park in over 10yrs. Out running errands and this park is within minutes of my destination. There's parking less than a half mile of the main entrance the only thing about that is you have to get there early . Parking lot holds maybe 25 vehicles. When I pulled in there were 6 cars. I entered the trail on the south entrance. I saw no one ! I was looking around and behind me to make sure it was okay as I was alone. I finally came up behind 2 guys that were walking up ahead. I had been out there maybe 20 min. Saw a large Buck (deer) tried to get a pic but he ran when I pulled out the phone . The trails are completely paved with several wooden bridges along the way. Off pavement trails throughout the park. I did not venture off bc again I was alone and I'm not really familiar with the park. Great park to get you in top tier shape. Winding curves and elevation along the trail. Plenty of shade as the trees hover over . It reminds you of Stone Mountain Park just not as large. Idea weather 80 degrees low humidity. Managed to get in 4 miles. I most definitely will be back . read more
This place is a hidden gem! I usually don't review parks, trails, or tourist spots, but Arabia Mountain is worth a mention. It's smaller in size than Kennesaw Mountain or Stone Mountain, but the hike is so much easier with a lot more variety to see. The craters and plant species are so beautiful to look at even in the dead of November. With it raining the day before, the small puddles atop and along the path made the rocks gleam with such vibrant colors. It just looked really pretty in the sun light. And those mosses and cactus... Yes, I said cactus. Like I said, this place has a variety to see. Aside from the mountain itself, there were various trails in the area. The primary paths were paved with a wooden bridge at some parts. You could even take one of the trails to Stonecrest Mall; it was only a mere ~3 miles. Lol. Biking is much easier to endure some of the windy paths, slight incline, and alternating sunny and shady parts. This place isn't lacking any trails as they're numbered with a description. Take either the north or south option. We spent a good 3 hours or so there biking around and looking for geo caches. If you know what these are, the gentleman at the office said there were around 90 in the area. They were large and water proof with goodies. Arabia Mountain, I shall see you again. read more
The parking lot at trailhead is limited and always full during weekends. It's about one mile walk includes boardwalk to the entrance of Arabia mountain, there is almost no sign of the trail, just follow your instinct. It says mountain but it's mostly flat. I also liked to walked the blue labeled trail around the lake. In spring you can see diamorpha, or "red moss". These diamorpha are beautiful. They grow even from rocks. In fall, you can see beautiful yellow daisies all over the hills. My favorite moment at the mountain is the sunset, bring your camera, also don't forget headlight for safety. read more
3 years ago
Great park to get your workout and also enjoy nature. Nice view from the top and there is also a bike trail below. read more
8 years ago
The 'AREA' in the title Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is spread out over 40,000 L-shaped acres. It begins near Vaughter's Farm and slides on a Southwest angle to Panola Mountain State Park. From Panola Mountain it travels Southeast to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Distance by car from Vaughter's to Panola Mountain is around 7.5 miles. Distance by car from Panola Mountain to Monastery of the Holy Spirit is about 8.75 miles. MAP: http://arabiaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/AMP-Map.pdf SEE 400 MILLION YEARS FROM HERE Arabia Mountain is known as a monadnock, an isolated rock hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape. It is believed to be about 100-million years older than nearby Stone Mountain. These huge exposures of granite tend to only happen when the softer sedimentary rock around it erode over time. They are typically mammoth masses of magma that slowly cooled under the earths surface. This slow formation is what makes them so much harder and dense. Famous monadnocks (aka inselberg's) around the world include: Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyNJ_spwPQ Zuma Rock (Tunisia) Wase Rock (Nigeria) Mont Niénokoué in Taï National Park Mulanje Massif in southern Malawi Jugurtha Tableland (Tunisia) Mount Monadnock (New Hampshire) Shiprock (New Mexico) Chief Mountain (Montana) Rock of Guatapé (Colombia) Murphy's Haystacks (South Australia) Ayers Rock (Australia) Pietra di Bismantova (Italy) Suilven (Scotland) "Hollows" in the mountain surface create a unique ecosystem that support endangered plant species that survive only in these specific conditions. I must make it a point to return early spring when the bright red diamorpha is in bloom. http://arabiaalliance.org/plant-discovery/diamorpha-blooms/ Highlights on the map include: - Vaughter's Farm - Lyon Farm House - Flat Rock Community - Arabia Mountain & Quarry Remains - Panola Mountain - Evans Mill Ruins - The Parker House - Serpentine Bridge - DeCastro Retreat - Horace King Commemorative Covered Bridge - Monastery of the Holy Spirit FLAT ROCK COMMUNITY An African-American man named T. A. Bryant, Sr. owned a homestead at the very eastern edge of metropolitan Atlanta in a community known as flat Rock, a settlement of emancipated slaves. The origins of Flat Rock even predate the founding of DeKalb County in 1822. When the Civil War ended in 1865, it is said may African-Americans from the area headed north for better opportunity, but T. A. Bryant, Sr. felt it was important to keep the community and their common bond with each other in tact. So he bought land, continued farming traditions and the community thrived despite the harshness of the times. After all, the Civil War ended slavery, but not the battle of skin color. Flat Rock's legacy of resilience will be celebrated at the DeKalb History Center with a two-year exhibit opening in just a few days, on February 28th, 2019. FINAL THOUGHTS The best way to take in the area is via bicycle on a self guided tour. There are over 30 miles of trails waiting to be explored. But for those interested in the rich history of the area, a tour of Flat Rock Archives given by President and Co-Founder Johnny Wait would be richly rewarding. https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/330710 The view from Arabia Mountain was very nice, and kinda felt like you were on some sort of meteor with all the craters in the surface. However, the overlook trail behind the Panola Mountain Ranger Station is a waste of time if you want a true "view" of the mountain. Ride the trails instead and be sure to find your way to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The stain glass windows make for a spectacular kaleidoscope of colors on the pristine white interior walls. ENJOY! 2019/29 read more
Of all my years living in Atlanta (I'm a native ATLien) I had never been to Arabia Mountain before. Even after The Black Lips named an album after this spot, still it has taken me all of these years to go explore Arabia. I will say that I live closer to Sweetwater Creek State Park and go there A LOT, so maybe I have some bias towards it and the wonderful state parks of GA (and their amenities). Let's start with what you'll struggle most with, parking. There are several lots to pull off and park on Klondike and you should be aware that Arabia is not the only park or pathway in this area. There are several parks, including Panola Mountain State Park, that all interconnect in different places, and each has their own parking. So do use a hiking app or make sure you get the exact location of which trail you want to take. The parking lot at the trail you take up to the top of Arabia is very small and cramped. Once you pull in, if there aren't spaces available you'll have to back out of the lot as there isn't enough room to turn around. People often pull over on the road or at the entrance which can block your eyesight as you're pulling out of the lot. I was not a fan at all of the parking situation. Again, this may be because I'm used to the amenities of our great state parks. The trail isn't blazed a color but instead there are stacks of rock columns that are about waist high that guide you up the mountain. Luckily there were a lot of people the day I went so it was pretty easy to pickup that the rock stacks were our guides. The walk up is a little over half a mile. It's similar to hiking up Stone Mountain but without the super steep incline at the end...but you are still going up a (small) mountain. I'm used to doing at least 2 miles out at Sweetwater so I thought it was a rather short and easy hike. It is a completely different landscape and looks almost otherworldly. There is a lot of unique plant life on the mountain that you don't see elsewhere. But with this plant life comes caution, do not step on the plants or in any of the puddles where the unique lichens grow. There are certain times of the year when you can go and see the lichen bloom. I saw some of the small red flowers on some lichen and I'm sure it's beautiful to see swatches of red patches all over the mountain. Once you get to the top there is a spectacular view. I was there until about an hour before sunset and I could tell that it would be a great spot to catch a sunset - but be sure you have a flashlight or headlamp to help get you down. Just like most parks it does close at sunset so be ready to take a quick hike back down. There was some information at the start of the trail about the plant life and how the parks and trails in the area all connect. I'm sure I'll go back to Arabia, and next time I'll probably check out the Mountain View Trail that goes through a forest and around a lake where you can look up at the Mountain. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
Nice clean running trail. I prefer to park at Stonecrest Library. Lots of parking available at different sections based on the kind of activity you crave. I prefer jogging at a decline to warm up personally and when on a long run I don't like running in circles so I choose Arabia for those . I've seen deer in the middle of the day and several snakes so pay attention where you step. read more
11 years ago
One of favorite photo shoot locations! I've done about five shoots here over the past year and get stunning photos every time. This place is HUGE. There's a ton of different colors and backdrops to shoot on. Most of what I have shot here has been swimwear or boudoir. The park is usually secluded enough of weekdays that my models and I may run into one or two other hikers walking around. There's parking to the left of the entrance onto the mountain and parking towards the actual heritage building. There's a porta-potty typed of thing in the parking lot as well if you need to go! If you walk to the top of the mountain, there's a beautiful view! It's quite windy up there too :) read more
9 years ago
Endless sights and miles of trails. The parking can be difficult during peak times but we found a place after doing a loop around. The hike was quite enjoyable, though we wish we would have packed a picnic. Definitely a great hike for the family and a day full of exploring! read more
9 years ago
I absolutely loved this trail! I visited vary early on a Saturday so I was able to find parking easily in the main lot. There's lots of trails but the main trail has markers so you know where you are going. The incline is not so bad so if you are looking for a light incline and not so strenuous hike. Since it had not rained in awhile there were no pools which was sad but I will be back to see those. The view is incredible especially if you go when the sun is rising! I ventured off the trail and found a nice peaceful lake. The crowds started to roll in towards early afternoon and there were several people doing photo shoots as a heads up. Don't forget to be mindful of the plants and vegetation growing! read more
13 years ago
12 years ago
Such a fun place to explore!!! Couldn't have been happier wandering around with my best friend and her pup. So many paths to choose and you meet tons of cool people. I brought my Canon and it was a dream shoot. read more
12 years ago
Fun trail for the family to take if you go through the mountain route, jus bring comfortable shoes and some water. read more
More info about Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
3350 Klondike Rd
Stonecrest, GA 30038
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(404) 998-8384
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http://www.arabiaalliance.org
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4 years ago
