Photo: Keizers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You do not have to leave Atlanta to find a river, a waterfall or a mountain view. The Chattahoochee runs through the northwest side of the metro, two granite domes rise east of the city, and paved trails link parks from Midtown to the Alabama line. These are the best outdoor things to do in Atlanta, all within about 35 minutes of downtown, with fees, trail lengths and what to know before you go. We checked them on October 21, 2026.
- Closest river hikeEast Palisades on the Chattahoochee, about 25 minutes from downtown; $5 parking
- Best viewKennesaw Mountain or the top of Stone Mountain, both with skyline views
- Best bike rideThe Silver Comet Trail, 61.5 paved miles from Smyrna to the Alabama line
- Free picksThe BeltLine, Piedmont Park, Arabia Mountain and Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
Hike and Paddle the Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area protects 16 park units along the river from Lake Lanier into Atlanta, with about 50 miles of hiking trails. Parking is $5 a day or $40 a year, paid online at Recreation.gov or by the QR code in each lot; there is no cash.
1. East Palisades
The best short hike in the city: a rolling trail through a bamboo grove to an overlook high above the river’s rapids. About 25 minutes from downtown.
2. Cochran Shoals
A flat 3-mile gravel loop beside the river and a wetland boardwalk, popular with runners, dog walkers and bikes. About 20 minutes from downtown.
3. Vickery Creek and the Roswell Mill
Trails along a creek to the brick ruins of Roswell’s 19th-century cotton mills, a dam that spills like a waterfall and a covered footbridge, beside historic Roswell. About 35 minutes north.
4. Island Ford
The park’s visitor center in an old stone-and-log lodge, with riverside trails and rock outcrops. A good first stop for maps.
Vickery CreekMill ruins in Roswell
Kennesaw MountainCivil War trails and views
Arabia MountainA granite moonscape
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0; Thomson20192, CC0; Thomson200, CC0.
Plan more of the river with our Chattahoochee River guide. North of Roswell, the upper river units are quieter and better for fishing.
Climb a Mountain or a Granite Dome
Atlanta sits on the Piedmont, where giant domes of granite rise above the trees. Three of the best are less than 35 minutes away.
5. Kennesaw Mountain
A Civil War battlefield with more than 22 miles of trails. The hike from the visitor center to the summit is about 1.1 miles with switchbacks, and the top looks back at the Atlanta skyline. Since January 2026, private cars can no longer drive the summit road, so walk, bike at set hours or ride the park shuttle when it runs. Parking is $5 a day.
6. Stone Mountain
The 1-mile Walk-Up Trail climbs the bare rock face to the summit at about 1,686 feet; the Summit Skyride is the easy way. $25 daily parking. See our Stone Mountain Park guide.
7. Arabia Mountain
A quieter granite dome in about 2,550 acres of DeKalb County preserve, with rain pools, rare red diamorpha plants in spring and no entry fee. About 30 minutes east.
8. Panola Mountain
A protected granite mountain in a state park near Arabia, linked to it by the PATH trail. Hike the trails on your own, or join a ranger-led hike onto the mountain itself. $10 ParkPass.
Want to compare these with the big North Georgia climbs? Read Blood Mountain vs. Springer Mountain and our list of the best hikes in North Georgia.
Green Spaces Inside the City
Atlanta’s parks department looks after 378 parks and green spaces covering about 4,500 acres. These are the best for a walk, a picnic or a skyline view, and all are free.
BeltLine Eastside TrailWalk or bike the loop
Piedmont Park193 acres in Midtown
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Marc Merlin, CC BY-SA 4.0; Thomson200, CC0.
9. The Atlanta BeltLine
Old rail lines turned into a planned 22-mile loop of trails. Start with the Eastside Trail from Piedmont Park past Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, or the quieter Westside Trail near West End.
10. Piedmont Park
193 acres in Midtown with the city’s best-known skyline view across Lake Clara Meer, plus trails, a dog park and a connection to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
11. Westside Park
Atlanta’s largest park, being built around the old Bellwood Quarry, which is now a drinking water reservoir. The first phase has trails and an overlook with views of the quarry and the skyline. About 15 minutes from downtown.
12. Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
About 135 acres of old forest in southwest Atlanta, with a loop trail past a small waterfall that runs all year, an old springhouse and Civil War earthworks from the Battle of Utoy Creek.
See all of the city’s big parks, with acreage and locations, in our Atlanta parks guide, and the green spaces you can visit for free in free things to do in Atlanta.
Bike Trails
Atlanta has some of the longest paved trails in the Southeast, built by the PATH Foundation and local governments. Most are flat or gently rolling, good for families and road bikes alike.
13. Silver Comet Trail
61.5 paved miles on an old railroad line from Smyrna to the Alabama state line, where it joins the Chief Ladiga Trail for a combined ride of about 94 miles. The Mavell Road trailhead in Smyrna is about 25 minutes from downtown.
14. Arabia Mountain PATH
More than 30 miles of paved trail through woods, wetlands and across granite outcrops between Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain and the town of Lithonia, with free trailhead parking.
For singletrack, see the best mountain biking trails in Georgia and our Georgia bike trails list.
Paddling and Tubing
The Chattahoochee is cold year-round below Buford Dam, which keeps the water comfortable on the hottest summer days. Licensed outfitters rent tubes, kayaks and rafts for day trips in the national recreation area during the warm months; check the National Park Service site for current outfitters and river conditions, and always wear a life jacket. For flatwater paddling, Lake Allatoona at Red Top Mountain State Park is about 50 minutes north.
Tips for Getting Outside in Atlanta
Go early
Trailhead lots at East Palisades, Cochran Shoals, Kennesaw Mountain and Stone Mountain fill by mid-morning on nice weekends.
Check the river
Water releases from Buford Dam can raise the Chattahoochee quickly. Stay off rocks in the river and watch for posted warnings.
Bring a pass
National park units take a $5 day pass or $40 annual pass, state parks take the $10 ParkPass, and Stone Mountain sells its own parking pass.
Summer heat
From June through August, hike before 10 a.m., carry more water than you think you need and save the bare granite domes for cooler days.
Ready to go farther? Our best day trips from Atlanta and the 25 best state parks in Georgia are full of waterfalls and mountains within two hours of the city.
Common Questions
Where can I hike near downtown Atlanta?
East Palisades and Cochran Shoals on the Chattahoochee River are 20 to 25 minutes from downtown. Inside the city, Cascade Springs Nature Preserve has a loop trail to a small waterfall.
Is there a mountain near Atlanta to hike?
Yes. Kennesaw Mountain, Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain are all about 30 minutes from downtown. Kennesaw’s summit hike is about 1.1 miles and Stone Mountain’s Walk-Up Trail is 1 mile.
Do you have to pay to hike the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta?
Parking in the national recreation area is $5 a day or $40 a year, paid online or by QR code. Walkers and cyclists 16 and older who arrive without a car need a pass too.
Can you still drive to the top of Kennesaw Mountain?
No. The summit road closed to private cars in January 2026. You can hike, bike during set hours or ride the park shuttle when it is running.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources on October 21, 2026. Fees, trail closures and hours change, so confirm before you go:
- National Park Service: Chattahoochee River NRA: parking fees and payment
- National Park Service: Kennesaw Mountain NBP: trail mileage, summit hike, fees
- Stone Mountain Park: Walk-Up Trail and parking
- Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance: Arabia Mountain PATH
- Silver Comet Trail: trail length and connection to the Chief Ladiga Trail
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.