Hiking the Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville, GA

The Pine Mountain Trail just outside of Cartersville, Georgia offers stunning summit views of Lake Allatoona and the surrounding North Georgia mountains.

An expansive nature preserve, the Pine Mountain Recreation Area offers miles of trails and a breathtaking view over the foothills.

If you’re looking for a beautiful summit hike that’s close to Atlanta, then the Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville, Georgia is perfect for you!

Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville Hike

The Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville is a 4.5 mile double loop, figure-eight trail. Located just 40 miles outside of Atlanta, the Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville is a great summit hike that’s easily accessed from the city.

The trail is based in the Pine Mountain Recreation Area, part of the 13,000 acres that was the original site of Mark Anthony Cooper’s Iron Empire.

The trail is open daily for hiking. There are two trailheads with parking areas. The West Loop trailhead begins just off of I-75 Exit 288: east on Main Street, at the end of Main Street turn right, the parking area will be on your left. The East Loop trailhead begins off of I-75 Exit 290, east on GA Highway 20, right at the traffic light onto GA Spur 20, and after 4 miles the parking area will be on your right just past Bartow Beach Road.

You can access the mountain’s summit using a trail that branches off the center of the East and West trails. The most direct route to the summit is by taking a right on the West Loop.

Hiking the Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville

We started our hike on the Pine Mountain Trail West Loop. There is a 0.18 mile hike on the West Trailhead to Loop path before you begin the West Loop. We took the path to the right for the most direct route to Pine Mountain summit.

The trail climbs elevation quickly through a series of switchbacks. At about 0.9 miles, you’ll reach a junction; here, the hike turns right on the 0.10 mile West Pass to the Summit Overlook trail, which is about 0.16 miles to the actual overlook. You’ll reach the summit at a little over 1 mile, having covered a 675-foot climb.

Pine Mountain Summit

On the Summit Overlook Trail, you’ll pass through a picturesque pine forest before the trees clear to show a rocky peak. At the summit, Allatoona Lake is visible just below the ridge, nestled between the North Georgia hills.

On a clear day, you may be able to see the Atlanta skyline on the horizon, as well as Stone Mountain and Kennesaw Mountain, but as we hiked on a rainy day our view was limited but still stunning.

Hiking the Full Figure-Eight

To hike the full figure-eight, retrace the Summit Overlook Trail and then turn right onto the 0.14 mile East Past, passing a large pile of rocks on your way to the East Loop. The East Loop covers 2.34 miles of creek valley hiking. This loop continues left at the East Trailhead path and crosses over a couple bridges as it crosses the moss-covered creek valley.

The hike then ascends from the valley in a series of switchbacks before again coming to the East Pass, West Pass, and the West Loop. Continue to the right to complete the opposite side of the West Loop.

This part of the trail descend through granite outcroppings before turning right on the West Trailhead to Loop path. The full double loop hike completes back at the parking lot at a little over 4.5 miles.

Pine Mountain Trail Info

Hike length: 4.5 miles round-trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Is it pet-friendly?: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed on this trail.

Location: Pine Mountain Trail, West, Komatsu Dr SE, Cartersville, GA 30121

Parking: Free parking is available at the Pine Mountain Trail west trailhead.

Fees: Free.

Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Accessibility: The Pine Mountain Trail is unpaved and rocky.

About Pine Mountain Recreation Area

Pine Mountain Recreation Area is a scenic hiking destination in Cartersville, Georgia, about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta. Managed by Cartersville Parks and Recreation, the area features approximately 4.5 miles of interconnected hiking trails that wind through pine forests, rocky terrain, and creek valleys. The trails are rated moderate to difficult, with steep climbs leading to the mountain’s 1,562-foot summit and beautiful views of Lake Allatoona.

More Cartersville Hikes

• Iron Hill Loop Trail
• Homestead Trail
• Red Top Mountain State Park

More Things to Do in Cartersville, Georgia

Make the most out of your trip to Cartersville! Check out these other attraction guides to help plan your perfect trip:

• A Visit to the Tellus Science Museum
• Tips for Visiting Red Top Mountain State Park
• 10 Most Unusual Roadside Attractions in Georgia
• Iron Hill Loop Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park
• Hiking the Homestead Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park

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Ready to visit Cartersville, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Cartersville using Expedia.
• Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have you hiked the Pine Mountain Trail in Cartersville, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!