SepTIMMMMBER! Pine Mountain Hike.

After hiking Pine Mountain, it is very easy to see where the oh so creative name came from. Once you arrive to the tip top of the mountain the plateau is covered in pine trees. It is actually very bizarre looking, and would make for some very cool pictures for aspiring photographers. My pictures do not do justice, but I did my best. (Insert Shrug Emoji) Pine Mountain trail is located in Cartersville, GA and it is actually the highest elevation point of Cartersville, reaching 1,562 ft. above sea level. It is actually a pretty popular trail with the people that live in the area. My dog, Spud and I met several people throughout the hike. They were all very friendly and spoke very well of the cleanliness and beauty of this trail. The trail is also very close to Atlanta, probably only about an hour drive up I-75 north, if that. The parking lot for the West loop trail head is right off of the Cartersville exit. Once you get off the exit, going I-75 north you will make a right turn and go about half a mile before the road ends and you have no choice but to turn right, which takes you directly to the trail head parking lot. So all and all, it was a very easy trail to find. The parking lot is very large, and many fellow hikers on the trail say that the parking lot is often full. So parking on the street is very common. There is also another parking lot for the east loop. The west and east loop trails connect at the summit of pine mountain.

There are many trails on Pine Mountain. I hiked the west loop, which takes you to the Summit Overlook trail. The trail to Summit Overlook is about 4 miles round-trip. Once you begin the trail, you will come across a bridge, which is only maybe .2 miles from the beginning of the trail. There is a nice small creek below it.

Once you cross this bridge, the west loop trail begins. The hike up this trail can get very steep and sometimes strenuous. I know I was for sure breathing hard at times, which is why I would give this trail a moderate rating for difficultly. The trail is very pretty, with many pine and oak trees. In the summer time, the forest floor is covered in ferns and moss.

Spud tries his best to model the forest floor for you guys. I’m sorry Spud, but you have failed, my dorky canine friend. You will know that you have almost reached Summit Overlook once you spot the bizzare array of pine trees I mentions in the beginnning of this post. As you keep walking down the trail you will reach an assortment of large rocks, which is thought to be an Indian Burial site. The summit overlook is very beautiful, with views of several mountains and Lake Allatoona.

All in all, Pine Mountain is a very beautiful and easy to reach hike. It is a very easy hike to get to, and help escape some of the hustle and bustle of the city without having to drive for hours. There are also guided hikes available, which I thought was very cool. Espically the guided moonlight hike! You might just catch me taking that one soon! There are also hikes available on the Fourth of July to watch the fireworks and night hikes to see the summer and winter solistice are available. The city of Cartersville really does take pride in their natural attraction. It is worth checking out! For more information about Pine Mountain Recreational park and the guided hikes offered go to: http://www.cityofcartersville.org/459/Pine-Mountain-Hikes Life is to be experienced, journey wisley. Kelly Fitzgerald Hike Specs: Address for the West Loop Trailhead: Komatsu Dr. SE, Cartersville, GA 31021 Trail Length: 4.5 miles on the West loop trail (roundtrip) Elevation: 1,562 ft. above sea level Dogs: Allowed but must be on leashes.

#travel #local #mountains #hiking #pinemountain #georgia