kennesaw mountain national battlefield park

We arrived here late in the afternoon and just managed to catch the last showing of the film in the visitors Center, which is a must. It was a cold bleak afternoon but we decided to walk to the top of the mountain it is just over a mile but very steep. There are a couple of cannons at the top in the confederate holding position, prior to the union taking ATLANTA. As a Brit I can only imagine how awful this war must have been and can only thank the USA for keeping and preserving these sites for all to see.

As a local I have enjoyed and explored all of Kennesaw National Battle Park. There are miles of trails that criss-cross the park. If you are just visiting the park the hike to Kennesaw Mountain is a must, and you should also visit Cheatham Hill. The south end of the park is quieter. The park stretches from Kolb Farm on the south tip to Cheatham Hill to Pigeon to Kennesaw Mountain. There are both marked trail across the entire park and local unmarked trails around the Cheatham Hill area.As a local I have explored all these trails all of it is enjoyable. There is a horse trailer parking area near Kolb Farm on the south end. I hope you enjoy this park as much as I have for the past 40 years.

This historical battlefield park combines history, outdoor recreation, and scenic beauty! Be sure to visit the friendly visitor center first and then allow sufficient time to see the movie, tour the museum, hike some of the excellent trails, and go to the top of the mountain for a spectacular view of Atlanta. The park was spruced up last year for the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States battle that delayed the Federal advance. Near the visitor center, stop at Mountain Biscuit for a great southern breakfast or lunch!

This park sprawls across a fairly packed urban area near Atlanta. The Civil War defense of Atlanta hinged upon the Confederacy holding Kennesaw Mountain. Starting at the Visitor's Center, you learn about he battle and it's significance to the outcome of that war. A number of walking, hiking and driving tours start and end here. There are also paved fitness trails.Parking can get tight but the recent addition of overflow parking on Old 41 helps a great deal. It is a bit of a hike from the Overflow Parking lot (maybe a quarter mile). They have all but eliminated road side parking in the last few years.During the week you can drive to the top of the Mountain and tour the gun emplacements on both Kennesaw and Little Kennesaw Mountains. The views of the Atlanta skyline are good and you can usually see a number of other mountains in the distance, including Stone Mountain. On a clear day you can see the rise of the Appalachian Mountains to the North. I have been there on crisp and clear winter days and the view is incredible. There is also a charm to even the misty rainy days that occasionally appear. It is really dependent upon your willingness to look at everything and keeping an attitude of curiosity about yourself.The battle sites scattered throughout the park are numerous. In addition to the sites there are many memorials to the fallen of both sides. Many individual states memorialized their war dead. If I had one site to visit out of all available, I would recommend visiting the "Dead Angle". Read the history and visit the site where trench warfare was practiced at its most personal and intense. The courage of the men on both sides is humbling and awe inspiring. This does not glorify war. This commemorates and memorializes the courage, ingenuity and daring of these people and the sacrifices many of them paid.Because of the sprawling nature of the park and the way private land is mixed throughout, there are many dining choices available. Near the visitors center there are two restaurants serving breakfast and lunch. Louise's and Mountain Biscuit are both slightly north of the visitor's center on Old Highway 41. South of the Visitors Center, at the intersection of Old 41 and Barrett Parkway, there are a number of dining choices ranging from Fast Food to Fine Dining.Bathrooms are available in the Visitors Center but are few and far between elsewhere. It's a park. Use a tree. Use a shrub. I doubt the Park Rangers are keen on the advice but I know it is often followed. Just sayin...Very young kids might enjoy the fun of the open spaces but I feel it is better suited to older children and adults.

The story. the history, the trails, the view from the top, Great. However, the lower trails are covered with hundreds of doggy poop bags. It looked like everyone in Atlanta brings their dogs here to go to the bathroom. What a shame. Also people are supposed to have their dogs leashed at all times. We found this was not the case. When we got to the top of the mountain and were enjoying the view someones dog came up to us. When the owners finally appeared they apologized and stated the dog had slipped it leashed. However we noticed that they just clipped the leash back on the dogs coller so it was obvious they had unleashed their dog. On the way back down the trail we ran into a man with his unleashed dog! When I told him his dog are supposed to be leashed he said he didn't care, and there was no one here to enforce it. After that experience we both agreed they should rename this place Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Dog Park.

This battleground is also a place to get in shape! Hundreds of people walk the well-marked trails going up and down the mountain. Their are walking paths all around the lower battlefield area. Dog walkers, bike riders, joggers, walkers, hikers and outdoorsmen will find plenty of open air enjoyment. The museum offers a vivid film depicting the actual battle at Kennesaw Mountain as well as the series of events leading to the actual Battle of Atlanta. Bring the whole family and enjoy climbing the mountain. It's a lovely place for one and all.

It was ungodly cold in Kennesaw. So we chose to take the Shuttle up to the top of the hill. It was cloudy...and FREEZING. So we were unable to fully enjoy the view or what the park had to offer.I went back during the week as you were supposed to be able to drive your car up to the top. But it was closed off. Mind you it was super cold out but not icy ...so not sure why it was closed. I will be back to see the sights hopefully in warmer weather.... Looks like it would be a fantastic place to visit in the Fall.

this was my second visit in 55 yrs. …the ranger, sales clerk, & volunteer ranger ( robert ) were very friendly, helpful, and fun to talk with, as we shared much cw history knowledge & each of us learned something…i have been an american history buff since 7th grade with special interest in the american revolution & the war between the states…i live in angleton texas, now, and have aquired a taste for texas frontier history as well….

Walking the paths great. Wonderful little museum. Wonderful to take your dog for walk. I recommend to anybody on a warm sunny day!

There is a lot of history to learn at the visitor's center here and if you don't learn all you want in the movie and museum the rangers are very educated about the Civil War. The hiking trails are well maintained and dog owners clean up after their pets. In an emergency a ranger responds quickly. The maps of the trails are not specific enough, though, so it's up to you to know where you are going. Parking can get crowded so if you can hike at off times (early morning, during the week, avoid holidays) it's easier. There is an overflow lot about 1/2 mile away so you can just add that to your exercise! If you take the hike to the top it's a beautiful place to rest and view the surrounding area. The trail heads that do not start at the visitor's center are very nicely maintained too. A great place to get some fresh air with the family. I've hiked here for years.

Wonderful place for the whole family. Easily accessible plenty of parking. Relive the war of Northern Agression.

Since this is one of the only place nearby to go hiking, the park is very overpopulated, so many people, that we had to park in the overflow parking lot, which wasn't that far away, and the trails connected down to the extended parking lot. On the downside, the maps aren't very clear, and there are lots of places you are not allowed to go on the mountain, and people hoping to visit a solemn civil war site may be disappointed, but the history is still marked and there. And now that I'm done saying the downsides, the view is beautiful. The hike to the very top is only about a mile, and once you get to the top it's breathtaking. You can see the outline of downtown Atlanta from the south side, stone mountain, and the outlines of dunwoody and buckhead. And from the north side, you can begin to see the north Georgia mountains. It's gorgeous. I brought my eno and hammocked on top of the mountain and it was beautiful and relaxing once I got away from all the people. There was so much more to explore with the south side of the park , and the smaller mountains nearby. For sightseeing and recreation, this park is perfect.

I drove around the mountain and got out and looked at the cannons, still en placed after 150 years. Went in the museum and went through and viewed all the items displayed there. Being disabled there are wheelchair and walker acceptable areas. The rangers do attempt make you a normal member of society. My visit was enjoyable and there were plenty restaurants in the area. I visit it as often as I can as I have been since childhood some 50 years ago.

I really have a hard time giving any National Battlefield Park a 3 star rating, but that is what I have to do here. Other than 1 staff member in the museum (I can't remember his name but a former Captain in the Coast Guard) we were just not overly impressed. As a previous review stated, this is much more of a community park (almost a dog park) rather than a battlefield. The crowd was horrendous the day we arrived with hardly any parking available; however, when you enter the museum or watch the movie there is no crowd. It is a VERY popular park, but not necessarily due to people trying to learn about the history of the battle. Regardless of their reason for being there, if people are there long enough they will come away with some knowledge of the sacrifice that took place here and that is what's important.

Ready for a day hike, well it really doesn't take a day,but you can stretch it out if you wish. The gift shop and museum are so interesting even for grade school age children. Cannonballs shot in the side of a log, maps clothing and artifacts, and description of the battle. Venture outside to see cannons and conflict sites. Hike or drive to the top of the mountain to spy Atlanta and discover how important this battle was to its survival.