The Homestead Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park makes a great hike for anyone looking to get in a few miles without too much difficulty. The park offers several trail options and this hike has a few combo options described below. Good for dogs and kids.

The yellow-blazed Homestead Trail is a lollipop loop that begins in front of the Trading Post on Red Top Mountain Road but can also be accessed from the Visitor Center. Both have restrooms and maps. From the Trading Post (the bottom blue marker on the map), the trail heads north, joining twice with the red-blazed Sweet Gum Trail before crossing a road. Here the trail splits to form the loop portion. The elevation map below shows the loop hiked clockwise.

If you stick to the Homestead Trail, your hike will be 5.3 miles. Because parking is limited at the Trading Post, you may have to park at the much larger Visitor Center. You can then access the trail by taking the Sweet Gum Trail at the entrance to the parking lot for a quarter mile to connect at the road crossing intersection. From here, turn right away from the road for the loop portion of the trail. Starting here and just doing the Homestead Loop section will make a 3.5 mile hike if you're looking for something shorter.

There are a few side trails throughout, but the main trail is easy to identify. All intersections either have signs or posted maps and blazes are pretty numerous so getting lost shouldn't be an issue. Although you hike near Allatoona Lake, there's really only one place along the way that gets you out from the trees for a proper view. In winter, you'll have through-the-tree views for a good way of the trail.

Once you complete the loop portion, you have a few options for your return trip. You can retrace your steps along the Homestead Trail or you can take the Sweet Gum Trail to make a double loop. You can take the Sweet Gum before re-crossing the road to head to the Visitor Center. Walk through the parking lot to the other side where the trail picks up and continues to the Trading Post trailhead. This will add about .2 miles to your trip. Or take one of the intersections after the road for the shortest route back, cutting a half mile off your hike.

If you take the Sweet Gum Trail before re-crossing the road, consider taking the .9 mile white-blazed White Tail spur trail out to another great view of the lake. This will make your total hike about 6.4 miles.