Hikes Map Explore
Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, GA
miles
LENGTH 2.8 MILES
DIFFICULTY 2.7 Easy
DURATION 1-2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
320
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Lollipop
Loop
Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop

First swing by the summit of Arabia Mountain before navigating around it's base and a remote lake on this trail combo loop just outside of the Atlanta perimeter. Combine two easy trails for a couple hour adventure that makes a perfect quick getaway from the city.

Park at the South Parking Lot or if full you'll have to park at the Nature Center Lot and walk an additional mile round trip down the PATH Klondike boardwalk. The trail begins at the end of the parking lot before the AWARE Wildlife Center.

First take the Mountain Top Trail to the summit by following the rock cairns, paved rock mounds that serve as trail markers along the way. Other than these, there really isn't a trail as you're hiking along exposed granite. The cairns lead to the base of the summit where the blue blazed Mountain View Trail splits off to the right.

The hike gets significantly steeper on the way up and the rock cairns end shortly before reaching the summit. Explore around then head back down to the base and follow the blue blazes along the ground just shy of the tree line. Sometimes these are hard to follow. In most cases the current blaze "points" to the next. On several occasions I had to backtrack a few feet to the previous blaze to find the next.

The trail dips into the woods then re-emerges shortly, continuing along the tree line. The second time the trail enters the woods is more difficult to see but keep an eye out for the blazes. Shortly afterward, the trail looks like it splits, but right quickly fades out so stay left to hike around Mountain Lake, staying close to the shoreline until you reach the other side.

You'll pass two more intersections, turning left at both, following the blazes. When you see the rock cairns again, you've completed the loop. Follow the cairns to the left to head back to the trailhead.

Explore more trails at Arabia Mountain.

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Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. South Parking Lot. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Begin at the end of the parking lot. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. There were no pools when I visited, but plenty of signs warning you to stay out of them, even if they're dry. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Follow the rock cairn (rock mounds) markers. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. When you get near the open summit area in front of you, the blue-blazed Mountain View Loop turns right. Stay to the left to head up to the summit first, then on the way down follow the blue blazes around the base of the mountain. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Summit views from Arabia Mountain. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Follow the blue blazes on the ground. They usually point to the next one but on several occasions I lost them and had to backtrack a few feet to find the next. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Be on the lookout for when the trail turns into the woods in two places. The second is more difficult to notice. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. The trail dips into the woods briefly while heading around the base of the mountain. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Hiking along the base of Arabia Mountain. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. The trail hugs Mountain Lake in a few places as it loops around it. Arabia Mountain Top and Mountain View Loop. Heading back around the loop passing a few grassy fields.
Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
1 mi
82 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.4 mi
134 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.2 mi
125 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
108 ft
18 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0 ft
0 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.7 mi
107 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.3 mi
104 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.1 mi
79 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
318 ft
51 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
25 ft
7 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Navigation
Reverse Hike loop in reverse direction.
0.0 mi
0.0 mi - Trailhead The trail begins at the end of the parking lot before the AWARE Wildlife Center.
0.25 mi
0.25 mi - Stay Straight/Left Mountain View Loop to right, but you won't notice it unless you see the blue blazes.
0.3 mi
0.3 mi - Stay Straight/Left Mountain View Loop to right along tree line, follow the cairns to the left to head up to the summit.
0.56 mi
0.56 mi - Summit The cairns end a short distance from the summit.
0.82 mi
0.82 mi - Turn Left on Mountain View Trail Head back down and turn left at the treeline, following the blue blazes for the Mountain View Trail.
1.0 mi
1.0 mi - Trail Enters Woods
1.1 mi
1.1 mi - Return to Exposed Granite Leave the woods, returning to the exposed granite, continuing to follow the treeline. A side trail on the left leads back to the previous granite face.
1.23 mi
1.23 mi - Lake View on Right
1.47 mi
1.47 mi - Trail Re-Enters Woods
1.56 mi
1.56 mi - Turn Left Right fades out quickly, stay left.
2.15 mi
2.15 mi - Turn Left Right leads to the lake, straight isn't a trail. Follow blaze to left.
2.33 mi
2.33 mi - Stay Left Follow blazes to left.
2.58 mi
2.58 mi - Return to Cairns, Turn Left When you return to the rock cairns, turn left to follow them back to the trailhead.
2.82 mi
2.82 mi - Return to Trailhead
Details
length2.8 miles
difficulty2.7 Easy
duration1 - 2 hours
features Dog Friendly  Lake  Summit  Views 
trail typeLollipop Loop
blazeRock Cairns (Mountain Top Trail), Blue (Mountain View Trail)
elevation gain320 ft.
state Georgia 
park/forestArabia Mountain National Heritage Area
visitor infoNature Center
3787 Klondike Road
Lithonia, GA 30038
770-484-3060
hoursSunrise - Sunset
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 33.659871, -84.123855 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 33°39.59, W 84°7.43 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 33°39'36'', N 33°39'36'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
33.659871, -84.123855 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 33°39.59, W 84°7.43 most GPS units use this one
N 33°39'36'', N 33°39'36'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
The trail begins at the end of the parking lot on the left before the AWARE Wildlife Center.
Parking Capacity
19 parking spaces.
Notes
Maps are available at the Nature Center and most of the trailheads or can be found at arabiaalliance.org.
There are several endangered plant and animal species that live in the small pools of water on the mountain. Even if dry, there are plenty of signs informing you to not step in them as you hike.
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
4 (1)
New Review New Comment
hikethesouth-5 years ago
Good Addition to the Summit Trail
This is a good addition to the Mountain Top trail if you want to make that longer, but the blazes are hard to follow in places. It's still cool to navigate along the base of the mountain.
Easy | Hiked Fall 2019
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Disclaimer: Hiking can be dangerous. The information on this site is meant as a guide and represents trail conditions at a given time. Always let someone know where you are going. A basic knowledge of first aid, backcountry navigation, and some common sense are highly encouraged. The difficulty and duration ratings are subjective and will not be representative of everyone's experience.

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