Allatoona Pass:
Georgia
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Description:
While mile-long Allatoona Pass is today a serene, pine-shaded trail, in April 1862 it played a role in the Great Locomotive Chase, when disguised Union soldiers seeking to destroy critical bridges along the Western & Atlantic line tore through in The General, a stolen Confederate locomotive. The pass also witnessed a bloody Civil War battle and holds the Grave of the Unknown Hero, burial site of an unidentified Confederate soldier. The packed dirt surface and multitude of historical markers make this a fascinating place for a leisurely day hike.
Within minutes of starting your hike, you'll enter the shady reaches of Deep Cut, a 95-foot-long man-made gorge, its rock walls looming 170 feet overhead. Beyond the cut you'll encounter the first of several side trails, a set of stairs on the left that climb to Star Fort. Highlights include markers that detail the Battle of Allatoona Pass and an antique photograph of the view Union soldiers had from this very spot.
Several yards up the main trail, a side path on the right leads to a lookout station known as the Crow's Nest, where a massive tree visible from Kennesaw Mountain served as a signal tower. Farther along, a short path on the right leads to vast Lake Allatoona, hemmed in by mountains. Trail's end is marked by a gate, which you can bypass to stroll the scenic lakeshore.

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Parking & Trail Access:
Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 283 and head east on Old Allatoona Road for 1.5 miles. Cross the railroad tracks and continue another mile to markers for Allatoona Pass Battlefield on the left. Parking is available here.

Contact:
Etowah Valley Historical Society
P.O. Box 1886
Cartersville, GA 30120
(770) 606-8862
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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Nice and Easy
By on February 10, 2007
"The floor of the Pass is a nice, flat trail for all to enjoy. You can go up trails on both sides of the Pass but I tend to just walk the old railroad bed. Walking north, the trail opens up past the Pass to a nice view of Lake Allatoona. You may run into a fisherman or two along the banks. It is very quiet in the winter. From Springtime to Labor Day there is a fair amount of boats buzzing around but it is still rather calm. The trail eventually dead ends into some private land but my guess is that you have roughly a mile and half walk round trip. If you add a walk along the levee by the parking lot, you can add another 3/4 of a mile or so. 1800 men died here, please give this sacred land the respect it deserves while enjoying it's beauty and tranquility.
Reggie "
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