Last updated October 28, 2026
Arabia Mountain doesn't look like anywhere else around Atlanta. Instead of a trail through the woods, you walk across a wide dome of bare granite dotted with pools of rainwater, little islands of moss and grass, and stacked rock cairns marking the way. It feels more like the desert Southwest than DeKalb County, and it's about 30 minutes east of downtown.
It's also free, open every day and short enough for almost anyone. This guide covers the Mountain Top Trail, where to park, what the pools on the rock actually are, the old quarry history you'll walk right over, when to go and the mistakes to avoid.
Solution pools and grass islands across the top of Arabia Mountain.
Arabia Mountain at a Glance
Where: Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve in Stonecrest, east of Atlanta off I-20
Main parking: The mountain lot by the AWARE Wildlife Center at 4158 Klondike Road, or the Nature Center at 3787 Klondike Road
Hours: Dawn to dusk every day
Cost: Free. There's no fee for parking or trails.
Mountain Top Trail: About 1.2 miles round trip, out and back on open granite
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. The rock gets steeper near the top, but it's short.
Dogs: Allowed on a leash
Best for: A quick hike with big views, sunsets, photos, families and anyone who wants a different kind of trail close to the city
Preserve office: 770-484-3060
What Makes Arabia Mountain Different
Arabia Mountain is a granite monadnock, a lone rock dome rising out of the Piedmont, topping out around 955 feet. It's the centerpiece of the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a 2,550-acre DeKalb County greenspace, and of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which also takes in its neighbor, Panola Mountain.
The big difference between the two: Panola was never quarried and its summit is guided only. Arabia was quarried for decades, and you're free to walk across the rock on your own. That quarry history is part of the fun. You'll walk past cut blocks, drill marks and the shells of old quarry buildings on your way across.
The Mountain Top Trail
The Mountain Top Trail is the hike most people come for. It starts at the lot by the AWARE Wildlife Center on Klondike Road, leaves the trees and heads straight out onto the bare granite. From there, stacked rock cairns mark the route across the rock to the summit, about 0.6 miles out. You come back the way you went.
Stacked rock cairns mark the route across the open granite.
I started at the Arabia Mountain Nature Center on Klondike Road instead. From there I took the paved PATH trail over to the Mountain Top trailhead by AWARE, then followed the cairns up the rock to the summit. It's a good way to go if the mountain lot is full, and it adds an easy warm-up walk through the woods before you hit the granite. If you want even more, the Mile Rock Trail also heads out from behind the Nature Center across open rock and past old quarry ruins.
There's no dirt path once you're on the rock, so follow the cairns. They keep you on the bare stone and off the fragile plants growing around it. The first stretch is a gentle incline across wide-open granite, and the last part to the top is steeper but still short. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour round trip, longer if you stop for photos, which you will.
From the summit you get a wide view in every direction. On a clear day you can pick out Panola Mountain to the southwest and the Atlanta skyline to the northwest, with nothing but trees in between.
The wide granite dome near the summit, dotted with pools.
The Quarry History You'll Walk Over
Arabia Mountain was quarried for granite for a long time, and the rock still shows it. Along the trail you'll see flat terraces where slabs were cut away, drill and blast holes in the stone, rusted metal spikes still stuck in the rock where workers split the granite, and piles of leftover cut blocks at the edges of the open rock.
The Davidson family owned and quarried much of the mountain, and their land became a nature preserve in 1972. The preserve marked its 50th anniversary in 2022, and today the old quarry scars are part of what makes the hike interesting. If you want to see more of it, the Mile Rock Trail from the Nature Center passes the shells of old quarry buildings and the rusted remains by Arabia Lake.
A cairn on the old quarried rock, with cut slabs left behind at the edge.
The Solution Pools and the Red Plants on the Rock
The pools you see all over the top of the mountain are called solution pits. Over thousands of years, rainwater and lichen slowly wear shallow hollows into the granite. Some hold water after a rain, some hold a little sandy soil, and some have grown into small islands of moss and grass.
Those pits are the only place on the rock with water and soil, so they're home to rare plants that grow almost nowhere else. The best known is diamorpha, a tiny succulent also called elf orpine. It grows on a backwards schedule, sprouting in winter, blooming in spring and going dormant in summer. Its leaves turn bright red to protect it from the sun on the open rock, so from about December through spring the pits are rimmed in red. In early fall, yellow daisies bloom across the outcrop.
A moss island growing in a solution pit. Walk around these, not through them.
The rule here is simple: stay on the gray. Walk on the bare granite and avoid stepping in the pools, the moss and the sandy patches, even when they look dry. One footprint can crush years of growth, and a lot of these plants are rare.
Other Trails at Arabia Mountain
Mile Rock Trail and Forest Trail loop: About 2 miles from the Nature Center, easy. Crosses open granite with cairns, passes a small pond and an old quarry building, follows Arabia Lake and loops back through pine and hardwood forest.
Arabia Mountain PATH: A paved multi-use trail of more than 20 miles that connects Arabia Mountain with the Nature Center, Lithonia, Stonecrest and Panola Mountain State Park. Great for bikes, strollers and longer walks.
Arabia Lake: Fishing is allowed with a valid Georgia fishing license.
Rangers also lead guided hikes on some mornings. Call the preserve office or check the Arabia Alliance site for the current schedule.
When to Visit Arabia Mountain
Arabia is good any time of year, but each season looks different.
Winter into spring: My favorite. The air is cool for a walk on open rock, the skies are clear, and the diamorpha turns the pits red. The pools are usually full after winter rains.
Spring: Diamorpha blooms with tiny white flowers, often around March and April.
Summer: Hot. There's no shade on the rock, and the granite holds heat. Go early in the morning or close to sunset.
Early fall: Yellow daisies bloom across the outcrop, usually in September.
Sunset is the most popular time on the summit, and it's worth it. Just remember the preserve closes at dusk, so bring a light for the walk back and leave with enough time.
Rainwater pools on the granite, with ridges stretching to the horizon.
Mistakes to Avoid
Stepping in the pools. Stay on the gray. The pits and moss mats hold rare plants that take years to grow back.
Wandering off the cairns. It's easy to drift on open rock. Follow the cairns out and back.
Going in the middle of a summer day. There's no shade, and the rock gets hot fast. Bring water even for a short hike.
Parking in the wrong place. For the Mountain Top Trail, park at the mountain lot by AWARE at 4158 Klondike Road. If it's full, park at the Nature Center and walk over on the PATH.
Wearing slick shoes. Granite is grippy when dry but slippery when wet, mossy or covered in grit.
Staying past dusk. The preserve closes at dusk, and the trail back is harder to follow in the dark.
How to Get to Arabia Mountain
Arabia Mountain is in Stonecrest, east of Atlanta, just south of I-20 and about 30 minutes from downtown without traffic. For the Mountain Top Trail, put "Arabia Mountain Trailhead" or 4158 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, GA 30038 into your map. For the Nature Center and the Mile Rock Trail, use 3787 Klondike Road. Parking is free at both, and the lots fill up on nice weekends, so arrive early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Arabia Mountain hike?
The Mountain Top Trail is about 1.2 miles round trip and takes most people 45 minutes to an hour. The Mile Rock and Forest Trail loop from the Nature Center is about 2 miles.
Is Arabia Mountain free?
Yes. There's no fee for parking or for using the trails.
Are dogs allowed at Arabia Mountain?
Yes, on a leash. Keep them on the bare rock and out of the pools.
Is Arabia Mountain hard to hike?
No. It's short, and most of it is a gentle walk across open rock. The last stretch to the summit is steeper, so wear shoes with good grip.
What are the pools on top of Arabia Mountain?
They're solution pits, shallow hollows worn into the granite over thousands of years. They hold rare plants like the red diamorpha, so walk around them, not through them.
Can you see Atlanta from Arabia Mountain?
Yes. On a clear day you can see the Atlanta skyline to the northwest and Panola Mountain to the southwest from the summit.
What's the difference between Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain?
They're neighbors connected by the PATH trail. Arabia was quarried and you can hike to the top on your own for free. Panola was never quarried, and its summit is open only on ranger-led hikes.
Make It a Full Day
Arabia Mountain pairs perfectly with its neighbor. Read my Panola Mountain State Park guide for the paved PATH loop, Alexander Lake and the guided summit hike. On the west side of town, my Sweetwater Creek State Park guide covers the rapids and mill ruins. For more close-to-home trips, see my Metro Atlanta outdoors guides, or use Find a Trip to filter every guide by drive time and difficulty.
Want to hike with a group? The Explore Georgia Hiking Club runs free group hikes around Georgia, and every pace is welcome.