Last updated October 28, 2026
Panola Mountain is the granite mountain near Atlanta that you can't just walk up. It's a 100-acre dome of bare rock in Stockbridge, about 30 minutes southeast of downtown, and it's so fragile that the only way to the top is with a park ranger. That catches a lot of people off guard, and some of them leave thinking there's nothing else to do here.
There's plenty. The park has a paved trail through tall pines, a wooden boardwalk with a view of the mountain, two lakes for fishing and paddling, an old barn the trail runs right through, and one of the oldest houses in metro Atlanta. This guide covers how to see all of it, how to book the summit hike, which entrance to use, what it costs and the mistakes first-timers make.
Alexander Lake on a still December morning
Panola Mountain State Park at a Glance
Where: Nature Center entrance at 2620 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281. The Alexander Lake entrance is on Flat Bridge Road.
Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset every day. The park office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: $10 per car per day, or $70 for an annual Georgia State Parks ParkPass that covers every state park
Size: 1,815 acres, including the 100-acre granite mountain and two lakes totaling 35 acres
Trails: Two short nature trails, plus more than 7 miles of the paved PATH trail that connects to Arabia Mountain
Summit access: Ranger-led guided hikes only, booked in advance
Best for: Easy walks, bike rides, families with strollers, anglers, and anyone who wants a quiet morning close to the city
Dogs: Allowed on a leash on the paved trail, but not in the conservation area or on the mountain
Phone: 770-389-7801
Why You Can't Just Climb Panola Mountain
Panola Mountain is a granite monadnock, a lone rock dome that rises 260 feet above the South River to 946 feet above sea level. Its neighbor, Arabia Mountain, was quarried for decades. Panola never was, so its rock surface and the tiny plant communities living on it are still close to untouched.
That's why it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1980 and why the summit is closed to everyone except ranger-led groups. The mosses, lichens and small plants on the granite grow in thin soil that takes a very long time to build up, and one careless step can wipe out years of growth. You can still see the mountain on your own from the overlooks. You just can't stand on top without a guide.
Two Entrances: Which One to Use
The park has two main entrances, and picking the right one saves you a lot of walking.
Nature Center (Highway 155): The main entrance. This is where the guided summit hikes start, where the two short nature trails begin, and where you'll find the gift shop, restrooms, picnic shelters and playground.
Alexander Lake (Flat Bridge Road): The back entrance by the lakes, and my pick for walking the PATH loop. Use this one if you want to fish, paddle, do a short loop around the water or start the longer PATH loop. The historic Parker House is right by this entrance too.
Both lots need the same $10 ParkPass, and one pass covers you at both for the day.
The Trails at Panola Mountain
Here's the full lineup from the park's trail list.
Outcrop Trail: 0.75 miles, easy, natural surface. Best for: a quick look at a granite outcrop and a view of Panola Mountain.
Watershed Trail: 1.25 miles, easy, natural surface. Best for: a shady creekside walk that explains how the land drains.
PATH Trail: 7+ miles, easy, paved. Best for: biking, strollers, dog walks and the boardwalk overlook.
Alexander Lake Loop: About 1.8 miles, easy, paved. Best for: a short walk around the lakes from the Flat Bridge Road lot.
The PATH Trail: Pines, a Barn and a Boardwalk
The PATH trail is the heart of the park for most visitors. It's a smooth, paved path built by the PATH Foundation, wide enough for walkers and bikes to share, and it connects Panola Mountain with Arabia Mountain and the rest of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Long stretches run straight through tall stands of pine, which is especially pretty on a clear winter morning when the light comes through the trunks.
The PATH trail through the pines
One of my favorite surprises was an old wooden barn that the trail runs straight through. You walk right down the middle of it on the paved path, with the trail's yellow center line running straight through. It's a fun spot for a photo and a nice bit of shade in summer.
The PATH runs right through this old barn
The best stop on the PATH is the boardwalk. It curves through the woods and leads to a wooden overlook with a view of the exposed granite of Panola Mountain. This is the closest you can get to the rock without a guided hike, so take your time here. Stay on the boardwalk, since the plants growing on the rock nearby are the whole reason the area is protected.
The boardwalk on the way to the overlook
I started my loop at the Alexander Lake lot on Flat Bridge Road, and that's the start I'd recommend if you're not doing a guided hike. You get the lakes and the Parker House right away, and from there the PATH takes you through the pines and the barn, out to the boardwalk overlook and back around, crossing the earthen dam between the two lakes. The full loop is about 5 miles on pavement with gentle hills, so plan on 2 to 2.5 hours at a walking pace. You can also start the same loop from the Nature Center.
The PATH curving down to Alexander Lake
Outcrop and Watershed Trails
If you only have an hour, start at the Nature Center and do one of the two short nature trails. The 0.75-mile Outcrop Trail runs through pine and oak forest to an overlook of a granite outcrop, the kind of bare-rock landscape that's typical of Georgia's Piedmont, with a view of Panola Mountain. The 1.25-mile Watershed Trail follows two branches of a small creek and is the shadier of the two on a hot day. Both are easy and good for kids.
The Guided Summit Hike: How to Get on Top of Panola Mountain
If you want to stand on the granite, book a ranger-led guided mountain hike. Here's what to know:
Cost: $10 per hike, plus the $10 parking fee
Length: About 3.5 miles and roughly 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous, with real elevation changes and uneven rock
Ages: 10 and up
Where it starts: The Nature Center at 2620 Highway 155 SW
When: Select Saturday mornings, usually 9 a.m. to noon. The park also runs occasional twilight hikes.
How to book: Reserve ahead through the Georgia State Parks events calendar or by calling 770-389-7801
Spots are limited, reservations are nonrefundable, and you need to give at least 24 hours' notice to reschedule. The hike runs rain or shine unless the weather is severe. Groups of 10 or more need to book a private hike. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, because the rock gets hot and there's no shade on top.
On top, the ranger walks you across the open granite, explains the rare plant communities living in the rock's shallow pools and soil mats, and on a clear day you can see the Atlanta skyline.
Alexander Lake: Fishing and Paddling
The park has two lakes, Upper and Lower Alexander Lake, totaling 35 acres and separated by a spillway. They're quiet, pretty and easy to reach from the Flat Bridge Road entrance, and the paved trail runs right along the water.
Alexander Lake
If you want to fish, here are the rules:
Anglers 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license.
Largemouth bass are catch-and-release only. Bass and bream spawn here in the spring.
Only non-motorized boats are allowed, and there are no boat ramps, so plan to carry in a kayak or canoe.
Upper Alexander is the bigger lake and has the easiest bank fishing, including a bridge with fishing platforms at its shallow upper end.
Lower Alexander has more brush and cover, so a canoe or kayak helps.
Bring your own gear, and follow Georgia's boating rules on life jackets.
The Parker House: One of Metro Atlanta's Oldest Homes
Right by the Alexander Lake entrance stands the Parker House, a white farmhouse with two brick chimneys and a wide front porch. Aaron Parker Jr. built it around 1830, and local historians date it as early as 1822, which makes it the oldest home in Rockdale County. It's a Plantation Plain style house, one and a half stories tall and one room deep.
The Parker House, built around 1830
The house has a hard history. It was the center of the Parker family's farm, where by 1860 they enslaved 24 people who worked the land. In 1991 the property was being turned into a golf course, and the house was slated for demolition until the community stepped in to save it. The state bought the 110-acre property in 2004, and the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
The inside is generally closed to visitors, though the park sometimes holds living history programs there. You can still walk around it and read about it from the outside.
Other Things to Do at Panola Mountain
Vaughters' Farm: A restored dairy barn and old pasture along the PATH that's now wildlife habitat. It's one of the most photographed spots in the park.
Archery range: There's a fee, and an annual archery pass is available.
Bike rentals: The park rents bikes for the paved trail. Call ahead to check availability.
Pioneer campground: One group campsite with grills, fire rings, picnic tables and a pit toilet. It holds up to 40 people and is reserved as a whole through Georgia State Parks.
Picnic shelters and playground: Four picnic shelters, a playground and the Alexander Lake Pavilion for events
Nature Center and gift shop: Start here for maps, program info and a quick look at the park's plants and wildlife
When to Visit Panola Mountain
Late fall through early spring is my favorite time. With the leaves down, the views of the granite and the lakes open up, the air is cool enough for the longer loop, and the sky over the lakes is a deep blue on clear days. I went in early December, and the lakes were so still they looked like mirrors.
Spring brings wildflowers and spawning season at the lakes, and it's the best time for the guided hike before the rock heats up. Summer is hot on the open pavement, so go early in the morning. Weekend mornings are the busiest at the Nature Center lot, so arrive early or try a weekday.
The trailhead kiosk on the PATH
Mistakes to Avoid
Expecting to hike to the top on your own. The summit is guided only. Book the ranger hike ahead of time, because spots fill up.
Leaving the boardwalk or trail. The plants on the granite outcrops are fragile and protected. Stay on the boardwalk and the marked trails.
Going to the wrong entrance. Guided hikes and the nature trails start at the Nature Center. The lakes and Parker House are by the Flat Bridge Road entrance.
Skipping water. The paved trail has long sunny stretches, and the 5-mile loop takes longer than you'd think.
Forgetting about bikes. The PATH is shared, so stay to the right and keep dogs on a short leash.
Not checking the kiosk. Trails and loops sometimes get rerouted. Check the trailhead kiosk or the park office before you head out.
How to Get to Panola Mountain State Park
Panola Mountain is in Stockbridge, southeast of downtown Atlanta, near I-20. It's about 30 minutes from downtown without traffic. For the main entrance, plug "Panola Mountain State Park Nature Center" into your map. For the lakes, search for the Alexander Lake parking area on Flat Bridge Road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hike Panola Mountain without a guide?
No. The granite summit is only open on ranger-led guided hikes, which you have to book in advance. You can hike the Outcrop Trail, the Watershed Trail and the paved PATH trail on your own, and you can see the mountain from the boardwalk overlook.
How much does it cost to visit Panola Mountain State Park?
Parking is $10 per car per day. An annual Georgia State Parks ParkPass is $70 and works at every state park. The guided summit hike is $10 on top of parking.
How long is the hike at Panola Mountain?
The Outcrop Trail is 0.75 miles and the Watershed Trail is 1.25 miles. The paved loop from the Nature Center to Alexander Lake and back is about 5 miles. The guided summit hike is about 3.5 miles and takes about 3 hours.
Are dogs allowed at Panola Mountain State Park?
Yes, on a leash on the paved PATH trail. Dogs aren't allowed in the conservation area or on the mountain.
Can you fish at Panola Mountain?
Yes, at Upper and Lower Alexander Lake. You need a Georgia fishing license if you're 16 or older, and largemouth bass are catch-and-release only.
Is Panola Mountain good for kids?
Yes. The short nature trails and the paved PATH are easy, the paved trail works for strollers, and there's a playground by the Nature Center. The guided summit hike is for ages 10 and up.
What's the difference between Panola Mountain and Arabia Mountain?
They're neighbors, and the PATH trail connects them. Arabia Mountain was quarried and you can walk on its rock on your own. Panola Mountain was never quarried and is protected, so its summit is guided only.
Make It a Full Day
Panola Mountain pairs well with other easy trips around the metro. If you want rapids and mill ruins, read my Sweetwater Creek State Park guide on the west side. For more close-to-home trips, see my Metro Atlanta outdoors guides, and for more parks, start with my Georgia State Parks guide.
Want to hike Panola Mountain with a group? The Explore Georgia Hiking Club runs free group hikes around Georgia, and every pace is welcome.