Panola Mountain State Park: Rock Outcrop and Watershed Trails (Blog Hike #249)

Trails: Rock Outcrop and Watershed Trails

Hike Location: Panola Mountain State Park

Geographic Location: southwest of Lithonia, GA (33.62498, -84.17113)

Length: 1.6 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: October 2008, December 2012, June 2023

Overview: A pair of short, easy trails featuring the interesting rock outcrops of Panola Mountain.

Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=721656
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: On the east side of Atlanta, take I-20 to Panola Rd. (exit 71).  Exit and go south on Panola Rd.  Take Panola Rd. to its end at SR 155 and turn left of SR 155.  Take SR 155 2.4 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and follow the main park road to its end at the Nature Center.  The trails begin behind the Nature Center.

The hike: If you like Stone Mountain but feel repulsed by the touristy atmosphere, then Panola Mountain might be just your cup of tea.  In fact, of the various granite monoliths on the east side of Atlanta, Panola Mountain is the only one that has remained undisturbed.  To ensure it stays that way, the mountain has been designated a National Natural Landmark, and the state park was formed in 1974 to protect the mountain and its surrounding land.

            Since the purpose of the park is conservation, only a small amount of development has taken place on the park’s 1026 acres.  4 picnic areas, all along the main park road, are available for rent, and 2 small fishing lakes lure anglers.  The 1 mile Exercise Trail (not described here) provides an interesting journey through the woods passing several exercise stations along the way.  The small Nature Center contains some interesting exhibits on the animals that inhabit the woods around Panola Mountain.

Departing the trailhead

            The park’s two nature trails, the 0.75 mile yellow-blazed Rock Outcrop Trail and the 1.25 mile red-blazed Watershed Trail (formerly known as the Microwatershed Trail), depart from a common trailhead behind the Nature Center.  Of course, you could choose one or the other to hike, but since the two trails are very different, a trip to Panola Mountain would not be complete without hiking both.  Since my hiking partner could only walk short distances, we chose to get her to the rock outcrop first.

            The mulch trail heads into an open forest dominated by tall, sparse loblolly pines.  Several stations and interpretive signs along the route tell you more about the plant communities you are walking through.  At 0.25 miles, you reach an unmarked intersection where an unblazed trail exits to the left.  The unblazed shortcut trail bypasses the rock outcrop and reduces the length to 0.5 miles.  Of course, you should follow the yellow blazes, which lead straight ahead and pass by the outcrop.

Boulders above outcrop

            The trail descends gradually passing over some wooden waterbars.  Some exposed rock can be seen uphill to the left, but the real show soon begins as the expansive, bare granite rock comes into view over the red wooden fence on the right.  Take some time to examine the rock.  Little green patches that look like moss are actually lichens, a combination of algae and fungus specially adapted to live on the rock.  The small “potholes” are called solution holes, areas where the rock has been dissolved; these are the above-ground version of caves and sinkholes.

Panola Mountain rock outcrop

            A boardwalk not only makes the walking easier but helps protect the delicate organisms living on the rocks from damage caused by human foot traffic.  Near the end of the boardwalk, where the shortcut trail enters from the left, angle right to continue around the loop.  A gradual descent and ascent through more open pine forest return you to the common trailhead in another 0.25 miles.  Now beginning the Watershed Trail, the red blazes head east through the forest, soon crossing a dirt maintenance road.  Some downed trees indicate relatively recent storm damage.

Watershed Trail

            At 0.3 miles, a spur trail exits right and heads to picnic area #3 and the adjacent main park road.  For now you should ignore this spur trail, though it may save you some steps on your return route.  Just past this intersection, you reach another intersection marked by a sign thanking AT&T for sponsoring this trail.  This intersection marks the beginning of the loop portion of this trail.  As a sign indicates, you should turn left and hike the loop clockwise.

            The trail passes an old wooden overlook platform that now overlooks nothing in particular and soon begins descending toward the stream.  The trail soon reaches the stream and crosses it on a short wooden bridge.  An observation area to the left gives closer views of the stream, but the trail continues by turning right and paralleling the creek, heading upstream.

            After following the stream for 0.2 miles, the trail curves left, crosses the stream on another bridge, and begins its climb away from the creek.  This climb takes place along a highly eroded, steep-banked ravine, and an observation station allows for better views of the ravine.  Once atop the hill, the trail angles right and proceeds another 0.2 uneventful miles through young forest to close the loop at the AT&T sign. A left turn will lead you back along the initial entrance route to return you to the Nature Center (or main park road via the spur trail) and complete the hike.