Sunday, May 03, 2009
Life, Health + Fitness

Happy trails

You don’t have to go far in Atlanta to find mountainous terrain for a gut-busting workout

Photo/ciapix

The Amicalola Falls staircase is actually quite a workout.

By Colleen Oakley

When I go running, hills are my No. 1 enemy. I try to avoid them at all costs, plotting routes online that are as flat as possible. It seems strange, then, that I love the challenge of climbing up a mountain. Maybe it’s the fresh, crisp air on a perfect spring day, or the sense of accomplishment when I reach the top. Whatever the reason, I fortunately don’t have to travel hundred of miles to get my fix. Check out these great wooded trails within 60 miles of the city that promise to tone up your legs and butt in a jiffy.

Stone Mountain

www.stonemountainpark.com
Distance from Atlanta: 10 minutes
Trail length: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: 3 stars (out of 5)
Not for the acrophobic, this trail winds up a rocky, wooded path leading to the bald rock face of the mountain. Handrails are embedded in the granite, so you can climb up the rock and get rewarded with gorgeous views of downtown Atlanta.

Kennesaw Mountain

www.nps.gov/kemo
Distance from Atlanta: 25 minutes
Trail length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 4.5 stars
I know one mile doesn’t seem like a big workout, but it is when that mile is mostly vertical. This trail is pretty steep, with only a few breaks of level terrain on your way to the top. There’s plenty of history on this mountain—the scene of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain—so when you stop for a breather, you can brush up on Georgia’s past.

Amicalola Falls

www.amicalolafalls.com
Distance from Atlanta: About an hour
Trail length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 4 stars
You’ve got two choices: You can climb up East Ridge Trail and come down the steep top of the Falls stairs/trail adjacent to the gorgeous rushing falls, or you can make the same mistake I did and go up the stairs/trail first. Don’t let the fact that there are stairs fool you into thinking it’s an easy trek. There were points when I wanted to launch myself into the falls and end my misery. But either way you go, there’s no denying the beauty of the water. For romantics, this would be a perfect first date.

Arabia Mountain

www.arabiaalliance.org
Distance from Atlanta: 20 minutes
Trail length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 2 stars
This moderate to easy loop encompasses 2,000 acres of granite rock, wetlands, streams and a lake, not to mention gorgeous 360-degree views at the top. I first found this little-known mountain when I was doing a photo shoot for a fitness magazine about five years ago. It was the perfect backdrop for an outdoor shoot and is still one of my favorite peaceful places near the city. There are plenty of nooks to spread a blanket, so pack a  picnic for this venture. SP

Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at colleen@sundaypaper.com.