Panola Mountain State Park

Just 15 minutes from Atlanta, Panola Mountain State Park is a recreational haven for all ages and interests. The park offers archery, geocaching, orienteering, and birding programs. A paved trail is open for biking, roller blading, jogging and dog-walking, while forested fitness trails are open for hiking and running.

Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and much more pristine. Park visitors will see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as Native Americans did centuries ago. Reservations are required for ranger-led hikes that teach about the rare plants and animals found in this habitat.

Featured Birds

American Kestrel

Barred Owl

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown Thrasher

Dark-eyed Junco

Eastern Meadowlark

Red-headed Woodpecker

Wood Duck

Yellow-breasted Chat

Panola Mountain State Park is the crown jewel of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, one of only three National Heritage Areas in the state. The park’s unusual natural beauty and intriguing cultural changes are the basis for this special recognition. Over the years, this area has been home to early settlers, immigrant rock cutters, freed slaves and even Trappist monks. 

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is a partnership among the state of Georgia, DeKalb, Henry and Rockdale counties, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, and numerous communities and public-private partners. Panola has also been designated a National Natural Landmark.

Thanks to ongoing habitat restoration efforts and regular prescribed fire, Panola Mountain State Park’s Power of Flight area is especially attractive to rare sparrows and other fire-dependent birds. Iconic birds found in the Power of Flight area include: Bobolink, Sedge Wren, Chuck-will’s-widow, Eastern Meadowlark, American Kestrel, Wilson’s Snipe, Savannah Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Wild Turkey, Field Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Cooper’s Hawk, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, and more.

Common birds found throughout the park include: Belted Kingfisher, Mallard, Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Chimney Swift, Swamp Sparrow, Killdeer, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.