Similar to Stone Mountain -- and located near it in DeKalb and Rockdale counties -- the smaller outcrops of Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain offer a quieter, more natural experience than often-crowded Stone Mountain. Whereas Stone Mountain has been "improved" into a tacky spectacle, both Panola and Arabia mountains are substantially undeveloped. Panola Mountain is a State Conservation Park; the main mountain is open only to guided hikes, and short public trails on the mountain's footslopes are fenced to protect natural areas. Arabia Mountain, operated by DeKalb County, is less tightly controlled but remains largely natural (excepting graffiti).
Numerous similar outcrops of granitic rock occur in Georgia's Piedmont southeast of the Brevard Fault Zone. While Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain generally are described as granite, Arabia Mountain's rock is a migmatite: metamorphosed at higher temperature than a gneiss, but not melted sufficiently to become granite. All three mountains were once quarried for paving and building stone, as many Georgia outcrops are today. Like many such outcrops, these three harbor unusual plant communities adapted to harsh conditions on their slopes.
On the Rock Outcrop Trail, Panola Mountain |
The Zen of Arabia Mountain: Diamorpha and dogshit |
Wavy Arabia Mountain migmatite |
View from the top |
Near the summit |
A place in the afternoon sun |
Diamorpha smallii, a unique outcrop plant |
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