Hiking The Kolb’s Farm Loop

Travel & Leisure

  • Author Shannon Rae Treasure
  • Published June 12, 2011
  • Word count 472

The trail has many access points where one can be taken at the Cheatham Hill Road’s wooded parking lot and another from the Cheatham Hill Loop. Taking a counter-clockwise hike the start point shall be at the Cheatham Hill Road. Follow the path towards south onto Peter Kolb’s Farmhouse. Continue on Kolbs Farm Loop until it splits prior to the entrance of a bridge. At a compacted clay pathway near the parking lot’s southern end, the path leads to a large rock marking the trailhead. Turn right on a gravel road and go around the gate that separate vehicles from hikers.

You will approach a hardwood second-growth piedmont forest. On June 27, 1864, this is where the Union line was formed to set an attack at the entrenched Confederates on the east of Cheatham Hill. Climbing to a shaded gravel road the path makes a sharp descent towards John Ward Creek. The trail begins a moderate climb to a series of level and downhill terrain. At 0.8 miles on the trail, the path swerves left as it parallels the Powder Springs Road. Across this road, is the Kolb’s Farmhouse which is a two chimney farmhouse built by Peter Valentine Kolb in 1836. The farm was used as a headquarter after the battle.

The trail continues to stay close at the northern section of the Battle of Kolb’s Farm. Then it makes a descent to a roadway before making a right turn. Cross Powder Springs Road where a small parking area can be seen from short distance. In this area you will find historical markers associated to the battle. Making your way across Cheatham Hill Road, the pathway continues to make an ascent to a stone staircase and then into a field. On this site, several markers and a map give you an overview of the battle that took place hundreds of years ago. From the map, the footpath continues until it makes a turn to the north and rejoins Cheatham Hill.

The trail then moves near streams and through wooded sections. It then crosses John Ward Creek and two tributaries which can be flooded after a heavy downpour. However, an alternate trail can be taken which climbs to a ridge prior to Kolbs Farm Trail that runs alongside the creek. At this point the path makes an ascent out of the river valley until it reaches a three-way intersection.

Take the trail on the right to separate from the Cheatham Hill Loop. The path towards Kolbs Farm Trail parking area is the path that turns left as it leaves the triangle. You will then meet another three-way intersection where you move straight ahead to a path that turns left and start descending to a ridge. Move past the earthwork until you will climb up to the Kolbs Farm Trail parking area.

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