The Panola Shoals trailhead lot on the South River is still closed. The City of Stonecrest's most recent notice, from August 17, 2026, says streambank stabilization has started again and the lot will stay closed for safety. It gives no reopening date.
Losing one lot doesn't limit much in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Free parking is spread across the whole network. What fills up in November is space on guided programs. Panola Mountain's granite is open only on ranger-led hikes, and most of the month's naturalist walks ask you to register. So start your November with the calendar, then pick a lot.
The River Lot Has Been on Hold for More Than a Year
The delay goes back to fall 2025. On October 9, 2025, Stonecrest posted an update saying recent storms had changed the river enough that the project needed a full redesign. Construction would resume once permits were approved. The city described the end goal this way:
"Once permits are approved, construction will resume, delivering a beautiful and lasting recreational space for the Stonecrest community to enjoy."
The city's August 17 notice confirmed the work had restarted. It also said the lot stays closed while crews are there. When Stonecrest broke ground on the $3 million project at 4460 Panola Rd., the city expected it to be finished in 2026. That target predates the storm redesign, and the August notice gives no reopening date for the lot, so plan your November without this trailhead. If you drive by and the gate is open, that's a bonus.
The Free Lots Can Absorb the Closure
The Arabia Alliance describes the Arabia Mountain PATH as a 30-plus-mile paved trail with 13 free parking lots along it. In the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, trails are open dawn to dusk. Parking and trail use are free, and leashed dogs are welcome.
The two main lots are the Nature Center lot and the AWARE lot. DeKalb County notes that both fill quickly, and its parks page lists backups.
| Lot | Address | Parking cost | What it's good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center | 3787 Klondike Road | Free | Meeting point for guided hikes |
| Arabia Mountain / AWARE lot | 4158 Klondike Road | Free | Closest start to the mountain itself |
| Vaughters' Farm Lot | 3366 Klondike Road | Free | One of DeKalb's last dairy farm landscapes, a short way up the road from the Nature Center |
| Polebridge Trailhead | 6262 Browns Mill Road | Free | Quick access to the preserve's forests |
| Rockland Road Overflow Lot | 6715 Rockland Road | Free | Overflow just north of the Nature Center |
| Lyon Farm Trailhead | 4431 Lyons Road | Free | Oldest homestead in DeKalb, park in the cul-de-sac |
| South Rockdale Community Park | 3909 East Fairview Road SW | Free | PATH connection plus trails along the South River |
| Panola Mountain State Park | 2620 Georgia 155 SW | $5 unless you have a Georgia State Parks pass | Ranger-led granite hikes, Nature Center programs |
| Alexander Lake Entrance | 5015 Flat Bridge Rd SW | $5 | Lake loop, archery range, the historic Parker House |
DeKalb's parking guidance names weekends as the busiest time at the preserve and recommends weekdays for anyone who wants to avoid crowds. The county page is undated and includes pandemic-era language, so treat its overflow lots as options and check them before a busy Saturday. Only the two state park entrances charge for parking. Everything on the DeKalb side of the table is free.
Panola's Granite Is Open Only by Reservation
At Panola Mountain State Park, the state requires a ranger-led hike to reach the granite. Georgia State Parks asks visitors to call ahead to reserve. Pets are not allowed in that conservation area, but leashed dogs can use the park's other trails. The park calls Panola a 100-acre granite outcrop like Stone Mountain, only smaller and much more pristine, and lists it as a National Natural Landmark.
That rule shapes Panola's November. You can walk the paved trail, picnic or let the kids run around on the playground any day you like. Getting onto the outcrop takes a booked spot on a dated program. The Davidson-Arabia preserve works on a similar weekly rhythm. The Alliance's directions page lists ranger-guided hikes at 8 a.m. on Fridays and Sundays, from the Nature Center at 3787 Klondike Road.
November's Programs, Weekend by Weekend
The Arabia Alliance calendar lists a busy first half of November across both parks. Here are the dates, with the registration notes from each listing.
First weekend and the week after
- Sunday, November 1: Free guided hike with Arabia Mountain's Naturalist, covering the preserve's ecology and human history. Registration is through the Alliance listing. Bring a refillable water bottle.
- Wednesday, November 4: Free brisk midweek walk through Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve with Ranger Doffice. Reserve a spot ahead of time.
- Friday, November 6: Free Naturalist-guided hike at the preserve, same format as November 1.
Second weekend
- Saturday, November 7: A 3.5-mile, moderately strenuous hike at Panola that covers geology, ecology and human history. Advance registration is recommended, closed-toed shoes with good tread are required, and the program is recommended for ages 10 and up. Separately, a free native-animal program at Panola's Nature Center features a live snake or turtle and is recommended for ages 5 to 10.
- Sunday, November 8: A free Naturalist hike at the Davidson-Arabia preserve. At Panola, a 1.25-mile amphibian and macroinvertebrate hike on the Watershed Trail spends time in Panola Creek, so expect to get muddy and wet. Pre-registration by phone with the Park Office is required, and the program is for ages 5 and up. The native-animal program repeats.
Midmonth
- Wednesday, November 11: A hands-on archaeology activity at Panola built for middle and high school students, with homeschoolers welcome. Pre-registration is required.
- Saturday, November 14: Friends of Panola hosts coffee and donuts at the Nature Center, then a volunteer workday. Wear closed-toed shoes. Archery sessions run at Panola that day too, with all equipment provided, no experience needed, and a minimum age of 8. Register in advance with the Park Office. The listing says reservations are nonrefundable.
- Sunday, November 15: More archery sessions at Panola, same terms.
The Alliance listings don't include start times for most of these programs, so check each one's registration page before you go. The Panola Park Office number on the listings is 770-389-7801. Questions about the Davidson-Arabia preserve go to the preserve offices at 770-484-3060.
Where to Reach the South River Instead
The Panola Shoals lot is the trailhead on the South River, so the closure cuts off a direct way to the water. DeKalb lists South Rockdale Community Park at 3909 East Fairview Road SW as a PATH connection with trails through forest and along the South River. Until the Stonecrest project wraps up, that is the free lot in the table that gets you to the South River.
On the evening of Saturday, November 14, at 5 p.m., the Alliance is hosting its first Movie in the Meadow with Paddle 4 Tomorrow. The film is Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia. Bring a chair or blanket, and the organizers will bring popcorn. Registration is through the Arabia Alliance calendar. The listing doesn't give the meadow's address, so look for it in your registration details.
One way to plan the second Saturday is the Friends of Panola workday or an archery session in the morning, a South River walk from South Rockdale Community Park in the afternoon, and the screening at 5.
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