Stone Mountain State Park

This review is for the park overall, as well as the camping area. I stayed here for two days and one night over Labor Day weekend. This is by and far the nicest publicly run camping facility I have ever been to. The bathhouses are brand new and impeccably clean. The tent sights have a great view at the bottom of the mountain on a clear day.
The hike is amazing with breathtaking views and a unique stone surface. It’s a great hike for the family or a dog. The best part is you get views and waterfalls. The falls are really tall and beautiful. The steps are steep so be prepared. We were able to splash around in the water.
Great place for day trip or hiking. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately I didn’t get to explore the area as much as I wanted to but we had a time limit for the turkey cooking in the oven at home, so we had about 2 hrs. We went to the Homestead area that is right next to the giant mountain face. Some neat old pre-​1900 buildings with information signs. The real show, however, was the giant, granite face of the mountain. It is quite spectacular. Granite, eroded smooth and round over the centuries and slick with small trickles of water surrounded with huge boulders that have fallen long ago amid the trees. We had fun climbing them as far as we could go. I found a beautiful bright orange salamander on the way up! I can only imagine how fun this rock face would be to climbers. If we had had the time, I would have liked to hike some of the trails, especially the one that takes you to the top. Too bad I leave for Tampa in the morning. I guess I will have to conquer it on some other trip to NC. We were on our way out around dusk. I’ve been told that dusk is the best time to see deer and that couldn’t have been truer here. We must’ve seen about 20 of them scattered hear and there on our way through the park until we reached the exit! It was all very beautiful.

I really enjoyed this hike. It was a little too crowded for my taste but I am sure it wasn’t half as crowded as it can be during a busier time of year!
We did the 4.5 mile – Stone Mountain Loop. It was so cool to pass the HUGE stone mountain on the way to the top where we could see people rock climbing! That was quite impressive!
The hike was challenging but not overbearing. The views were amazing and there were plenty of places to sit and enjoy lunch while taking in the view.
Parking was easy and this was very accessible to 77 so an easy ride to and from Charlotte.

Granite Domes and waterfalls dominate this state park nested in the hills of North Western NC. The draw of Stone Mountain is varied depending on your interested, but rested assured that there is something for you here.
Hiking: the parked host a bunch of trail and loops that vary from highly traffic to more secluded. During our visit, we started out by doing the Stone Mountain Loop Trail from the lower trailhead. The thought was to get the vertical hiking out of the way first. The trail offers good views of the area, rolls across slabs or granite, and through nestled mountain lurals and waterfalls.
We also hike the wolf rock trail to get away from the crowds. This is a similar hidden and small granite dome on the southside. Connecting between Wolf Rock and Cedar rock see if you can find a hidden old’ bootlegger’s shed and the remnants of a cabin (chimney is all thats left).
Climbing: Stone is host to the world of friction slab climbing. The best time to come here for that is in the cooler months because the rock can heat up like a oven in the sun. Most of the climbing takes place in the center of Stone next to the Great Arch 5.5. On a nice cool day, you can see all type of people out climbing in a sea of holdless granite.
History: Hike the small distance to the bottom of stone to get information on the living in the area in the past. A heritage site is setup with and old cabin and rebuilt farm. Different plaque are setup to read if there isn’t anyone staff at the area in the off months.
Fishing: Around the western side large freshwater streams host excellent trout fishing. The streams and creeks, filter into larger sizes in a winding meadow which allows for excellent fly fishing.
Go Check It out and Enjoy the outside air.

We went there camping at the end of August, 2010. Temperature was in the 60’s at night and 70 – 80’s during the day. I love this place. It is one of my favorite place in NC. Spectacular mountain views, but don’t forget what’s on the ground also. It has the most impressive collection of little plants and mushrooms I have ever seen in one place, in NC mountains. I love the camping facilities: clean, safe and beautiful. Highly recommended.
When you go in the water at the waterfalls, there may be snakes there. Be careful!!! My nieces swam in the water after a hot long hike and when we were leaving, we saw a snake right where they have been sitting. Be careful!!!

The scenery is beautiful. There are picnic shelters, and plenty of trails to explore. My best advice is to take a map, and follow the colored dots on trees to stay on a trail.

I don’t know where to start, so I’ll start with things I don’t like about Stone Mountain. The only thing I don’t like about SM would be the hours, I wish it opened earlier and closed later. The fishing is pretty crowded after delayed harvest but still fun. The bouldering areas are underrated because most people come for the climbing.

This is a great little state park. The trails were challenging enough to be fun, but not so bad that you will be hating life after in the middle of it. The scenery is beautiful, and really reminds you a lot of scenes from Last of the Mohicans. Highly recommend this for a long weekend day hike from Charlotte.

A really unique mountain, with its big bald face and trails of people repelling down the side. I enjoy this hike as much as Chimney Rock — but better yet, it’s free! I recommend parking in the lower lot — there’s a bit of extra trail, and then you arrive at the base of the mountain, with a great view of the thing in its entirety. You can choose to scale on the short side, with a lengthy return walk; or do the opposite. On my two visits we’ve done the latter. There are moderately strenuous moments, at the steepest inclines; but many of these areas are equipped with stairs which makes the climb much easier. And then, there’s a nice payoff once you reach the top. And a shorter return trip. Maybe a mile in to the hike, when taking the lengthier route to the top, you get to the falls. The water pools in parts, and depending on the weather, you might see some people slipping off their socks and shoes to wade around in it. With the lack of trees on the top, you’ll want to recline and bask in the sunshine while the breeze whips all around you. Since my last visit, they’ve invested in bridges to cross over the creeks and in additional stairs on the ascent/​descent (on my last trip, the descent was so steep, I had to slide down sections of the rock on my butt!). Restrooms are available at each parking lot, and are well-​kept. Campgrounds available too. A great day trip. Bring the kids, bring the dogs. And don’t forget plenty of water and some snacks!

Most visitors to this park will not want to follow our agenda, though we always hike at a leisurely pace. My reason for keeping a log of what we did is for my future reference and to give any readers an idea of what is possible taking a six hour hike with many breaks. My goal with any hiking trip is to avoid sweating! We were here Tuesday October 4^th 2011 and the weather was perfect, I’m guessing between 50 and 65 degrees and a nice breeze at the summit and most of the descent.
Mountain Tops OR Waterfalls = SPEEDO Time! These Mountains and Waterfalls do NOT talk! I DO!!! With these weather conditions, Swimwear is a very good idea!
We stopped at the visitor center for a few minutes and then took our time as usual and arrived at the parking lot 9:45 packed up
9:50am and started down the gravel road for the big field and house where you can see much of the biggest face of Stone Mountain. This field is probably the most popular place to take photos. Then we start the first trail, I think is called the Cedar Trail (a trail most people who visit will never take). This is not scenic until you get to the top (Wolf Rock I think it’s called). Once at the Top you have the BEST view of what most people are hiking on (Stone Mountain summit and sides).
10:30 We get to Wolf Rock and we go back to the field, then we’re on our way to the Falls. We take the main Loop Trail which leads to the Tall Falls with side trails to the Lower and Middle falls. We take the side trail at the first fork in the road (11:10).
11:15 we get to the second fork in the road and first we head to the Middle falls just a five minute walk, snap some photos, drink some water and continue.
11:35 we are back at the fork in the road to take the other trail to the Lower Falls. This trail to the Lower Falls involves crossing the river without a bridge! That is right! On 10÷4÷2011 there are still no bridges on this trail and unless you are very skilled at rock hopping or are wearing boots, you will probably get wet, I did helping my friend across, only one foot though and in 30 minutes (well draining shoes) my foot was almost dry. Usually we would take off our shoes and that is really better!
12:00 Noon! We arrive at the Lower Falls in time for lunch and would have gone hungry without packing one (no restaurants, bars, not even a vending machine) so we ate and relaxed before the backtrack across the river three more times and a good warm up for the Stone Mountain Falls trail and viewing of the Falls from the Bottom, Middle and Top.
Please be Cautious and responsible! Fatalities have occurred here!
1:15 We arrive at the bottom of the falls and take many photos from many positions, if you are wondering the vantage point’s I’m shooting from, none are very safe nor sane. If you want safe and sane see my friends very excellent photos, all are from a safe position though one was very odd and one I’m holding him very tightly!
It is a long walk up the stairs beside the waterfall and the hike is classified as «strenuous» from the bottom of the falls to the Summit of Stone Mountain, also it is quite strenuous descending the opposite side.
2:40 We reach the Summit, as usual I want to explore, though once my friend sees the vultures he says «lets go» (thinking we may be a great early dinner for these huge scavengers). I say no I want some photos, so he gets under a small tree and takes some Amazing (for the Camera I’m using) photos and I go to the edge of where it is unreasonable for any sane, life-​valuing person to climb/​descend without a harness, ropes and a dependable and skilled stuntman/​climbing partner with no appreciation nor respect for gravity. I got some photos and missed one great one where the Vultures were right beside me and I did not see them because I was paying more attention to what was in front of me to better my chances of not falling. This was my first time to combine climbing and shooting photos at the same time… EXTREME CAUTION should at least be considered!
3:00 we leave the summit and begin the descent, already exhausted.
3:40 We arrive at the car, my friend snaps some Deer photos on our way out of the park. How about Italian for Dinner?
Jump Bag: : Pack: Speedo (Dries faster and looks better than underwear on the Rocks), smaller than Board Shorts and less Boring!

I’ve had one of the worst experiences of my life at Stone Mountain park and I still give it 5 stars,. The experience wasn’t the fault of the park though and I really can’t blame it for the health problem that put me in the hospital 2 days later. The park just gave me the warning sign which i am eternally thankful for.
Anyway, the first visit we did the main trail up and almost over the big mountain of rock. Only I had to stop ever 50 feet to catch my breath and never made it over the mountain. But it was a great view… a little hot if you weren’t in the shade.
The next visit was to conquer the mountain but my friend and I didn’t do the main trail. Instead we went the back way and checked out a couple of waterfalls first before going up the backside of the mountain with all the stairs to the big waterfall. This waterfall reminds me of Hickory Nut Falls at Chimney Rock because of its height.
Anyway, along the trails you may see various forms of wildlife from deer to birds to snakes. Along the backside of the mountain you may see some rock climbers.
This is definitely a great park but a word to the people who want to feed the animals. DON’T. They come to rely on you and then they don’t learn to forrage for themselves.

So, a day off from work had me heading up for a little fly fishing. This delayed harvest stream in this park means folks can take fish out until October. The fishing was not good, but the woods, trails and wildlife I saw made up for it.

One of my favorite places on earth. No, it’s not quite Nepal or the Amazon River Basin or the Egyptian Pyramids … but everyone goes to those places. And you can see them all on TV. Stone Mountain is about the closest place in the mid-​Atlantic you can go to be a whole world away from it all. Including — at the right time of year — the crowds.
There’s a great little campground with nice facilities — even a shower in summer (a far cry from when we had to camp along the dirt road and swim in the creek «back in the day»).
There’s a big beautiful granite dome, featuring some classic big-​slab climbing. It faces south, so you can still get some great climbing days in January (climb during the day in shorts, wear everything you have around the campfire and still freeze your butt off at night).
If it rains, there are some cool hiking trails that look out into the Blue Ridge. Plus the Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby.
If it snows … well, you probably need to cancel your trip. They’ll likely still be closed 3 days after it’s all melted off the roads.