Stone Mountain in North Carolina

Stone Mountain is located in Roaring Gap, North Carolina and gets its name from its 600 foot dome. Stone Mountain is a great place for couples or families. Stone Mountain has also been named a Designated National Natural Landmark since 1975. The trout fishing is good, and the scenery is spectacular. Hiking, swimming, and trout fishing are a few of the outdoor adventures at Stone Mountain.

Sixteen miles of hiking trails take many different paths around the mountain with various skill levels from beginner to advanced. Scenery choices include heavy woodlands, meadows, and waterfalls. Bridle Trail is a five mile trail where horses are welcomed. When hiking along Stone Mountain be very careful near the park's many steep slopes and wet, slippery rocks around waterfalls.

Hunting and fly-fishing are two other popular activities on the mountain. Seventeen miles of streams with rainbow, brown, and brook trout are good for fly-fishing. For hunting or fishing check the season dates and regulations for this area of North Carolina., and be sure to have a current NC hunting and/or fishing license. There two fishing piers with handicap provisions and parking available on site.

For the advanced rock climber, climbing and rappelling are available in designated areas, yet climbers must register with the park to obtain an activity permit. Permits must be kept on the person at all times while rock climbing. It is required that climbers use all of the basic climbing, rappelling, and safety gear at all times. Climbers are responsible for their own safety, and climb at their own risk.

For the less athletic person, Stone Mountain offers a variety of slower paced activities. Physical activities are not the only attractions that you will find on this North Carolina mountain. There are Numerous historic sites and an old timey still have various displays and exhibits including a weaving loom, animal pelts, and a full body mount of a black bear.

One of the historic sites found on Stone Mountain is Hutchinson Homestead. This section includes a log cabin, barn, and blacksmith shop. Garden Creek Baptist Church was established in 1897 at the park and still holds regular services at designated times throughout the year, and still stands in its original beauty. No excess remodeling or restorations have been done to the church.

For a reasonable price of only fifteen dollars daily, campers can enjoy camping along with the other activities on the mountain. No reservation is required for parties of up to six people, yet is required for larger groups of up to twenty five campers. Sites are first come first serve for any available used site. Park staff will issue you a permit for your chosen site. The campground provides a tent pad, grill, and table at each site. All campers have easy access to drinking water, laundry rooms, and showers.

March 6, 2010

Today we decided to go to Stone Mountain for a family outing, plus wear out our two hyper dogs, Maggie & Chloe. Jack, myself, the kids (2 a boy and a girl), and our Lab mix (Maggie), and Jack Russell (Chloe) took the thirty minute ride to the park.

Entering the park you will begin to see deer on the side of the road. Although the park posts signs for not feeding the wildlife, I'm sure they get their share of tasty handouts. One doe stood there, not 3 feet from our SUV, chewing on something while I reached my arm out the window. If I would have had an ear of corn in my hand, I swear she would have walked up and taken it from me. The dogs acted like they couldn't figure out why this deer wasn't running like all the ones at home.

The weather today was around 60 degrees, and a nice break from the weekend snow days we've been having. People rappelling down the stone face of the mountain drew onlookers from the beautiful open view from The Homestead. I think Jack counted between 11-13.

The picture above (2nd one down) doesn't do the real view justice, it's truly amazing.

Wolf Rock Trail is just under a mile and a half long, and will get your heart pumping. I figured out that turning 40 also means that those uphill climbs aren't as easy as they once were. A couple of hills on this trail are a little steep, but not too bad.

The kids got worried when Maggie got too close to a patch of ice on top of Wolf Rock, but she didn't get on it. If she would have, we would probably still be there looking for her. Chloe walked out on the rock with a look on her face like she had just discovered the moon.

Using two lightly packed backpacks makes a good way to easily travel without weighing you down. We packed some snacks, water, and, of course, dog food in ours. There are several places to stop and take a break, and we met very few people on the trail.

A trip to Stone Mountain was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon outdoors with the entire family. The dogs slept most of the way home. The kids got a kick out of Jack rolling his window down to ask a doe on the side of the road for directions, while she just stood there, unalarmed, watching as we left the park.