National and State Parks - Recreational Areas

Home Page
Parks Starting With: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z
Stone Mountain State Park
State Park Information

State Park Overview
Stone Mountain is not immediately visible upon entering the park that bears its name, but this magnificent 600-foot granite dome is well worth the wait. Sunlight and shadows dance across a broad tapestry of stone. White-tailed deer emerge from the security of the forest to graze on meadow grasses at the mountains base. The scenery is only one attraction of the park.

Test your fly-fishing techniques in more than 17 miles of designated trout waters. Or, with more than 16 miles of trails, take a hike in the park. Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1975, Stone Mountain is bounded on the north by the Blue Ridge Parkway and on the west by the Thurmond Chatham Game Lands. More than 13,747 acres of mountain beauty offer opportunities for outdoor activities of all kinds.

Park hours

November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

April, May, September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

June-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Closed Christmas Day

Park office hours

8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Closed state holidays

Camping
Family camping Just past the park office - turnoff leads to the family campground where campsites for tents and recreational vehicles are located on two loop roads. Each site has a tent pad, table and grill. Drinking water and a washhouse with hot showers and laundry tubs are located nearby. There are no utility hookups, but a dump station for use by registered RV campers is adjacent to the campground. The campground is open year round.

Select any unoccupied campsite. Park staff will issue a permit at the site. There is a $15 daily fee for camping and a six-person limit per campsite. All sites are available on a first-come basis. Park gates are locked daily at posted closing hours. Campers are not permitted to leave the park after closing or before 8 a.m., except in an emergency. In an emergency situation, go to the pay phone outside the park office where emergency procedures are posted.

Group camping Four group sites are available for a fee by reservation only. Each site will accommodate 25 people. Each site has a fireplace, grill, tables, water and pit toilets.

Backcountry camping Six backpack camping sites are located along Widows Creek. The trailhead leading to the sites is located in the backcountry parking lot. Distance to the sites ranges from 1.5 to 3 miles from the trailhead. All supplies must be packed to the camping area and minimum impact camping procedures should be followed. Backcountry camping is on a first-come basis by permit only with a maximum of four people per site. Register at the backcountry camping parking lot.

Trails
Stone Mountain Loop Trail This strenuous loop first leads hikers .75 miles to the summit of Stone Mountain then continues 1.25 miles to the top of Stone Mountain Falls. From the falls, the trail leads two miles to the meadow at the base of Stone Mountain and back to the trailhead.

Cedar Rock Trail Available from both Stone Mountain Loop and Wolf Rock trails, this one-mile trail leads to Cedar Rock - large granite outcrop allowing views to the south/southeast and an excellent view of Stone Mountain.

Wolf Rock Trail This 1.5-mile trail is entered from Stone Mountain Loop Trail and provides views of the Blue Ridge Mountain escarpment. The ridges dividing three watersheds?Garden Creek, Widows Creek and Bullhead Creek?can also be seen from atop Wolf Rock. Signs of old field succession are evident along the trail as it leads through areas which are predominantly pine, then mixed pine-hardwood and finally mature hardwood.

Black Jack Ridge Trail Available from Cedar Rock and Wolf Rock trails, this 1.5-mile trail follows an old road bed through heavily wooded areas. In the winter, this strenuous hike offers wonderful views of Stone Mountain.

Self-Guided Nature Trail Beginning at the base of Stone Mountain where the meadow and wooded area meet, this moderate half-mile trail is informative and enjoyable. It travels around the boulder area -cross a creek and through a shady section thick with rhododendron and mountain laurel. Information about the parks geology and vegetation is provided along the trail.

Middle Falls/Lower Falls Trail Available from Stone Mountain Loop Trail, this trail leads hikers a half mile along Big Sandy Creek to Middle Falls and then extends to Lower Falls.

Widows Creek Trail This trail is entered from the backcountry parking area. The trail follows Widows Creek for 2.5 miles to the different backcountry sites and stops. To view Widows Creek Falls, park just beyond the Widows Creek bridge and walk a short distance upstream.

Bridle Trail The five-mile horseback riding trail begins at the horse trailer parking lot and ends at John P. Frank Parkway. All visitors with horses must be able to provide proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test while visiting North Carolina State Parks.

The terrain on the top of Stone Mountain may appear level, but it becomes gradually steeper down slope. Those who wander off the trail risk becoming stranded as the lower sections of the rock are almost vertical. Stay on designated trails and exercise caution as waterfalls and steep, rocky terrain may create hazardous and slippery conditions. Avoid steep, rocky ledges at all times and exercise extreme caution when rocks are wet.

Fishing and Hunting
Designated Trout Streams More than 17 miles of park streams are designated trout waters. Rainbow and brown trout dominate the lower parts of the streams while brook trout inhabit the higher, cooler stretches of water. Garden, Widows and Big Sandy creeks are Wild Trout Waters where only single hook artificial lures may be used.

The East Prong of Roaring River is a stocked stream and is classified as delayed harvest. For approximately eight months of the year, no trout may be harvested from the river and only single hook artificial flies may be used.

For season dates and regulations for each type of trout water, contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC). A valid state fishing license and trout stamp are required for all streams and regulations of the WRC are enforced throughout the park.

Fish for Fun Fish just for fun on Bullhead and Rich Mountain creeks. This section is strictly catch and release and is open for fishing year round from 830 a.m. until one hour before park closing. Barbless flies and nets are required. A special fishing permit is required for this area and may be purchased at the Bullhead Creek parking area. Permits are issued on a daily basis only.

Accessible Fishing Piers Two accessible fishing piers are located along the East Prong of Roaring River. Accessible parking spaces are provided at each pier. Intended for use by individuals with mobility impairments, other individuals may use the piers when space is available.

History of the Area
Located on more than 13,500 acres in Wilkes and Alleghany counties, Stone Mountain State Park offers cascading waterfalls and cool mountain streams, quiet forests abundant with wildlife, scenic hiking trails and a historic mountain homestead.

One of the parks most spectacular features is Stone Mountain - 600-foot granite dome. This magnificent feature is part of a 25-square-mile pluton - igneous rock formed beneath the earths surface by molten lava. Over time, wind, water and other forces gradually eroded the softer layers of rock atop the granite block and exposed the outcrop we see today. Wet weather springs continually carve troughs in the granite as water runs down the mountains sloping face.

Established in 1969 and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975, Stone Mountain is bounded by the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Thurmond Chatham Game Lands.

Long before becoming a state park, Stone Mountain was settled by families of English, German, Irish, French and Scotch-Irish descent who built the log homes, farms, mills, churches and schools needed for self-sufficient communities.