Ecology

Get plant and animal checklists at the park office.

Forests dominated by chestnut oak cover the slopes of the park's rock-faces while scarlet and black oaks, red maple, hickory, white pine and dogwood populate the woodlands. In the understory are blueberry, rhododendron and mountain laurel. Small, slow-growing pines and cedar fringe the rock while mats of lichens, mosses and small ferns grow on areas of open, exposed granite.

Find frogs and salamanders savoring the moist habitats bordering streams at Stone Mountain while a variety of trout swim underwater. Beavers also enjoy the waters of the park and have created small ponds near the East Prong of Roaring River. Many species of birds inhabit the area, including scarlet tanager, whippoorwill, ruffed grouse, turkey and pileated woodpecker. Other animals found in the park include box turtles, gray and red foxes, bobcats, raccoons and white-tailed deer.