New COVID-19 information for parks under phase 2.5
Posted on: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 5:00pm |
Ecology
Stone Mountain State Park is open for activities such as climbing, fishing, hiking, running, horseback riding, and camping. Park hours are as normal, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with 24-hour camper access via Royal Camp Lane. Restrooms are available at the Upper and Lower trailheads.
Picnic shelters are open and available for reservation.
The park office is open daily. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter.
Camping: All campsites, including group campsites, are open. RESERVATION IS REQUIRED*. There are no walk-ups allowed to limit contact with visitors and park staff. Please reserve online or call Aspira at 1-877-722-6762 (call wait times may be long so reserve online, if possible). Do not call the park; staff cannot take over-the-phone reservation payments.
*Backcountry campers must bring exact change ($12 per site per night) and self-register at the backpack parking trailhead to utilize these campsites (these campsites are not available for reservation online).
Weekends: Please be aware: Stone Mountain State Park will be closed as soon as the main trailhead parking lots fill. The park will be closed to additional visitors once park capacity has been met for the day. We anticipate the main parking lots will reach capacity by mid-morning. Plan accordingly and try to avoid arriving at the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Do not park in undesignated areas. Towing will be enforced. Visitors are urged to visit early and check park status on the park website or on the NC State Parks social media accounts prior to and during your travel to the park.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. As of September 11, 2020, we are following the new guidelines under phase 2.5.
Last updated on: Monday, September 14, 2020Due to all the recent rainfall at Stone Mountain the equestrian trails are closed until further notice. Park Rangers will evaluate the conditions and reopen once trail is considered safe and dry enough for equestrian use.
Last updated on: Friday, September 11, 2020Stone Mountain now routinely reaches capacity by 10:00am on weekends. If you do not arrive by this time, you are not likely to get a parking spot until the afternoon.
Last updated on: Thursday, August 6, 20203042 Frank Parkway
Roaring Gap, NC 28668
336-957-8185
stone.mountain@ncparks.gov
GPS: 36.3873, -81.0273
November - February: 7am - 6pm
March, April, September & October: 7am - 8pm
May - August: 7am - 9pm
Closed Christmas Day
Family & Group Campgrounds remain open after hours via the Royal Camp Ln Road.
Park Office
8am - 5pm daily, except closed weekends December - February.
Closed state holidays.
Fishing
Year-round, from 7am until park closes.
Picnic Shelter
Shelters close 30 minutes before park closes.
Exhibit and Historic Site
Exhibits: open during park office hours.
Homestead site: open weekends, May through October. Visitors are welcome to walk the homestead site grounds when the site is not open.
Garden Creek Baptist Church historic site: services are held at 9am every Sunday, May - October and first Sunday, November - April. Visitors are welcome to walk the church grounds when the church is closed.
Natural resources
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.
Park Maps and Brochures:
