COVID-19 CLOSURES AT ALL PARKS
Posted on: Thursday, August 6, 2020 - 1:27pm |
Trails
Current status of park facilities
Stone Mountain State Park is open for activities such as climbing, fishing, hiking, running, horseback riding, and camping. Park hours are as normal, 7:00am to 9:00pm, with 24-hour camper access via Royal Camp Lane. Restrooms are available at the Upper and Lower trailheads. Picnic shelters are not reservable until July 1, 2020 to limit gathering of 25 or more per NC Governors Executive Orders. The park visitor center remains closed.
Camping: All campsites, except group campsites, are open as of May 22. 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 main trail head 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 10:00am to 3:00pm. 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 traveling to the park.
When visiting, please follow social distancing guidelines, regardless of the behavior of others. Please try to stay 6 feet away from other visitors and park staff or wear a mask or face covering. Try to touch as few surfaces as possible and do not enter areas that have been closed off. Wash or sanitize your hands before, during, and after your visit, and stay home if you are sick.
Last updated on: Monday, August 10, 2020
Park at capacity by 10:00am on weekends
Stone 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.
List of trails
Trail network visits the Stone Mountain summit as well as waterfalls, trout streams, historic homestead and dramatic overlooks. Rugged terrain can offer hiking challenges, and equestrians enjoy a five-mile trail.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Location: The trail begins at the backpack parking area for the Widows Creek Trail.
Description:
The trail forks to the right at the backpack sites and continues for another 5.5 miles to the Devil's Garden Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. All backpackers must register and pay at the backpack parking area before camping overnight.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
6.00 miles
one way
6.00 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous hike
strenuous hike
Blaze:
white circles
white circles
Stone Mountain Loop Trail
Location: Reached From Upper or Lower Parking Areas
Description:
This 4.5 mile trail takes you across the summit of Stone Mountain, by the Hutchinson Homestead and a 200 foot waterfall. Hikers can choose to go to the waterfall or the summit and back without having to do the entire loop. The park's TRACK Trail is located on a portion of the trail from the Lower Trailhead parking lot to the Hutchison Homestead.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
4.50 miles
loop
4.50 miles
loop
Difficulty:
strenuous hike
strenuous hike
Blaze:
orange circle
orange circle
Widow's Creek Trail
Location: This trail is entered from the backpack parking area
Description:
The trail follows Widow's Creek for 2.5 miles to the different backpack sites and stops. To view Widow's Creek Falls, park just beyond the Widow's Creek bridge and walk a short distance upstream.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
2.50 miles
one way
2.50 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous hike
strenuous hike
Blaze:
orange square
orange square
Wolf Rock Trail
Location: Trail is entered from Stone Mountain Loop Trail or the Cedar Rock Trail
Description:
The trail provides views of the Blue Ridge Mountain escarpment. The ridges dividing three watersheds - Garden Creek, Widow's 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.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
1.50 miles
one way
1.50 miles
one way
Difficulty:
moderate hike
moderate hike
Blaze:
red square
red square
Park Maps and Brochures:
