Stone Mountain GA

While working in the Atlanta area I was staying near this big rock sticking out of the ground, commonly known as Stone Mountain, and knew while I was there I'd have to get up on it. This park area is used heavily by locals and folks from the immediate metro Atlanta area. The mountain has an elevation of 1686', with an actual vertical of 825' from the base and has a primary foot trail (1.3 mls each way), which just heads straight up the "rock" and thus is steep. The vertical gain on this trail is almost 900' which makes it very strenuous for most people and on the spring days when I hiked on the mountain I saw several folks who the were needing to pace themselves better and avoid the cramps and relative levels of dangerous over-exertion. There is also a Skyride which folks can use to access the summit. This is a day use park. The photo below is from the summit with some of the Atlanta skyline in the background. If you'd rather ride a bike then you're in luck! There is a road which circles the mountain and which vehicle access to is limited because it is within the park boundary. The park is self-contained and charges fees for vehicle access. There are various parking spots and areas outside the park perimeter which one can utilize; which is what I did, and then walk in to avoid paying the daily rate for vehicles inside the park. If you are an experienced hiker and look at the map for the park before you start you'll notice some primitive access roads for maintenance, which with some imagination and a little bushwhacking, you'll be able to find a route(s) to the top without having the crowds on the primary trail. This picture below was from a route I chose off the trial and I am heading to those trees on the top right of this picture which was just short of the summit. If you'd like further details on the routes I followed just respond and I'll send you the details. I'd recommend this day hike if your in the area as there are some great views and awesome geology.

Going Downhill

This walk was approximately 12 miles, beginning off the Clingman's Dome road, at the Sugarlands Mountain trailhead. There is a small parking area just across the road from this access point, where the Fork Ridge trail comes out of the woods. The whole route continues along Sugarlands Mtn trail, to the Fighting Creek Gap and the Laurel Falls trail. What an awesome hike! I had inquired about this hike several times over the last few years as I would see folks coming off the end of this route into the parking area, which is primarily used by folks hiking the Laurel Falls trail, when I'd be there working as a volunteer in the park (VIP). The trail begins at close to 6000', and maintains elevation for most of the hike. A hike which I'll do again in the fall in order to experience the changing colors and potential views. Though notice that in the one picture there are no leaves on the trees yet, except for the rhododendrons, and it's the middle of April. Winter lasted this year. I'd estimate in the last 3-4 miles of this hike is when the most elevation was lost and that the majority of our walk was along ridgelines. Though there was a relative decline throughout the walk it was a strenuous hike in both the distance and in the use of different muscles when walking downhill on natural terrain for this distance. The only camping on this route was the Mt Collins shelter which is a few hundred feet into the trail as I have described it here.