Moderate, 7.5 mi Loop (two loops with same endpoint combined)
1,650 ft elevation gain
Hiked 9/28/25
A large dome of exposed granite, Stone Mountain provides sweeping views of the surrounding area and is also known for rock climbing in NC. It is what is known as a monadnock (an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain.) The trail also takes you to a 200ft sliding waterfall which can be done as a shorter hike, or lengthened by adding the blackjack ridge section at the end of the hike.
As a side note, the lower reaches of this trail to the waterfall is most likely the very first hike a young ‘back-in-the-day hiker’ did while there for some brook trout fishing with my dad.
Looking across the mostly bald summit of Stone Mountain, a lone tree stands firm.
The long, sliding, Stone Mountain Falls drops roughly 200 feet to a shallow pool below. Shot at 1/8.
A Praying Mantis looks over at the camera while sunning on Cedar Rock.