Disclaimer: This site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. It had been raining the night before and the top of the mountain view was very foggy.. nevertheless it was fun to ride the Ariel tramway and it goes up beside the stone carving. After you pass the Hutchinson Homestead, youll see the Cedar Rock Trailhead. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If youre coming from the Visitor Center, youll soon see a fork and your first options for parking. As we mentioned earlier, the name Stone Mountain comes from the exposed granite dome that rises roughly 700 feet above its surroundings. Its also a great side trail on days when the Loop is busy, since not many people seem to turn that direction when hiking. Stone Mountain State Memorial Park is located near Alpharetta, Atlanta and Auburn. Includes access to general admission lawn seating for the Light Show plus live entertainment on the lawn prior to the show. The exhibit on how the stone carving was accomplished was interesting. View the Light Show from a Reserved Snack Terrace that includes a chair on a private terrace, unlimited popcorn, a Coca-Cola beverage, and a cookie. Theres a huge picnic area near the Visitor Center and Upper Trailhead Parking, with 75 individual sites. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, $$ - $$$ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, Points of Interest & Landmarks Religious Sites, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Much different than the normally crowded Stone Mountain Loop trail. The rgion is a major tourist destination for international visitors. He was very knowledgeable and informative about all of the buildings. Additional overlooks include Jumpinoff Rocks (MP 260) and a view of Mount Jefferson (MP 267). You can hike the entire loop in about 2 hours or only hike the view side in about an hour. This road will bring you into the park. @media only screen and (min-width: 769px) { No warning to many of us. Terrace location will be assigned when tickets are redeemed. Throughout the year, this is a great place to visit but the Mountain Heritage Festival (typically in September) is THE time to be in Sparta. Yes, you can bring your own food to the Light Show and picnic on Memorial Lawn before the show, provided you have purchased a Light Show ticket, Attractions Ticket or Membership. Prices do not include tax. For those with limited mobility, you can drive to the homestead access point, but must place the required tags in a visible area upon parking. This trail is estimated to be 69.6 mi long. Is this allowed in the park and if so, are there any attractions that our dog can not go on? Good steady incline to the top, but smooth with few roots and rocks. (It was overcast for us, so shade wasn't an issue.) Many of them are featured on the Surry County Wine Trail. It was amazing..Disney quality presentation against the Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. State Government websites value user privacy. 3 picnic shelters are here, too, and can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is open year round. The children were entralled with it all for 40 minutes. We left for lunch at the Dwarf House Chick Fil A close by and came back just in enough time to see the parade. Be prepared with the most accurate 10-day forecast for Roaring Gap, NC with highs, lows, chance of precipitation from The Weather Channel and Weather.com Learn more about event permits and fees on the Facilities page. If you dont want to bring your own chair this is a great option! Includes access to a reserved seat on a terrace to view the Light Show, one Coca-Cola beverage, and unlimited popcorn. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Carl and Christina started NC Tripping. With so much land to explore, there are plenty of things to do at Stone Mountain State Park. It runs along parts of the Stone Mountain Loop, too, with about six miles in total passing through the park on its way toward the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby. Advanced reservations are encouraged to ensure your entry to the Light Show. } NO! Changes can be made based on availability. If so whats the cost. From I-77 South, take Exit #85/Hwy 268. Because of the dangers of rock climbing and rappelling, climbing is not recommended for beginners unless they are accompanied by an experienced climber. According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Stone Mountain State Park is Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) Segment 6. It was strenuous but totally worth it! .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;}. Getting there early is something I would highly recommend, both from a heat and crowd standpoint. By remaining on this website you indicate your consent. Stone Mountain State Park sits in both Alleghany and Wilkes counties and is one of our favorite parks to visit in Western North Carolina. "source": "woocommerce", Begin from the Lower Trailhead Parking and you can either start your ascent up on the Summit Side or head toward the Hutchinson Homestead and View Side of the dome. The classic Lasershow will remain part of the catalog of light shows and will reappear periodically. There are three designated camping areas and each varies on offerings and access. Parked at the upper parking area: wasn't too bad when we got there, about 9:30. https://www.ncparks.gov/stone-mountain-state-park/activities, Lower Parking lot to Stone Mountain Falls, Stone Mountain Loop, Black Jack Ridge Trail, and Wolf Rock Loop, Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia State Line to Blowing Rock. More than 14,100 acres of mountain beauty offer opportunities for outdoor activities of all kinds. Follow it and not long after, youll see a fork that continues Cedar Rock one direction and the beginning of Black Jack Ridge Trail to the opposite. Please use a JavaScript enabled browser in order to access the full functionality of this site. They also had a woman in the little town that told the Christmas story with the nativity in nights..loved it..the true reason for the season. Heres info on the former two: Both will lead you through woodsy areas, to views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, and also a look at liquor stills that were demolished during the Prohibition era. Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. Raleigh, NC 27699-1615, Main Park Catalog Activities Horseback riding, Main Park Catalog Activities Picnicking, Main Park Catalog Activities Rock climbing, Main Park Catalog Camping type Tent sites, Main Park Catalog Camping type Trailer and RV sites, Main Park Catalog Camping type Group sites, Main Park Catalog Camping type Backpacking sites, Main Park Catalog Amenities Facility rentals, An official website of the State of North Carolina, Black History at North Carolina State Parks, List of park phone numbers and email addresses. We were very fortunate to meet Joey who works there and got a wonderful guided personal tour. Paris, city and capital of France, situated in the north-central part of the country. We went clockwise, which meant going down the multiple flights of stairs to reach the creekside. There are no fees required to access Stone Mountain State Park for day use. In my opinion VIP would not be worth it. Spectacular Lazer show. .ai-viewport-0 { display: none !important;} Visit Website Location 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. // Insert placeholder for events injected when a product is added to the cart through AJAX. The entrance fee is about $20 per car which isnt bad when compared to other area attractions. The park is the most visited tourist site in the state of Georgia. If you stand on the right hand side of the aerial car (either going up or coming back down) you will get a good view of the carvings. Picnic Shelter. Hutchinson Homestead is a restored mil-19th century mountain farm. bottom: 80px; /* 80px from the bottom of your screen */ View the Soul Fest Concert and the Drone & Light Show from aReserved Terrace Seat. Family camping: Just past the park office, a turnoff leads to the family campground where campsites for tents and recreational vehicles are located on two loop roads. Widow's Creek Falls is a beautiful waterfall located inside Stone Mountain State Park. We enjoyed our ride to the top of the mountain on the skylift. The Music Across America Light Show is included with an Attractions Ticket. We watched the 2 movies at the museum toured the 2nd floor of the museum. Park staff lead regularly scheduled interpretive programs that allow the public to gain perspective into what makes North Carolina state parks naturally wonderful. Stone Mountain Park boasts over 3,200 acres of natural beauty and is one of Georgia's most popular attractions. From there, you can head toward the falls and down the 300 wooden steps that run alongside them, or turn toward the Summit Side of the loop. ), Mingo Falls In Cherokee NC (a Great Waterfall + Easy Hike), Background (Physical Features and Previous Residents), Leave No Trace and Stay On Designated Trails, Bridle Loop Trail, 2 Miles Loop, Red Triangle, Bridle Out-and-Back Trail: 8 Miles Round Trip, Red Triangle. ), 25+ Wonderful Waterfalls Near Blowing Rock (within 2 Hours), 20+ Kid-Friendly Waterfalls In NC (Easy Hikes And Swimming Holes! From the west, take NC 16 to NC 18 in North Wilkesboro and then turn right onto Hwy 268 East. /***Move Back to Top Button***/ Cloudy and humid. Brinegar Cabin (MP 239) and nearby Doughton Park (MP 241) are very popular stops and New River State Park (MP 258) is well-known for hikes, tubing, and more water-filled fun. Along the East Prong of Roaring River between the Bullhead Creek Parking and the Bridle Loop Trail Parking are two accessible fishing piers, with accessible parking spaces provided. Inside the park you'll also find a variety of recreational activities and family-friendly attractions and events available seasonally. As with Black Jack Ridge, the Lower Trailhead Parking is your quickest access to Cedar Rock Trail. The show kicks off with over 100 sensational tracks that will have audiences singing, dancing, and moving to the rhythm from start to finish. But when you visit, youll see theres plenty to explore beyond those two major attractions. .ai-viewport-1 { display: inherit !important;} 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd.Stone Mountain, GA 30083.