Stone Mountain Spring Hike

Stone Mountain Memorial State Park
Dekalb Co.,
Georgia

Hiking Trails:
Walk Up Trail

Total Time: 1:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Great hike with interesting geology
Cons: Very busy and tight parking on weekends
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ntJcXxrHTeXf4sBf6

I was visiting family in Atlanta for the weekend, so took the opportunity to hike the most famous landmark in the Atlanta area, Stone Mountain, which is a giant rock jutting about 800 feet above the surrounding surface. I've been here before several times, and it's always very busy, especially on weekends. So while the geology and terrain is very interesting, and there are great views with a good climb, you are sharing the trail with a large volume of people. The weather was great and I went in short sleeves. I took the walk up trail to the top and then took the trail back down.

Map of the Route

Sign at the Start

Ascending Stone Mountain

Approaching the Summit

Stone Mountain Winter Hike

Stone Mountain Memorial State Park,
Stone Mountain,
DeKalb Co.,
Georgia

Hiking Trails:
Walk Up Trail: Yellow markings

Total Time: 1:00
Estimated Distance: 2.3 miles

Pros: Interesting geology, good climb, and excellent views
Cons: Very busy, even early on Sunday on a cold winter day
Hike Type: Up and down
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/MSJxFyzSGGQCaMQf8

I was in and out of Atlanta for a family Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah was Sunday late morning. I was out at the mountain at about 9:30, hiked here for an hour, attended the Bar Mitzvah, and then flew back home to New York in the early afternoon.

Atlanta is not mountainous, though it does have some rolling hills. However, Stone Mountain in the eastern suburbs is a giant rock mountain that protrudes from the otherwise flat area. This is one giant rock with some very interesting geology. It is also one of the most popular attractions in Atlanta and certainly its most traversed hike. I would only recommend going here in quiet times - especially during these Corona times; otherwise it's too busy. I was here early Sunday morning and there lots of people out, but it was still very manageable. Though as I completed the hike I noticed how much busier the parking area was and how many more people were setting out to hike.

It was very cold for Atlanta standards, with temperatures in the 30's. This was standard winter weather that I was used to. I parked at the Confederate Hall Parking Lot, at the where the Walk Up Trail starts. The climb is mostly on exposed rock and was moderate except for the end where it ascends a steep hump to the summit. Near the top I walked towards the northern side of the ridge, went over the actual summit, and then looped around.

For the way down, instead of walking on the main path, I went on a spur slightly to the north that goes in a wooded area and was much less busy. Aside from being different than the main trail, it also afforded a different type of terrain and helped me avoid the crowds ascending. This unmarked spur train is about 200 feet north of the main trail and is unmarked. It goes pretty much all the way parallel to the main trail, and I took it to the bottom and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Start of the Hike

Large Rock Face at the Beginning of the Hike

Ascending Stone Mountain

First View on Stone Mountain

Zoomed into the First View with the Atlanta Skyline in the Background

Atlanta Skyline from Stone Mountain, from Downtown through Buckhead

Me at the View before the Final Ascent

Steep Ascent Near the Top of the Mountain

View Nearing the Top, Facing West

Top of the Rail at the Steep Portion of Stone Mountain

The Final Hump Before the Summit

View of the Atlanta Skyline Facing West from Stone Mountain

View from Stone Mountain Facing Northwest

View of Stone Mountain Facing North, with My Shadow in View

View from Stone Mountain Facing East

Cable Car Railway at the Top of Stone Mountain

View from Stone Mountain Facing East

Real Summit of Stone Mountain

Puddle on the Top of Stone Mountain

Rock at Stone Mountain and the City Facing West

Me Atop Stone Mountain

Wooded Trail on the Side of the Rock Face on the Descent

Rockface View Near the Bottom of the Mountain

Stone Mountain (Atlanta Metro Area)

Stone Mountain Memorial State Park,
Stone Mountain,
DeKalb Co., 
Georgia

Hiking Trails:
Walk Up Trail: Yellow markings
White Trail (top only): White markings
Service Road: Unblazed

Total Time: 1 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.6 Miles (includes additional exploration on top)
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for hike in the area

Points of Interest: Incredible geology and excellent views
Cons: Way too many people here

I was in Atlanta for the weekend attending a friend's wedding. Atlanta is mostly flat, though Stone Mountain in the suburbs juts out of the surrounding area as a giant granite rock. I found the geology most interesting, as much of the rock is exposed and some parts are a sheer cliff wall. Being in the area, I had to visit the mountain and climb it.

The weather was great. It had just rained overnight, but the rain moved out and and the clouds were breaking through. I parked at the bottom parking lot where the Walk Up Trail starts. I don't know why they couldn't give a more original name to this trail, but so be it. I couldn't believe the volume of people taking this trail up climbing the mountain. The fact that is was a weekend certainly added to the population.

I found the climb up to very moderate. It wasn't all that steep, though much of it was walking on exposed rock face. Only at the end near the summit did the trail become quite steep, though there were railings at some of these steep spots. Upon nearing the summit, I went on the southern side of the ridge, and then went around back on the northen side for a loop of all the different views. I then went down on the service road all the way down back to my car.

Map of the Route

Information Sign at the Beginning of the Trail

Large Rock Mass Which the Trail Follows, at the Beginning of the Hike

Hiking Up. Note the Pine Trees Interspersed on the Solid Rock Face

First View

Steep Rock Wall (Pictures Don't Relay Steepness)

Downtown and Midtown Atlanta from Stone Mountain

Zoomed Out to Downtown and Midtown

Me at one of the Views

Walking up the Last Ascent, Which is Steep

View of Buckhead in the Distance

Rock Face and View in the Distance

Climbing the Final Ascent

Nearing the Top

View at the Top

View from the Summit, Looking Down at the Lake and Cable Car

Large Open Rock Area at the Summit

Me at the Summit

View from Back at the Bottom of the large Engraving and Sheer Cliff