Stone Mountain Park in Georgia
Stone Mountain Park located east of Atlanta offers an abundance of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts, with the lake for fishing, playgrounds, biking for all ages, 15 miles of walking and hiking trails, and the Historic features can keep a family busy for days. For exploring the beautiful scenery the park has to offer, the hiking trails are the best, with the two most popular hikes being the Walk-Up Trail and the Cherokee Trail.
The only way to get to the top of Stone Mountain is via the Shy Lift, hiking the 2.1-mile round-trip Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail with an elevation gain of 700 feet. The trail begins near the Confederate Park Hall across the railroad track to the park’s flag display, where the hike quickly begins to take a steady elevation change where near the top the slopes become very steep. The trail surfaces are made up of smooth strips of rocky terrain where shallow earth pits dot the landscape, home to grasses and pine trees. The trail is an exciting workout, but the tremendous views of the surrounding area and historical carvings along the trail make the effort very rewarding. The rugged 5-mile Cherokee Trail loops through the base of the mountain through a pine forest with 468 feet of elevation change primarily due to the trail that crosses the lower western section of the Walk-up Trail. Starting at the old Grist Mill, the trail winds through the forested shores next to Stone Mountain Lake with some spectacular views of the lake passing over the park’s historic wooden covered bridge. After crossing the earthen dam, the trail continues along the shores of Lake Venable overlooking the imposing presence of the mountains with their massive dome that is reflected in the rolling waters of the lakes. After the trail crosses Robert E. Lee Blvd at the playground, it begins some gradual slopes past a small waterfall and stone chimney from a long-gone log cabin. Upon reaching the base of the stone-walled mountain, the trail begins a steep incline down the stone wall until it crosses the Walk-up trail, where it descends on the other side and returns to the pine forest. As the trail enters the auditorium area, the views of the Confederate carvings on the face of the mountain are beyond spectacular. The trail re-enters the forest until it reaches the Grist Mill to complete the loop.
In addition to the long and strenuous trails, Stone Mountain Park has some short scenic trails for you to enjoy. Across the historic bridge to Indian Island is the 1-mile King’s Trail. This trail is great for families with some mild slopes as it traverses the forested shores of the north and east shores of Stone Mountain Lake before turning inland through the center of the island back to the parking lot. The Nature Garden Trail may be a short 75-mile loop, but it is packed with some of the best natural beauty in the park. The trail winds through mature oak and hickory forest that features mostly easy terrain crossing several mountain streams with roots and rocks along the way. Along the trail are numerous benches with interpretive signs identifying shade-loving native plants and flowering shrubs. A more moderately graded trail with some steep slopes is the 1.5-mile Muscogee Loop Trail, named after the Native Indians who once occupied this area. The trail begins with a slow, gradual climb through a hardwood forest crossing some ditches and hills before reaching the lake. The return portion of the trail along the lakeshore gets more technical with frequent slope changes with roots and native granite covering the trail. The site of the 1996 Summer Olympics for archery and cycling is now the park’s songbird habitat. The 1.75-mile loop trail winds through meadows and forests where native plants thrive.
To learn about the history of Stone Mountain, visit the Quarry exhibit, which was developed to tell the story of an industry that removed granite from the mountain for use around the world. Over the years, more than 7.5 million cubic yards were removed from the mountain and virtually every state has a building with Stone Mountain Granite. As time passed, the exhibit explained the changes of paper in technology made in the disposal process. Due to the pandemic, museums and some exhibits are closed at this time.
If you’re looking for a bit of excitement away from Stone Mountain Park, the World of Coke Museum in downtown Atlanta is a great place for all ages showcasing the history of the Coke company. The complex covers 20 acres with multiple interactive exhibits, from beverage samples from around the world to the new Scent Discovery exhibit. Tasting Coke beverages from around the world can be a pleasure in itself, as a Coke Ambassador explains facts and details about each product Coke introduces in other countries. The sense of smell is put to the test by guessing the origin of a variety of scents while educating yourself on the anatomy of smell, from reception to perception. The 3-D theater is a multi-sensory cinematic experience that takes the family on a journey around the world in search of the secret formula for Coca-Cola. Bottle Works allows you to get an up-close look at the equipment and processes found in a full-size bottling factory while learning some interesting facts about the history of Coca-Cola bottling. The community’s loft section displays the rich heritage of yesterday and artifacts of today along with 125 years of Coke memorabilia.