Georgia Hikes: Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail
One of Georgia’s most popular attractions, Stone Mountain Park is located on 3,200 acres of wooded forest, lake, and of course Stone Mountain itself. The park is open year-round, which means you’re free to hike up the popular Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail during any season you choose.
Ready for a challenging 1-mile hike? The Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail offers a heart-pumping incline up the rocky face of Stone Mountain.
At the top, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views from Downtown Atlanta to the North Georgia Mountains.
About Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park is one of Atlanta’s favorite family-friendly attractions. Over its 3,200 acres, the park features outdoor recreational activities, camping, a resort, a mountain inn, a scenic railroad, seasonal festivals, and more.
You can ride to the top of the iconic Stone Mountain in the Summit Skyride, a high-speed Swiss cable car that gives you great views on the way to the top. But an even better way to appreciate the mountain is hiking to the top via the Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail.
Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail
The Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail is a 1 mile hike up rocky surface of the mountain. This trail is open daily from dawn to dusk and follows a yellow painted line up the mountain.
The Walk-Up Trail trailhead is located near the park’s Confederate Hall. There is a parking lot and restrooms at the bottom of the mountain here.
The trail begins by crossing over the train tracks and quickly gaining elevation. The hike crosses the Cherokee Trail at 0.25 miles; by this point, you’ve already reached 1,165 feet. From here, the trail only intensifies.
The trail passes a pavilion, the Stone Mountain “Halfway House”, at 0.6 miles. At an elevation of 1,370 feet, this stopping point gives you a chance to rest before the climb steepens considerably.
On this portion of the hike, the trail climbs between two handrails to help you up the steep part. Before the handrails, you’ll get a sampling of the views the summit offers.
Stone Mountain Summit
At the summit, you’re 1,686 feet above sea level. The top of the mountain is made up of bare rock and rock pools. On clear days, you can see 60 miles out, including views of the downtown Atlanta skyline, Kennesaw Mountain, and even the Appalachian Mountains. The top of the mountain has restrooms, a snack bar, and gift shop.
You can either ride the Summit Skyride back down the mountain or hike the mile back to the base. We typically choose to ride the Skyride back down, getting a great view of the mountain with the Atlanta skyline in the distance.
The park offers many more attractions beyond Stone Mountain summit, including a scenic train ride, a ropes course, a historic square, camping and picnic areas, as well as seasonal “Snow Mountain” activities.
Hiking Essentials
Come prepared for your hike by making sure you pack the essentials. Check out this must-have hiking gear before you set off on the trails:
Nearby Hiking Trails
Looking for more hiking trails in Atlanta? Check out more of these amazing Georgia hikes:
- Zonolite Park Trail
- Lullwater Preserve President’s Loop & Lake Loop Trails
- Kennesaw Mountain Loop Trail
Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 42% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you hiked the Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail? Let me know in the comments!
