Stone Mountain Loop Trail

Stone Mountain Loop Trail is a hard, strenuous loop hike in Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, North Carolina. The route is mapped as a loop of about 6.75 km (roughly 4.5 miles) and is managed as a designated foot trail.

The loop ties into major Stone Mountain State Park features: it reaches Stone Mountain Falls (a 200-foot waterfall) and passes the historic Hutchinson Homestead at the base of the mountain area.

Expect a stair-and-rock-switchback style ascent to the granite dome area. One commonly described pattern includes a long climb with over 300 steps as you work upward toward the summit zone.

The high point is the exposed 600-foot granite dome face. The route character there is barren/granite and the payoff is wide views across the Appalachians.

Navigation on the loop is supported by orange trail marking, and the trail is described as having excellent visibility. Mapped tread is ground, and the route is recorded as having rougher “bad” smoothness.

Timing can matter because the park has issued closure notes for parts of the Stone Mountain Loop Trail near the waterfalls (including a closure window for stair replacement and, separately, closures “until further notice” for the section near the waterfall area). Plan your hike with current park alerts in mind if you’re targeting the falls portion.

Pets are allowed on the route only as leashed dogs (leash length limited to no more than 6 feet), and the loop is mapped as foot-only with no horses and no bicycles.

More information: Map, Stone Mountain State Park: Home | NC State Parks, Stone Mountain Loop Trail in Stone Mountain State Park