Following the chilly and rainy days we had last weekend and with Catawba County schools out on Monday and Tuesday, when the thermometer hit 60 degrees, I was ready for a dose of nature to cure my cabin fever. We decided to take a day trip to Stone Mountain State Park and found it to be a beautiful place worth visiting.
Stone Mountain State Park is located in Wilkes and Alleghany counties, north of Wilkesboro. It's about 85 miles northeast of Hickory and the drive took us about an hour and a half. For directions to the park, click here.
The 600-foot granite dome known as Stone Mountain is one of the many spectacular features of this park. It was a short 0.6 mile easy hike for the magnificent view in the photo above. The park is a wonderful place for hiking, with more than 16 miles of trails to be explored. Fly-fishing and rock climbing are other popular activities in the park.
Aside from Stone Mountain, you may choose to view one of the numerous waterfalls within the park. Widow's Creek Falls is easily accessible with just a 0.2 mile walk from the parking lot. There are three other waterfalls within the park, one of them being the 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls.
A fantastic educational experience in the park is the Hutchinson Homestead. The historic site is complete with a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, corncrib, and meat house. Informative signs provide insight into the lives of early settlers in the area. On weekends from March through October, the homestead is open to visitors, but one can walk the grounds anytime while the park is open.
There are picnicking and camping sites available within the park. For more information, visit the Stone Mountain State Park page on the NC Division of Parks and Recreation website or call 336-957-8185.
