Stone Mountain State Park: 1 Day Itinerary

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If you’re looking for a wonderful outdoor escape, Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina should definitely be on your radar! This beautiful park is packed with stunning views, incredible trails, and a dash of history, making it a fantastic spot for a day trip. In this post, I’ll share an adventurous itinerary perfect for your day at the park. Get ready to discover breathtaking waterfalls, explore scenic trails, and have a great time in this wonderful natural haven. So grab your hiking boots, pack some snacks, and let’s dive into the amazing experiences awaiting you at Stone Mountain State Park!

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

There is one campground with 80 campsites (with both electric/water sites and primitive sites). Group camping is also available. Reservations for the campground can be made here- Camping at Stone Mountain State Park.

There are no hotels or lodges within the park. For hotel options outside the park – as well as more camping and VRBO options- check out the city of Elkin. Elkin is approximately 17 miles away.

Dining:

There are no food options within the park, but there are shelters and picnic areas if you bring in your own food. The city of Sparta will have your closest food options. Sparta is approximately 15 miles away.

Know Before You Go:

Park hours vary by month. Check the park’s website here- Park Hours– before your visit. The park is open every holiday except for Christmas Day.
The Visitor Center is open daily from March to November, 8 AM to 4 PM. From December to February, the Visitor Center is open only Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
This park also offers horseback riding, fishing, and rock climbing. A fishing license is required to fish within the park, and a climbing permit is required for rock climbing.
The Hutchinson Homestead buildings are open May- October, weekends only. The grounds can be explored even when the buildings themselves are closed.
Dogs, on leash, are allowed on hiking trails. They are not allowed in any park buildings.
I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
Please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.

1 Day Itinerary

Widow’s Creek Falls

Distance: 0.2 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: +10 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Widow’s Falls Parking Lot via Stone Mountain Road

Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash

Restrooms at Trailhead: No

Start your day with a visit to Widow’s Creek Falls. Be sure to park in the
Widow’s Creek Falls parking area and not in the Widow’s Creek Trail lot, as the latter will lead you to Upper Widow’s Creek Falls. The trail to Upper Widow’s Creek Falls is a strenuous 2.5 miles, while the walk to the main waterfall is a much easier 0.2 miles.

This stunning waterfall cascades down smooth rocks into several small pools, which become a natural waterslide during the summer months before flowing back into the creek below. While it may be tempting to explore both sides of the waterfall by crossing the rocks where the water is shallow, please exercise caution. We noticed several people slip this past spring!

Bullhead Creek Falls

Distance: 0.1 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: +10 ft

Trail Access: Park in the lot just past the Bullhead Creek Bridge.

Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash

Restrooms at the Trailhead: No

The next waterfall trail is just as quick! Head 0.5 miles east on Stone Mountain Road and park in the lot on your left, just after the bridge that crosses Bullhead Creek. You should be able to hear the rushing water shortly after leaving the trailhead. It’s a quick, flat walk to a small beach area in front of the 15-foot falls. We had this beautiful spot all to ourselves this spring. Between the cascading water over a very cool rock formation, the canopy of trees overhead, and the rainbow of colorful rocks under our feet, this was a pretty perfect spot.

Stone Mountain Loop

Distance: 5 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +900 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Lower Trailhead Lot.

Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash

Restrooms at Trailhead: Yes

*For the next few months in 2026, the stairs by Stone Mountain Falls are closed for repairs. I still suggest visiting and hiking this trail, but as an out-and-back rather than a loop in the short term.

This trail can be started from either the Upper Lot or the Lower Lot, and it can be hiked in either direction since it forms a loop. Either way, you are walking up one side of the mountain and down the other.

From the Lower Lot parking area, the trail splits just past the trailhead. At this point, you’ll need to decide whether you’d prefer to summit the mountain first or see the base of the mountain first. I recommend tackling the toughest part at the beginning, so that’s what we did. To head to the summit first, veer left at the split and begin your climb to the top. The trek from the split to the summit is just under a very steep mile.

Once you reach the summit, take a moment to enjoy the views before you begin traversing the rocky mountaintop. From there, you’ll navigate a mix of rocky terrain and dirt forest trail until you reach the connector trail for the Upper Lot, approximately 1.4 miles from the summit. Look for the old stone fireplace at the junction and veer right towards the wooden stairs (over 400 steps) leading to the 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls.

Starting at the top of the falls, take the wooden stairs down to the base. After reaching the base, continue along the trail for an additional 0.3 miles, where you’ll come to a trail junction. If you’re up for seeing two more waterfalls, veer left at the junction to explore Middle and Lower Falls. Adding this spur trail will increase your hike by 1.8 miles and add over 100 feet of elevation. And while these two falls are much smaller, it’s a great place to escape the crowds.

If you’re ready to finish your hike, continue on the main path for 0.8 miles. At this point, you’ll have views of the mountain from its base, and you can also explore the Hutchinson Homestead. After spending some time exploring the area, make your way back 0.7 miles to the Lower Lot to complete the loop.