Stone Mountain Moonlight hike

Ok, I led this hike a couple of times in the past, and it worked out great.  Timing is everything, and the 93% full moon should be high in the sky by the time we start out.  We didn't need headlamps at all last time...just the moonlight to guide our way.  If the rock is wet from any rain, or if there are any clouds that get in the way... we may need to resort to artificial light, and will still be a nice cool walk up the mountain.  

We will be hiking up the gravel service road that runs roughly parallel to the main (more rocky) trail.  This is safer in low light, with easier footing.  Once we get to the little shelter where the gravel road ends, our eyes will be even more adjused.  The nearly full moon will light up the granite and should be easy from there.

Moonrise will be at 5:40 PM, so that will give it a couple of hrs to get high in the sky above our trail.  

Once we reach the summit, we can do the little 1/2 hike around the eastern side of the mtn if the group feels like it or just head back down after a bit.

We will meet near the start of the walk-up trail near the parking lot beside Confederate Hall. There is a $20 fee (ouch) to drive into the Park; however, free parking is available in Stone Mountain Village. See directions below...

GPS Coordinates:

33°48'38.8"N 84°09'43.7"W
33.810768, -84.162124

Vehicle access to Stone Mountain Park is $20 per day unless you have an annual pass. There is a discount if you purchase more than one Annual Pass at a time.

Directions: To the main entrance- From I-285 take U.S. Hwy 78 East (Snellville/Athens) exit. Travel about 7 miles and take Exit 8, the Stone Mountain Park Main Entrance. After entering the main entrance, proceed straight ahead. The road will fork at about 1 mile – stay to the right. Continue to follow the road for another mile.  Look for the large Confederate Hall parking lot on your left where we park during the hike.  We'll gather at our "usual AOC meetup spot," by the stone restroom building at the base of the Walk-Up Trail

You can also enter through the West Gate entrance, in Stone Mountain Village. If you enter here, turn right through the gate and you're just almost to the Confederate Hall parking lot on your left.

OPTIONAL FREE PARK ENTRANCE FOR PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLISTS:

There's no charge for pedestrians or bicyclists to enter Stone Mountain Park.  There is usually plenty of free parking just outside the Park in the Stone Mountain Village area.  The Village is near the Park's "West Gate" entrance which is quite close to Confederate Hall and the Walk-Up trailhead.  You can park near the railroad tracks and walk about 1/2 mile up East Mountain Street and directly into the park, through a small gate (Note that this gate is locked soon after sunset and you have to walk out around the nearby West Gate and then left to get back to East Mountain Street.)

Another such free parking lot is the "Red Caboose Visitor Center" lot on the Main Street, which has its own paved walking/biking trail into the Park, much like the Silver Comet Trail. To drive to that lot, get off US-78 (Stone Mtn Freeway) at Exit #5, then bear right to exit again about a half mile ahead, turn left onto E. Ponce de Leon Ave, go through the first traffic light onto Main Street and continue about a half mile and look for the red caboose on your left.  In about 10 minutes you can walk into the Park via the paved PATH trail, turn left on Robt. E. Lee Blvd (for ~300 yards) and join the AOC group at the Walk-Up trailhead. (Note the gate on this PATH trail is often locked soon after sunset).

Additional directions and maps can be found at: 

http://www.stonemountainpark.com/activities/map/overview. aspx