Cherokee Trail at Stone Mountain (Dog Friendly)

WHAT: Come beat the heat at Stone Mountain with an early morning hike. The plan is to set a moderate pace on the Cherokee Trail which encircles the mountain. Along the way, we encounter an assortment of lakes, a cosmetic gristmill, a historic covered bridge, and of course great views of the mountain. Although most of the hike is along wooded trails, we do walk over several patches of exposed granite which can be fun and dangerous at the same time. Please make sure you wear appropriate footwear with good traction so that you can tackle the (sometimes) slick granite. The moderate pace is designed to keep the group together and allow for plenty of photo ops so bring your camera. At the end of the Cherokee loop, there is the option to scramble up to the top of the mountain, or head to the parking lot. Your choice. 

WHERE: We'll meet at the start of the walk-up trail, which is just beyond the Confederate Hall parking lot (see directions below).

WHEN: The hike will start promptly at 6:30 so plan to arrive by 6;15 PM for introductions and such.

HOW MUCH: If you drive into the park, you have to pay a vehicle parking fee ranging from $20 for a one-day pass to $40 for an annual pass. You can avoid the fee by parking for free in Stone Mountain Village, and walking approx. 0.7 miles to the park (see directions below).

DIRECTIONS:

Type "STONE MOUNTAIN PARK, CONFEDERATE HALL PARKING LOT" into your favorite nav app and follow directions to the parking lot. Meet near the short wall outside the restrooms.

OLD SCHOOL DIRECTIONS: 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 to the Confederate Hall parking lot which will be on your left. We’ll meet in front of the Whistle Stop Station restroom area, which is just beyond the parking lot.

FREE PARK AND WALK: For free public parking in Stone Mountain Village, from Hwy 78 take exit 5 and merge onto GA 10. Proceed 0.5 miles to the first exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left. Drive a mile or so, past a gas station and a funeral parlor (both on your right). When you see City Hall turn left. There is a Marta park-and-ride on 4th street. From there it is a short walk on East Mountain Street. Enter the park through the gate, walk through the parking lot, and meet at the restroom area.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: For more information about Stone Mountain Park, go to:
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/

If for any reason you cannot make it on the day of the hike, please remove your registration from the AOC website, OR text me or Ayo. Also, in case of severe weather, I will email all event participants no later than 5:00 AM on the day of the event. Please check your email at that time to ensure that we are still on schedule for the day!