Cherokee Trail Hike - Mod/Fast Pace

We will begin the hike at the Confederate Hall parking lot (near the restrooms) and head to the Cherokee trail where we will follow it around Stone Mountain finishing back where we started at the restrooms.

This will be a MODERATE TO FAST PACE (3 miles / HR) hike with only one stop at the grist mill. Please ensure that you are able to maintain this pace before you sign up.

The hike will be approximately 5.5 miles and will involve some steep sections so please bring appropriate footwear.

Directions: To the rear entrance: From I-285 take U.S. Hwy 78 East (Snellville/Athens) exit. Take Exit 5, stay right for a half mile and then exit to E. Ponce/Stone Mtn. Village. At the end of the ramp turn left. Drive a mile or so into town. Turn left on East Mountain (you will see a German Restaurant on your right) and go straight until you get to the entrance.    

Plese Note: It costs $15 to park at Stone Mountain. 

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 often 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