Silent Hike - Songbird Hike - Stone Mountain Hike

About an hour of this hike will be a silent hike.

Join me for a hike along the Cherokee, Nature and Songbird trails.

We'll meet at the start of the Walk-up Trail; however, we will not be walking up the mountain this trip. We'll head out on the connector and Nature trails to join the Cherokee Trail. When we reach the turn off to the Songbird habitat, we will begin our silent hike.

We will pause our conversations and quiet our minds to listen, see, smell, and touch (carefully) the forest around us. Let's mindfully immerse ourselves in nature and set aside the hurly burly of the outside world.

Once we return to the Cherokee Trail, we can continue our conversations. Instead of continuing around the mountain, we will circle Venable Lake to return to the Nature Trail and our starting point.

This is a long seven (7) mile D2 hike. There will be the usual rocks and roots to watch out for, but only modest elevation. Pace will be around 2.5 miles per hour. Please be ready to maintain that pace for the hike.

Arrive at the meeting point 5-10 minutes early to allow time to park, use the restroom if necessary and introductions so that we can start promptly at 8:30.

The park requires a daily ($10) or annual ($40) parking pass. See below for free parking options outside the park.

FROM I-285/US 78 TO THE PARK'S EAST GATE ENTRANCE:

From the I-285/ US-78 interchange, take US Hwy 78 East 7.7 miles. Bear right at Exit #8 to the Stone Mountain Park East Gate main entrance.

ONCE INSIDE PARK, DRIVE TO THE WALK-UP TRAIL PARKING LOT:

After entering via the East Gate, first follow Jefferson Davis Drive about a mile straight ahead until you reach the fork in the road. Bear right onto Robert E. Lee Blvd and follow it about another mile. Pass the West Gate entrance (on the right) and you'll soon see the large Historical & Enviornmental Education Center (formerly Confederate Hall) parking lot on your left where you can park.  We'll meet by the stone restroom building at the base of the Walk-Up Trail.

FROM I-285/US 78 TO THE PARK'S WEST GATE ENTRANCE:

From the I-285/US-78 interchange, take US 78 East about 7 miles. Bear right on Exit #5 to Memorial Drive and keep in right lane to exit about a half mile ahead. Turn left onto E. Ponce de Leon Ave, turn left at the first traffic light onto James B. Rivers Memorial Dr. Turn right after passing through the gate and you'll see the Walk-up Trail 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. Take the West Gate directions but go through the first light to continue into the Village.  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.
Another free parking lot is the Red Caboose Visitor Center lot also on Main Street, which has its own paved walking/biking trail into the Park. Continue on Main Street until you see the red caboose on your left. In about 10 minutes you can walk into the Park via the paved PATH trail, turn left on Robert E. Lee Blvd (for ~300 yards) until you reach the large parking lot on the right.

$20 Daily parking pass; $40 Annual pass