Stone Mountain + Muscogee - D4

*** Hike is exploratory as new route to start of the Trail of Muscogee. ***

Let’s hike Stone Mountain! We will meet at restrooms near Historical & Environmental Center (formerly Confederate Hall).  Our journey will include the walk up trail, connector trails, Cherokee trail, King's trail, and the rarely hiked Trail of Muscogee. Beautiful scenery and lakes are on our hike. We will maintain a fast pace with a few short breaks along the way so this is not a hike for stopping to take pictures. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early for socializing and introductions for on time departure. Bring an on-the-go snack if desired. We will take our snack break at one of the picnic tables along the trail. Normally we start with self pace on the walk up trail, regrouping at the top and bottom; then hike as a group for the rest of the event. Getting to the isolated Trail of Muscogee will require short walk along the road. Recent D3+ experience to join the fun. Not for beginners.

If the walk up trail is wet, we will skip that part of the hike for safety reasons; which will cause our event to be rated D3.

FROM I-285 TO THE PARK'S "EAST GATE" ENTRANCE:

From the I-285/ US-78 interchange on the east side of town take U.S. Hwy 78 East about 7.7 miles. Bear right at Exit #8 to the Stone Mountain Park "East Gate" main entrance where you'll pay $20 for the daily parking fee if you don't display a valid annual pass. The annual pass is $40 and well worth it if you come here regularly.

ONCE INSIDE PARK, DRIVE TO CONFEDERATE HALL PARKING LOT:

After entering via the East Gate, first follow Jefferson Davis Drive about a mile straight ahead to the big road fork, crossing the lake en route. Bear right onto Robert E. Lee Blvd and follow it about another mile, bearing left to avoid the West Gate exit.  Look for the spacious 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 (about 100 yards toward the mountain from Confederate Hall). 

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 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.
Another such free parking lot is the "Red Caboose Visitor Center" lot on 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 our group at the restrooms near  Confederate Hall.