Hiking and a Forest Bath Around Stone Mountain

Come for an early morning hike around Stone Mountain with a detour to the Songbird Habitat Trail for some “forest bathing” (aka a silent hike).

We will meet at Confederate Hall at the start of the walk-up trail for introductions. We will hike in a counterclockwise direction taking the old railroad tracks to the connector and nature trails that will bring us to the Cherokee Trail. We will follow the Cherokee but pick up a connector trail before reaching Stonewall Jackson Drive that leads to the Songbird Habitat Trail. 

Our forest bathing will begin here. If you have been on Eva’s silent hikes, this is very much the same experience. We will pause our conversations and quiet our minds to listen, to see, and to smell the forest around us. The goal of forest bathing is to mindfully immerse yourself in nature, setting aside the hurly burly of the outside world. This trail is really two trails: the woodland trail and the meadow trail. This habitat is home to the Eastern Bluebird, White-Breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinal. Our forest bath through the habitat should last around 30 minutes. 

We will rejoin the Cherokee Trail (when conversations may resume) and continue to the covered bridge. We cross over the bridge to Indian Island and the Kings Trail before again rejoining the Cherokee. 

This hike will be at a moderate pace, slightly slower for the bathing/silent portion of the hike and should total approximately 8 miles. 

Please arrive early to allow time for parking. Even early in the morning, the parking lot can get full quickly. There is overflow parking across the street (left at the West Gate).

Stone Mountain Park Trail Map

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 the AOC group at the Walk-Up trailhead.

$20 day pass, $40 annual pass (recommended if you'll be coming back), or walk from Stone Mountain village (see directions above).