Stone Mountain

This is the best place in Atlanta GA, I really love being here myself and also other families, Stone Mountain is my favorite place of all time 🐐🐐🐐❤️❤️❤️

One star off because the Hall of Memory, or whatever it was called, was closed. But I did hike to the top and got a pretty good view of the surrounding area, despite the very cloudy, and somewhat rainy weather. The restaurant/snack bar was closed, but I had a nice, informative chat with the ranger in her office. That was nice. She even gave me a certificate for reaching the top of the mountain! After a much quicker journey to the bottom, I drove around the base to get photos of the carving itself. I think they need to pressure wash or otherwise clean the carving, because it is kind of hard to see due to being dirty. It was still a very beautiful thing to see.

Pros: - Parking is relatively cheap inside the park; $20 a car per day, or $40 a car for a whole year. Access is also technically free if you can find parking within the town of Stone Mountain and then just walk into the park. - The natural landscape is pretty beautiful and peaceful (aside from a rather hideous carving on one side of the mountain's face), especially on a sunny day with blue sky. You might even get a close look at some interesting wildlife, like deer, owls, and hawks. - The hike up the mountain poses a good challenge for hikers, runners, or just anyone looking to get in a workout. Took us about 40 minutes from parking lot to peak moving at a steady pace with a couple rest stops. I would rate the difficulty somewhere between 6/10 to 8/10. It is filled with smooth rocky steps that can be a bit slippery and there are sections that get REALLY steep. - At the peak, offers some spectacular views of the surrounding park and lake. On a clear day, you can also see the Metro Atlanta skyline from Downtown to Buckhead to Sandy Springs. I also appreciated the wind and breeze at the peak since this was in the middle of summer. Cons: - A lot of areas on the hiking trail don't have much tree cover, and the mountain feels like one giant smooth slab of concrete, which means on a hot sunny day, the heat can be pretty brutal. Plan and pack accordingly! - I found the Welcome Center at the top to be a little disappointing. Refreshments seemed expensive. At least they had bathrooms and AC.

Went on Saturday morning 7/5/25 felt so good out there with a nice breeze and low humidity that morning. It was a good hike, with it being my very first hike at Stone Mountain. I normally go to KENNESAW Mountain but that day I decided to go to Stone Mountain to hike over there for the first time and I will definitely be coming back more often I enjoyed it. I was expecting myself to make it to the top within 45 minutes to an hour, but nope I got there sooner. I got there to the top in 30 minutes and 24 seconds from the walk up trail parking lot With 4 stops along the way to catch my breath lasting at least 30 seconds to 1 minute.

If you are there for the hike and the views...it's great!!

I recently visited family in Georgia and had the opportunity to visit Stone Mountain, and it was an amazing experience. We took the aerial tramway up, and it was sooooooo beautiful. As we were going up, the sun started to set, which made the experience even more special. Once we reached the top of the mountain, the views were absolutely breathtaking. The scenery was stunning in every direction, and I was completely mesmerized. I was able to take some really beautiful pictures that I’ll treasure forever. You definitely have to go there before sunset to truly experience how magical it is. Stone Mountain is a must-see if you’re visiting Georgia.

Wonderful experience. You may want to see the sunrise and sunset here. Amazing place for self and family visitors. Highly recommended.

Hike in the main trail from the bottom lot to the top of Stone Mountain is a must do for anyone visiting Atlanta or any resident. The energy of others climbing the mountain and cheering you on is an outstanding feeling and one worth experiencing if you plan to come more than once by the parking pass for $40 instead of the $25 day pass.