Stone Mountain State Park
| Stone Mountain State Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 | |
  Location of Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina  Stone Mountain State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | North Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°23′55″N 81°03′44″W / 36.39861°N 81.06222°W[1] |
| Area | 14,353 acres (58.08 km2)[2] |
| Elevation | 2,305 ft (703 m) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Named for | Stone Mountain |
| Governing body | North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | www |
Stone Mountain State Park is a 14,353-acre (58.08 km2)[2] North Carolina state park in Alleghany County and Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Stone Mountain
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The centerpiece of the park is Stone Mountain, a dome of exposed granite (specifically a quartz diorite to granodiorite) of Devonian age, which has intruded into the gneiss of the Precambrian Alligator Back Formation.[3] It rises sharply over 600 feet (183 m) above the surrounding terrain. The mountain, which has an elevation of 2,305 feet (706 m) above sea level, is known for its barren sides and distinctive brown-gray color, and can be seen for miles. The mountain offers some of the best rock climbing in North Carolina, and the park's creeks and streams feature excellent brook trout fishing.
Because the mountain is the best example of a monadnock in massive granite in North Carolina it was designated a National Natural Landmark in May 1974.[4]
Museums and historic site
[edit]The park visitor center features the Mountain Culture Exhibit including mountain settler life and artifacts, and natural history including trout, butterflies and moths.
The mid-19th century Hutchinson Homestead includes a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, corncrib, meat house, and original furnishings. The Homestead is open Thursday through Sunday from March – October. The grounds can be visited year round.
The 1897 Garden Creek Baptist Church continues to hold services seasonally. Visitors can walk the grounds when the church is closed.
Things to do
[edit]Within the park there are numerous outdoor activities to partake in. The park has established rock climbing, hiking, and camping sites.
Nearby state parks
[edit]The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Stone Mountain State Park:
- Elk Knob State Park
- Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
- Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
- New River State Park
- New River Trail State Park, Virginia
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Rendezvous Mountain State Park
References
[edit]- ^ United States Geological Survey. "Stone Mountain State Park, USGS Glade Valley (NC) Topo Map". TopoQuest. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
- ^ a b "Size of the North Carolina State Parks System" (XLS). North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ North Carolina Geological Survey, 1985, Geologic map of North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, scale 1:500000.
- ^ National Park Service. "Stone Mountain: National Natural Landmark". Retrieved June 20, 2008.
External links
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- IUCN Category V
- State parks of North Carolina
- State parks of the Appalachians
- National Natural Landmarks in North Carolina
- Open-air museums in North Carolina
- History museums in North Carolina
- Museums in Alleghany County, North Carolina
- Museums in Wilkes County, North Carolina
- Inselbergs of Piedmont (United States)
- Protected areas established in 1975
- Protected areas of Alleghany County, North Carolina
- Protected areas of Wilkes County, North Carolina