Stone Mountain State Park – What to do at this little known gem in North Carolina

Located in the northwest part of North Carolina in Alleghany County, this state park’s central attraction is a granite dome.  Visitors to this huge park marvel at the 600 foot tall dome when they first lay eyes on it.  And while the dome is really impressive, this park contains something for every type of nature lover.  We just returned from a camping trip there, and let me tell you all the great things we found in this park.

Camping

The campground is absolutely beautiful and contains 90 campsites.  Some of the campsites have utility hook-ups however we were tent camping and did not experience that side of the campground.  The tent camping area has generous tent pads, picnic table, and a fire ring with grill.  There was also a wash house, however, if you can I would avoid it in the summertime because the mosquitoes were horrendous.  However there are other restrooms in the park that did not have this issue, which was a nice perk.

Rock Climbing

This is not something that I tried, but I did look into it while we were there.  Rock climbing is allowed on the exposed sloping side of Stone Mountain and is supposedly some of the best in North Carolina.  With that being said this climb is only recommended for experienced climbers.  All climbers must register at the self-registration box located in the climbing area and a valid permit is required.

The park is pet friendly however make sure your dogs are in shape or you will be carrying them to the car.

Hiking

There are over 18 miles of trails in the park ranging from moderate to strenuous.  We loved the trails here, but let me warn you.  If you get the itch to hike the Stone Mountain Loop Trail or just hike park of it to the Stone Mountain Waterfall, there are stairs and lots of them.  I will say the waterfalls are definitely worth the aching calf muscles that are inevitable after that many stairs.  There is a beautiful pool of water at the bottom you can rest at, go rock jumping at, or wade into if you wish while gathering the gumption to climb up the stairs.

Stone Mountain Waterfall

Picnicking

There is a picnic area located next to the visitor center in a nice woodland (read bring bug spray) atmosphere.  There are 75 individual picnic sites with tables, grills, and water fountains, and this area does connect to the trails as well.

Fishing

While I am not a person who enjoys fishing, if you are this is a great place to go!  There are 20 miles of park streams that are designated for trout fishing, however please remember a special fishing permit is required for this area.

Historic Site

Hutchinson Homestead is located close to the Lower Trailhead parking area, and is a walk through history.  First built in the mid-19th century, it was restored in 1998.  This homestead contains a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, meat house, etc.  You are welcome to walk through the homestead grounds anytime, however the buildings are open to the public only on the weekends during peak season.

 

 

Saratoga Spa State Park

We spent quite a lot of time of Saratoga Spa State Park, although not enough time in my opinion.  It started at night, we were on our way back from dinner and Drew said he wanted to show me something in the park and it would be a quick stop.  We drove through a beautiful park and walked across the street to what he wanted to show me.  It was a beautiful geyser in the middle of a fast flowing river.   We walked around the geyser and decided we would bring the dogs back tomorrow after work.

Saratoga Spa State Park is located just outside downtown Saratoga and offers 12 minerals springs, miles of trails, public pools, golf courses and more.

Here are some tips to make your trip to the park even better.  First of all if you are bringing your dogs, there is not need to pack water, just bring a water bowl.  There are plenty of spots to fill the bowl along the way not to mention a plethora a fresh spring water for your pup to enjoy.  Also, dogs must be kept on a six foot leash.  Next, definitely pack a picnic and take advantage of your time outdoors.  There are plenty of places to cook your food and enjoy the scenery.

Also take advantage of the Saratoga Automobile Museum or the Museum of Dance when you want a moment away from the heat or cold.  These museums are located on different sides of the park, but the drive between them is breathtaking.

This park is a beautiful stop if you are in Saratoga for the races and need a day away from the crowds, or if you just enjoy hiking and want a day out.  There is something here for everyone in every season.  Check out their website for all the winter activities.  If I liked snow even a little I would be heading back in the winter!

Blue Springs State Park

This was the first stop on our family Florida vacation, and to be honest this was the stop I was looking forward to the most.  I drove all Thursday night while everyone else slept, and after a brief stop for breakfast, we were there right when it opened.

I paid the $6 admission fee (this fee is per vehicle not per person) and drove toward the back.  The park map I was handed at the entrance was not very helpful so we took a guess at which way to go, and we got it right on the first try!  I parked in an empty parking lot facing an old house and we jumped out of the van….and jumped right back in to wrap up in coats, sweaters and even blankets.

We got out again and walked toward an overlook that two other people were standing on wondering how we were supposed to find the manatees.  Reaching the overlook we looked down, and oh my word there were a lot of manatees!  The fog off the water gave the area an eerie look, but we could still see the manatees.  Later we found out there were 301 manatees in the spring.

We walked along the 3 mile boardwalk stopping, taking pictures and just taking in the beautiful creatures.  The morning did slowly warm up, and the view became even more beautiful as the fog burned off.

We meandered back the way we came this time stopping at the old house to look around.  The Thursby house it’s called, and it is more like a mini museum than an house, but interesting to walk through anyway.

By now the park was getting really crowded and the parking lot that was empty when we arrived was almost completely full of cars.  We decided to try hiking, but only made it halfway because the trail that started out hiking through a beautiful forest ended up mostly being out in the sun on the other side of the forest.

We walked back to the car and took one last look at the manatee’s trying to squeeze in between the people to catch a glimpse, and then decided we should move on as the park had become too crowded to really enjoy anymore.

My one tip for the park would be: go early.  The crowd arrived around 10 am so definitely plan on being there when it opens at 8 am to get the best views of the manatees.

 

Turkey Run State Park

Hiking has always been a favorite past time for me and my family.  If we can get off the beaten path and get our shoes muddy, it’s a great afternoon.  One of our favorite places to do this is Turkey Run State Park in Indiana.  This beautiful park has many different activities like camping, swimming, fishing and horseback riding, but our favorite is hiking trail 3.

It is considered the most rugged trail in the park for a very good reason.  Make sure you take a change of clothes and shoes if you plan on hiking this trail because you will get muddy or soaked on the way. The kiddos will love it!

The views are definitely worth the time not to mention wearing out the kids so they actually take a nap it a huge perk as well.   I would recommend  taking children that are out of the stroller and steady on their feet because this is definitely not a stroller friendly hike!

The Punch Bowl

If you are in the area and interested you can learn more about Turkey Run here.  We visit this park as a family once a year and we would go more often but it’s a 12 hour drive for us.