Plugging my new home.
The Hiking Project App from REI covers these trails.
Stone Mountain State Park. FREE ADMISSION!
From the Lower Parking Lot:
An easy trail from the parking lot will take you to a restored homestead with explanatory exhibits. Stone Mountain looms over the Homestead.
Blue Ridge Parkway:
The Doughton Park area and newly reopened Bluffs Restaurant has history of the area and gentle trails.
A short trail starts at the Information center and Store next door to the restaurant. You can get directions there to a trail that runs north parallel to the parkway for 1/4-1/2 mile, crosses the parkway and enters the forest. It’s a gentle trail for a mile or so. Lovely meadows and long range views into Virginia.
Turn around after a mile or so when you enter the thick forest and start going downhill.
The Bluff Mountain Trail parallels the Parkway and is fairly level. It’s accessible from some of the overlook parking areas.
The Parkway and overlooks are quite nice from US HWY 21 south to US HWY 421. There’s a detour around a bridge repair project at Laurel Springs. Follow the Detour signs and you will return to the Parkway.
Have fun!
Winter doesn’t usually happen up here until after Thanksgiving. In fact Thanksgiving is a lovely time to visit the Parkway and northwestern North Carolina.
Wayne