Stone Mountain State Park

{{About|a state park in North Carolina|"Stone Mountain Park" near Atlanta, Georgia|Stone Mountain}}

{{short description|State park in Alleghany County and Wilkes County, North Carolina}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Stone Mountain State Park

| iucn_category = V

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| photo = Climbers ascending Stone Mountain.jpg

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| map = USA North Carolina#USA

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| map_caption = Location of Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina

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| location = North Carolina, United States

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| coordinates = {{coord|36|23|55|N|81|03|44|W|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref = {{cite web | url = http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?datum=NAD83&lat=36.39874&lon=-81.0623 | title = Stone Mountain State Park, USGS Glade Valley (NC) Topo Map| access-date = 2008-06-29 | author = United States Geological Survey | author-link = United States Geological Survey | publisher = TopoQuest}}

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| area_acre = 14353

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| elevation = {{convert|2305|ft|m|abbr=on}}

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| established = 1975

| named_for = Stone Mountain

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| governing_body = North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation

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| website = {{URL|http://www.ncparks.gov/stone-mountain-state-park}}

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Stone Mountain State Park is a {{convert|14353|acre|km2|adj=on}} North Carolina state park in Alleghany County and Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Stone Mountain

File:StoneMountainNC-PANO.jpg

File:Stone Mountain Falls 1.png

File:Stone Mountian Falls 2.png

File:Stone Mountain Falls 3.png

File:Stone Mountain Top 2.png

File:Stone Mountian Top 1.png

File:Sone Mountain Stairs.png

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.North Carolina Geological Survey, 1985, Geologic map of North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, scale 1:500000. 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=STMO-NC| title=Stone Mountain: National Natural Landmark| author=National Park Service| author-link=National Park Service| access-date=June 20, 2008}}

Museums and historic site

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.