Stone Mountain Loop and Blackjack Ridge Loop, Traphill, NC
Stone Mountain Loop and Blackjack Ridge Loop, Traphill, NC
Moderate, 7.5 mi Loop (two loops with same endpoint combined)
1,650 ft elevation gain
Hiked 9/28/25
A large dome of exposed granite, Stone Mountain provides sweeping views of the surrounding area and is also known for rock climbing in NC. It is what is known as a monadnock (an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain.) The trail also takes you to a 200ft sliding waterfall which can be done as a shorter hike, or lengthened by adding the blackjack ridge section at the end of the hike.
As a side note, the lower reaches of this trail to the waterfall is most likely the very first hike a young 'back-in-the-day hiker' did while there for some brook trout fishing with my dad.
Looking across the mostly bald summit of Stone Mountain, a lone tree stands firm.
The long, sliding, Stone Mountain Falls drops roughly 200 feet to a shallow pool below. Shot at 1/8.
A Praying Mantis looks over at the camera while sunning on Cedar Rock.