We found our hike, Stone Mountain, using the North Carolina State Parks- Pocket Ranger App. It’s free to download and has hiking trails, pictures, and other information about the parks. Stone Mountain is about an hour and a half from Hickory and an hour from Boone. We did the loop trail and then added a bit more to see the Homestead and the waterfalls making the total hike a little over seven miles. Josh and I went with friends on an overcast day, and it ended up being perfect weather. I couldn’t imagine doing this hike in the dead heat of summer being as it was one of the more strenuous hikes we have done. Not because the trail was particularly treacherous, but there were so.many.stairs.
Things we take in our hiking backpack:
At least two waters for each of us, after getting dehydrated during our last trek, I make sure we over pack the water.
Bug Spray
Sweatshirts
Napkins
Small Snacks
Our phones, on airplane mode so the battery doesn’t get eaten up.
Things we should pack but haven’t:
Deodorant
Extra clothes
Our trip by the numbers:
4 water bottles
7 Miles
301 Steps after the waterfall
1 snake (not seen by me)
5 babies being carried (fit parents!)
Check out more about Stone Mountain here. I also love to check out social media pictures of the places we are hiking before we go in case we miss anything good. I looked up #stonemountainnc on Instagram and found some great pictures.
Do you use social media to enhance your trip? Or do you ditch the phones and experience it sans technology?
XO, LKC
You can read more about Lauren's adventures and pieces of her perspective of living among the North Carolina mountains here .
