Dress appropriately for the weather, including a hat and sunscreen. Bring a water bottle, water bladder, or canteen. Wear hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes with some traction in case it begins to rain. The bare granite surface can get slippery when wet. Bring a camera if you'd like to take pictures at the top.
Enter Stone Mountain Park, either through the pedestrian gate, or through the main gate by car by paying admission to Stone Mountain Park. If you enter by the pedestrian gate, the walk-up trail will be on the other side of the railroad tracks once you cross the parking lot. Otherwise, board the train at Memorial Hall and get off on the last stop at the walk-up trail.
Use the park restroom at the foot of the mountain if needed. There will be no restrooms available till you get to the top. Cross the railroad tracks and use the broken painted yellow line as a guide all the way up the trail.
Slowly hike up the Stone Mountain walk-up trail, enjoying the views and vistas and stopping to notice the wildlife and plants. Goats have been seen on Stone Mountain. Look up and watch the hawks and vultures circling in the sky.
A short time after you start, you can, if you like, branch off to the trail to the right that takes you about five miles around Stone Mountain along the natural areas (rather than the paved trail at the foot of the mountain). However, this will cut short your trip up Stone Mountain. Most people don't notice this trail and continue up, which you'll probably want to do your first time.
Rest at the midpoint under the pagoda (you'll know it when you see it.) Continue onto the steepest part of the Stone Mountain walk-up trail. You'll soon see people at the top waving down at you, urging you to hike up the last, hardest bit.
Note the view at the summit of Stone Mountain. On a clear day, you may be able to see 60 miles away. You'll see Atlanta's downtown in the distance, then another set of buildings where Buckhead is, and then another set farther down where Dunwoody is.
Visit the snack bar and restrooms. If you like, hike back down Stone Mountain, or take the Summit Skyride. The Skyride ends at Memorial Hall. Walk over one mile if you need to return to the parking lot...or continue exploring beautiful Stone Mountain Park.
