Separated from the most famous Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia, by 300 miles, this Stone Mountain State Park takes in over 13,000 acres in North Carolina's Wilkes and Alleghany counties. Similar in geology, both parks feature a massive pluton composed of granite. Just like an iceberg, this bare rock dome is all that is shows of an enormous mass that takes in 25-square-miles. This particular mountain rises 600 feet above the surrounding countryside and offers park goers the unspoken challenge to climb to the top. Not recommended for novices, rock climbers must register and possess a permit to scale the towering, steep granite face of this massive mountain.
   Not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Carolina state park offers a variety of outdoor activities which include camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, picnicking, and horseback riding. Featuring 16 miles of trails, park guests are welcome to explore cascading waterfalls, picturesque mountain streams, and thick forests filled with wildlife.
   Established as a park in 1969, the area was once home to European settlers who built log homes, barns, grist mills, churches and schools. One of the remnant homes, the Hutchinson Homestead, is part of a mid-19th century mountain farm. The homestead includes a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, corncrib, and meat house.

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