Stone Mountain State Park – Black Jack Ridge Trail -

For a peaceful, lightly-traveled hike at Stone Mountain State Park, the Black Jack Ridge Trail is a great option. This 1.5-mile path winds through quiet hardwood forest along an old roadbed in Roaring Gap, NC, Alleghany County — and connects to both the Cedar Rock and Wolf Rock Trails for hikers looking to build longer loops featuring some of the park’s most rewarding granite outcrops. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the trail before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Quiet Walk Through the Woods

The Black Jack Ridge Trail is rated moderate by the park, with steady elevation gains along an old roadbed and a forested route that stays shaded in the warmer months. At 1.5 miles one-way (or about a 3-mile out-and-back), the trail is short enough for a half-day outing but substantial enough to feel like a real hike. The path itself is the appeal — a quiet walk through hardwood forest without much in the way of big vistas. In winter, when the leaves are off the trees, you can catch glimpses of Stone Mountain through the bare canopy, but anyone hiking this trail specifically for views will be better served on the Cedar Rock or Wolf Rock Trails.

A Pairing-Friendly Loop

What makes the Black Jack Ridge Trail genuinely worth knowing about is how easily it pairs with the park’s other granite-outcrop trails. The route’s upper junction connects with both the Cedar Rock Trail and the Wolf Rock Trail — both of which open up to expansive views of Stone Mountain, the Blue Ridge escarpment, and the surrounding watersheds. Combined hikes from this corner of the park easily run 4 to 5 miles, with the Black Jack Ridge Trail serving as a quiet, scenic connector between the more open vistas.

Good to Know

Trail length: 1.5 miles one-way (about 3 miles round-trip)
Difficulty: Moderate (per the park rating)
Surface: Old roadbed, natural surface throughout
Character: A quiet forest walk — not a view destination on its own
Connects to: The Cedar Rock Trail and Wolf Rock Trail at the upper end — perfect for longer loops anchored by their bigger views
Hiking only — leashed dogs welcome
Located within Stone Mountain State Park at 3042 Frank Parkway, Roaring Gap, NC

A Quiet Stone Mountain Highlight

The Black Jack Ridge Trail is the kind of hike that earns its place for what it doesn’t do — it doesn’t chase the headline views of Cedar Rock or Wolf Rock, doesn’t pack the crowds of the waterfalls trails, and doesn’t ask for the punishment of the longer routes. Instead, it offers a quiet, well-paced walk through the woods and easy access to the more spectacular granite outcrops nearby. Whether you’re walking it as a stand-alone outing or building a longer loop with Cedar Rock and Wolf Rock, this trail is one of the most peaceful routes you can take at Stone Mountain.