Stone Mountain State Park – Cedar Rock Trail

For one of the most rewarding short hikes at Stone Mountain State Park, the Cedar Rock Trail is a real standout. This 1-mile path winds through hardwood forest in Roaring Gap, NC and climbs to the top of Cedar Rock — a massive, exposed granite outcrop in Alleghany County that delivers some of the best vistas anywhere in the park. The trail also connects to both the Wolf Rock Trail and the Black Jack Ridge Trail, making it easy to build a longer loop hike featuring several of the park’s most impressive granite features. 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 Climb to a Massive Granite Outcrop

The Cedar Rock Trail is rated moderate by the park, with a steady climb through shaded forest before opening onto Cedar Rock itself. The route showcases a striking pattern of old field succession — pine stands give way to mixed pine-hardwood, then mature hardwood — that tells the story of how the area has reforested over decades since being settled.

The climb pays off at the top. Cedar Rock is a wide, flat expanse of exposed granite — striking enough that the trail blazes are painted directly onto the rock to keep hikers on course. The open setting gives sweeping views to the east and north, with the unmistakable granite dome of Stone Mountain visible across the valley and the Blue Ridge escarpment stretching off into the distance. It’s the kind of vantage point that genuinely earns the climb.

A Pairing-Friendly Loop

What makes the Cedar Rock Trail especially worth knowing about is how naturally it pairs with the park’s other granite-outcrop trails. The trail connects to the Stone Mountain Loop Trail at one end and to the Wolf Rock Trail and Black Jack Ridge Trail at the other — letting hikers combine routes for a fuller day of granite vistas. A common pairing combines Cedar Rock with Wolf Rock for back-to-back outcrop views, while adding the Black Jack Ridge Trail extends the outing into a longer loop through the surrounding woods.

Good to Know

• Trail length: 1 mile one-way
• Difficulty: Moderate (per the park rating)
• Surface: Natural, with sections of exposed granite at the top of Cedar Rock
• Views from: Cedar Rock itself — sweeping vistas of Stone Mountain and the Blue Ridge escarpment
• Connects to: The Stone Mountain Loop Trail, Wolf Rock Trail, and Black Jack Ridge Trail — perfect for building a longer loop
• Wildlife to watch for: A wide variety of bird species frequent the trail’s wooded stretches
• Hiking only — leashed dogs welcome
• Located within Stone Mountain State Park at 3042 Frank Parkway, Roaring Gap, NC

A Stone Mountain Highlight

The Cedar Rock Trail is the kind of route that captures what makes Stone Mountain State Park so special. The climb is real but manageable, the granite outcrop at the top is genuinely striking, and the vistas from Cedar Rock are some of the best the park has to offer. Whether you’re hiking it as a stand-alone outing, pairing it with Wolf Rock for the day’s most rewarding views, or extending it into a longer loop with the Black Jack Ridge Trail, this trail is one of the most rewarding short hikes you can make at the park.

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Resources

Stone Mountain State Park Website

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Location

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Social Media

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