Stone Mountain State Park – Middle Falls / Lower Falls Trail

The Middle Falls / Lower Falls Trail at Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina is a moderate hike that takes you through beautiful high-country scenery to two small waterfalls along Big Sandy Creek. The trail is marked with blue circles and is about a mile each way, but you can extend your hike to 3 or 4 miles by adding connector trails or hiking out-and-back. Along the way, you’ll walk on gentle slopes, forested paths, and some rocky spots, with clear signs to guide you.

The first stop is Middle Falls, a 20-foot sliding rock waterfall with inviting pools, reachable by a short spur off the main trail, followed by the smaller Lower Falls downstream. We do want to note that to reach the Lower Falls, hikers will have to get their feet wet by crossing a fairly wide creek.

This trail is a peaceful place, surrounded by woods and the sound of the creek. To reach this trail, begin on the Stone Mountain Loop Trail and follow it until you find the trailhead, which is closest to the Stone Mountain Falls section.