This past February 1, 2014, I hiked the Mountains to Sea Trail in Stone Mountain Park, attempting to link the Widows Creek Trail with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Due to short daylight hours, a long steep trail and icy conditions, I did not make it to the top. I turned around about the northern Stone Mountain Park boundary. Today, May 3, 2014, I started hiking at Devils Garden Overlook on the Parkway and followed the Mountains to Sea Trail into Stone Mountain Park. Success! I linked up the trails about 3 miles from the Parkway.
The weather was gorgeous - sunny, clear, breezy and temperatures in the 70's.
Along the way, I passed several dozen hikers going in the other direction. The hikers were with a charitable organization from Charlotte, NC, whose role that day was to introduce inner city folks to the outdoors. The organization did a good job. There were many weak hikers who were out of their element and needed guidance on the trail. I got to play Ranger Bob numerous times. A good time was had by (mostly) all.
The Devils Garden Overlook sign on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Devils Garden Overlook sign on the Blue Ridge Parkway
A patch of small blue flowers and another creek by the trail
A patch of small blue flowers and another creek by the trail
The view into the Piedmont from the Devils Garden overlook
The view into the Piedmont from the Devils Garden overlook
A rock formation on the trail
A rock formation on the trail
A sign where the trail enters Stone Mountain Park
A sign where the trail enters Stone Mountain Park
An old abandoned cabin fireplace in the Park
An old abandoned cabin fireplace in the Park
A grassy section of the trail
A grassy section of the trail
A steep section of the trail where it takes a sharp turn
A steep section of the trail where it takes a sharp turn
Another sharp turn on the trail
Another sharp turn on the trail
The turn around point where I linked the trails from my two trips
The turn around point where I linked the trails from my two trips
A small spring creek where it crosses the trail
A small spring creek where it crosses the trail
Written by: Bob Laney
Bob is the site curator and writer of Blue Ridge Outing. Since starting the Blue Ridge Outing travel blog in 2002, Bob has written, recorded and documented countless expeditions in the US and around the world.