Great hikes with amazing views. 
 

A massive granite stone dome stands in the middle of this 14,000-acre state park. Stone Mountain is located in Roaring Gap, NC, an hour and a half north of Charlotte. With 18 miles of trails, 20 miles of trout fishing, camping, an historic restored mountain farm, and climbing, this state park is worth the drive. The hiking trails offer a range of difficulty. The Stone Mountain Trail Loop (4.5 miles) takes you up onto the mountain itself. The views from the top are worth the strenuous trek. As you continue the loop all the way around, you go by the historic Hutchinson farmhouse and views of the face of the mountain. Besides the mountain, the waterfalls around the area are a sight to see. The 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls connect with the Stone Mountain Loop, so depending on the direction you go, you will be either walking up the falls or down them. You can access the falls without having to do the entire loop. There are two other waterfalls called Middle and Lower falls, each only .5 miles off of the Stone Mountain loop. 

The park offers several educational programs led by the park ranger. These are generally free but do require pre-registration. The park has several curricula developed for grades 5 - 8 to learn all about the rock cycle, geology, weather and erosion, ecology, resource use, and stewardship. There is a teacher's booklet, free of charge for educators. The visitor center has a mountain culture exhibit featuring an old-time still, loom, and other historic artifacts. The Hutchinson Homestead area has a log cabin, blacksmith shop, corn crib, meat house, and original furnishing. The homestead represents the life of the early settlers. 

The trails are not stroller or wheelchair friendly. To see the Stone Mountain Falls, you will be going up and down several flights of stairs. To see the Hutchinson farm home, the area is pretty flat, and a jogging stroller could be pushed around there.