Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Several months ago I posted some photos from the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the commenters asked if I had ever visited Stone Mountain State Park in NC as it was only a "stones throw" (pun intended) from the BRP. At that time, I hadn't. Yesterday my wife and I took a "daycation" (any interesting attraction where we can make the round trip in a single day) and visited the state park. Wonderful weather - overcast (hooray!, no harsh shadows) and the temperature only got up to 66 (my kind of "hiking" weather, especially when trudging behind a rollator).

Stone mountain is granite igneous rock, also called a puton - a phrase I was unfamiliar with before visiting the park. Probably more than the mountain itself, I enjoyed the various creeks and waterfalls that were easily accessible from the park road. Getting lost on the way home only added spice to our adventure.

Hutchinson Homestead

(Download)

The Pluton Dome

(Download)

Sometimes rock climbers will ascend the crevice on the right

(Download)

Trees semingly growing out of bare rock

(Download)

Sow Thistle in seed

(Download)

Stone Mountain Creek and Moss Covered Rocks

(Download)

Widow Falls Creek

(Download)

Twining Vine near Widow Falls Creek

(Download)

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Some really nice shots, thanks for sharing!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :D

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

What an interesting looking park and homestead. Great pictures, especially of the creek.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Dick. This may be part of NC that others are unfamiliar with, so I may just spark some interest in those folks to visit as well.

SilverfoxDojn Loc: Long Beach Island, NJ

Pretty place and nice shots

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Sirius. When I was reading about this place, I was mildly interested in the rock mountain, but especially keen on the creeks and waterfalls. I got to do both!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks SilverfoxDojn. As I recall, you folks in NY have some darn pretty mountains up there near the Canadian border.

MartyM Loc: Monroe, NC

Beautiful area up there. I do miss Western North Carolina. Nice images.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Marty, and I agree with you ..... there is something about mountains and waterfalls that have always tugged at me to get out and experience them "live".

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Looks like a really pleasant place to visit. Like the pictures.

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Great series of photos. Love the shot of the Hutchinson Homestead.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Jerry. It's ironic you should use that adjective - we drove through Mt. Pleasant on the way home.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks for the compliment pianist. The homestead is located very near the base of the pluton dome, and very high up relative to the nearby communities.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Interesting formation. Looks rather like a large lava bubble that cooled before spreading out any further, but presumably it's just been eroded in that pattern. Enjoyed the photos!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Yep, BIG ROCK, that one. Ever a lover of texture and pattern, I DID have fun shooting the striations in the rock. All of those are the result of water erosion though, not the original formation.

Now, the creeks and waterfalls? THAT's my first love. Get me anywhere near a waterfall and I want to go see it for myself.