Stone Mountain to Doughton Park Loop

Type of Outing: Hike
When: SAT 1/17/2026 8:30 AM
Signup Deadline: 1/15/2026 5:00 pm
Leader: Vance Barron
Distance: 14 miles
Difficulty: R-46, Strenuous
Elevation Gain: 3222 ft.
Description: This hike goes from Stone Mountain State Park to Doughton Park. The hike will be 13.8 miles, elevation gain of 3,222 feet--so it is a strenuous hike rated R-46. Hikers will rendezvous at the Longbottom Road parking area at Doughton Park at 8:30 a.m. The necessary cars will be left there to complete the shuttle at the end of the hike. Other cars will carry hikers to the Backpackers Lot at Stone Mountain State Park to begin walking no later than 9:00 a.m. The hike will ascend the MST toward Mahogany Rock, take the connector (a closed trail) to the old MST on Scott Ridge, continue on the MST via Air Bellows Gap to Brinegar Cabin, and descend to Longbottom Road via the Cedar Ridge Trail. The hike should be completed about 4:00 p.m. Hikers will then drive back to the Backpackers Lot to pick up the remaining cars.
Required Gear: Lunch, parka, and poles