Stone Depot  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  35.2591, -82.8004 Map Page Views:  4,747. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  saxfiend, Edward Medina, Ryan Williams, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Darren B. on Mar 25, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

2013 Closures MORE INFO >>> Big Lost Cove Cliffs are closed to climbing due to the local falcon population This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Stone Depot as seen from somewhere right of John R...

Description 

Stone Depot is the ugly step-child of Cedar Rock, due in part to the length of the hike and the limited number of climbs. Located behind Cedar Rock, Stone Depot offers less than a dozen moderate climbs ranging from 5.5 to 5.8 or so, and most are two pitches to get to the top.

Since Cedar Rock provides more climbs of a more difficult rating, most people will find themselves alone at Stone Depot, even on a mild weekend afternoon. This, combined with the chance to do relatively simple and well protected sport/trad multi pitch climbs without fear of holding up other climbers, makes Stone a nice destination on an otherwise busy day.

Stone faces northwest, giving it a lovely warmth on a cool early spring day, but it will most likely become quite hot during the summer months. Like much of the surrounding climbs, Stone was still experiencing significant runoff, even four or five days after a rain, but dry climbs are still available.

Routes were well bolted, but many beginner climbers will want to take advantage of the occasional placement to supplement the protection from bolt to bolt. Rappel rings/belay stations are available on most routes and are typically visible from the bottom of the routes. Rappel down from routes or take the long walk off if you'd like.

Make sure you take the time to enjoy the view of Looking Glass during your climb!

Getting There 

Follow the guidebooks to Cedar Rock. Hike off to the left of the road, pass the gate and walk on the forest service road. Hike as if going to Cedar. You will get to Butter Gap after a mile or so of road hiking. Butter Gap is clearly marked.

There are 6 trails that intersect here. There is a signed forest service trail going downhill to your left. Don't go there, it ends up at the Fish Hatchery. The next trail going clockwise is pretty much directly across the clearing and goes uphill. Take this one. It can be difficult to see due to the amount of debris that occasionally obscures the trail. It's the smallest trail leading out of this clearing, and it's the only way going directly uphill.

The next trail (in a clockwise direction) is a level road- it goes to Cedar, which is visible right in front of you. The others are to your right and go lots of various places.

Take the proper trail for about half a mile until it starts getting steeper and rockier. You will eventually hit a rock step or slab about thirty feet long. It's not much more than a 5.1 or .2, but if you have young climbers, you will need to step carefully (especially coming back down!).

Above this is a nice trail. Head to the right and follow this trail on around back to the left. After about 5 or 10 minutes of walking, the trail will fork. Take the left fork. The right fork goes to the top of a beautiful stone slab that overlooks Cedar Rock. The left takes you up to Stone Depot after about ten more minutes of hiking.

From where the trail hits the cliff line, most of the routes are to the left. The farther left you go, the more routes you will find. If you go to the right at the cliff line, you will find a trail that eventually takes you all the way to the top of Stone Depot.

All in all, this hike is about 45-60 minutes of continuous hiking to the cliff.

The Classics

Featured Route For Stone Depot

Groove Connection 5.8 PG13  NC : Stone Depot

Unlike its fun face climbing partner to the right (North by Northwest), this route navigates different water grooves over mostly gear protected terrain. There are a few runouts but they are over 5.6 or easier terrain. P1: 5.4 200 ft: Take the easy slab into an obvious bowl 40 feet up and 40 feet left of NBNW trending up and left. Gear belay just above the small tree, about 30 feet above and left the NBNW 2nd pitch, P2: 5.7 70 ft: Take the obvious and fun watergroove past a bolt and tcu's to a l...[more]   Browse More Classics in NC