Category: conservancy

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Stone Cuts Trail of Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, Alabama Hiking Review

Stone Cuts Trail at Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, AL

While we have plentiful hiking opportunities here in North Georgia, I wanted to get out a little and drive a few hours for a new hike. The Monte Sano State Park is a pleasant, mostly rural and regional road drive of about 4 hours, and the famous Stone Cuts Trail is worth it.

After paying $5 entrance at the welcome gate, stop by the office for a map and got your hiking badge for your walking stick, and then drive to the “Biker’s Trailhead” aka Biker’s Pavilion where you can park for the day.

Monte Sano State Park Trail Map
Monte Sano State Park Trail Map
Monte Sano State Park walking stick medal badge
Monte Sano State Park walking stick medal badge

The pavilion has table and more than one bathroom! It is a great starting point. Then find the one trail that originates from there, and that is the Sinks Trail that will connect you to Stone Cuts Trail. The Sinks Trail is a pleasant 20 minutes through the woods. I was hiking alone and may have had the entire park to myself on the fall Thursday, so it was a little spooky hiking by myself in a trail I had never seen. This Sinks Trail however is well marked, and after about 20 minutes you arrive at Stone Cuts Trail – and you can’t miss it!

The Stone Cuts Trail looks like you are about to cross through the Misty Mountains to get to Moria, in the Lord of the Rings! The Stone Cuts Trail is carved through a limestone area that has cracked, and you are walking in sometimes very tight pathways, with all kinds of little caves and crevices all around you. I took my time to inspect and admire the limestone for fossils and interesting geology, and was just happy to be so isolated in a such a landscape that truly felt like something from Middle Earth. I also found a hidden geocache work of art that was a delightful surprise: https://northgeorgiaculture.com/2025/11/03/october-2025-discovery-at-monte-sano-state-park-alabama/. See the video below for highlights and photos. Here are the Monte Sano State Park trail requirements per American Geode:

Plenty of water and snacks – the pavilion where you start has water from the sinks but no food.

Walking stick is a MUST. The Stone Cuts Trail is EXTREMELY rocky and uneven. A walking stick is a must.

Your must sturdy hiking boots are also needed to be sure not to twist or strain or sprain anything while hiking.

Be prepared for a longer than expected walk back to your car. There is a way to circle back but we did not discover it so after finishing the Stone Cuts Trail, we followed signs to get back to the main road through the park and there is likely a faster way to get back to where you started via the trails. We could consider the trail a medium hike, moderate depending on the scale you consider for your hikes.

Watch our highlights video and if you visit Monte Sano State Park, please tell them American Geode sen’cha!

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Rock Shop Review – Pezrok Gems, Minerals, Fossils Gallery in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia

524 E Main St, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513

Blue Ridge, Georgia is one of North Georgia’s true “gems.” Full of fine restaurants, cool dive bars, adult arcades, fine dining, easy dining, the wonderful Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, and also one of the finest gem, mineral, fossil and interior design stores that American Geode had ever visited. The expensive minerals are well labeled with relevant provenance and history and Pezrock also has very affordable minerals, gems and fossils and they are also well documented.

We were instantly impressed to see that they have out on the Main Street Blue Ridge sidewalk and geode cracked, that we instantly recognized as a version of a sawed off soil pipe cutter like the one American Geode uses to crack geodes!

Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia
Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia

In addition to the fine minerals, gems, and crystals, we discovered interior design concepts and a kitchen showroom constructed with counter tops and panels of the famous Green River fish fossils, and the kitchen bar stools and other home furniture like dining tables were carved from old hardwood in a style that maintained the form of the tree trunks and limbs. These were some of the most beautiful home designs we had ever seen, and made you want to own a home to incorporate these gorgeous Green River fossil designs,

Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia
Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia

So when in Blue Ridge, be sure to visit Pezrock as you must see their collection with your own eyes to believe it, and you will likely want to acquire one of their fine works too. Please tell them you read about Pezrock on NorthGeorgiaCulture.com!

Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia
Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia
Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia
Pezrock Gems and Minerals of Blue Ridge Georgia

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Rockhounding, Hiking, and Exploring the Geology of North Georgia

Yonah Mountain

Since moving back to North Georgia in late 2024, American Geode are loving and appreciating the chances for rockhounding, hiking, and exploring all the geology and geologic wonders of North Georgia. The North Georgia geology is a lot of metamorphic, so while there are few fossils to be found, North Georgia is full of quartz, some garnets, some amethyst and the rare gold discovery in Dahlonega that kicked off the first American Gold Rush and the infamous “Trail of Tears” for the Cherokee Indians (http://www.americangeode.com/blog/dahlonega-gold-rush-museum-review/). One of the benefits and advantage of living in North Georgia are that we are in the middle of dozens of state and federal parks, with plenty of variety for hiking experiences in the mountains.

We recently visited the Charles Smithgall Woods, https://gastateparks.org/SmithgallWoods, for a day hike to see Mount Yonah. The Smithgall Woods were gifted to the state of Georgia by philanthropist Charles Smithgall who also started a dog and cat shelter that American Geode supports, https://charlessmithgallhumanesociety.org/. This hike is just under 2 miles and can be completed in less than an hour unless you stop to smell the Georgia mountain laurel and take selfies in front of one of the best views of Mount Yonah. American Geode hiked the trail called Laurel Ridge Trail, and it was a delight.

The American Geode team hiked it during the week, so the crowds were a little lighter than on the weekends. While rockhounding is technically not permissible, we enjoyed so much admiring the geology of the hike as it descends up and then down a mountain. We took so many pictures and spotted numerous varieties of butterflies and saw a copperhead snake from the distance, whom we did not approach but seeing a copperhead was magnificent and a thrill. Hiking is a great workout, and we look forward to hiking all the trails of Charles Smithgall Woods. See our pictures of Mount Yonah (aka Yonah Mountain around North Georgia) and imagine what a gorgeous landscape you will see depending on the day, weather, and time of year.

Contact American Geode directly for any advice or questions, and enjoy rockhounding North Georgia!

Yonah Mountain
Yonah Mountain
Yonah Mountain
Yonah Mountain
Yonah Mountain
Yonah Mountain
Geology of Yonah Mountain, North Georgia
Geology of Yonah Mountain, North Georgia
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Paleoart collection of Original Vintage Artwork used for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 Calendar

Paleoart Original Artwork used for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 Calendar

American Geode are also paleoart, art, and antiques appraisers, dealers and collectors, and we very recently acquired the entire vintage private artwork collection of PaleoArt that was used in the 2002 calendar of the American Museum of Natural History, New York. The artist who had lived in New York City and worked at the museum, moved to North Georgia, which is also the homebase of American Geode now, and we have had the chance to become friends with her and share our love and appreciation for the museums of New York City, especially the American Museum of Natural History. Here is an article and review about AMNH from our most recent visit: http://www.americangeode.com/blog/tips-for-visiting-the-american-museum-of-natural-history-amnh-in-new-york/

These sketches are preserved under wax paper with the annotations and notes on the wax paper. The paleoart sketches themselves are so charming, educational, and cool; they speak for themselves. We are cataloguing this collection of PaleoArt and will offer it for sale sometime this year.

Please contact American Geode directly if you would like more information. We will also be posting images on social media, https://x.com/AmericanGeode. Below is just a portion of this magnificent special PaleoArt collection.

PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
Paleoart Original Artwork used for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 Calendar
Paleoart Original Artwork used for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 Calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
PaleoArt for the American Museum of Natural History 2002 calendar
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Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society 2021 Show!

Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society 2021 Annual Gem Show

Rothchild Conference Center 8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923

Friday, October 15, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday, October 16, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday, October 17, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

As a precaution for Covid masks will be required for admittance.

The show will feature 23 vendors with a wide variety of jewelry, fossil and mineral specimens, meteorites, gemstones, and decorative objects. There will also be educational activities and gem and mineral ID tables. Admission Adults: $6.00 Run of Show Pass: $10.00 Children Under 12: Free