Stone Mountain Park has two large lakes in addition to several smaller
ones.
Boating is very popular on the lakes,
and so is
fishing. All of the large lakes are
man-made.
Starting on the south side of the mountain and proceeding in the
direction that water flows, the first significant lake is called Howell
Lake, named for
Hugh Howell.
Howell Lake
Water from Howell Lake flows under a
Cherokee Trail bridge and into a slightly smaller lake called
Catfish Pond.
Catfish Pond
From Catfish Pond, the water goes under
Stonewall Jackson Drive and into
Venable Lake, named for the
Venable
Brothers. Venable Lake is the second-largest lake in Stone Mountain
Park.
Venable Lake
The water continues from Venable Lake across a dam and into Stone
Mountain Lake. The Cherokee Trail follows this dam.
Stone Mountain Lake from Indian Island
The 323-acre Stone Mountain Lake is by far the park's largest lake. It is about
eight feet lower than Venable Lake. It runs from the north side of the
mountain to the south, encompassing nearly half of the mountain. It has
three islands including Indian Island. (The other two islands are
inaccessible.) Stone Mountain Lake is fed from the north as well as via
Venable Lake from the southwest. It drains via a spillway to the south.
Stone Mountain Lake from Lakemont Golf Course
Several ponds have been formed by
quarrying.
They are known as Seasonal Quarry Ponds. The water level in these ponds
varies with the weather.
Seasonal Quarry Pond at South Quarry
Seasonal Quarry Pond near Skyride parking
lot
Seasonal Quarry Pond near Quarry Exhibit
Finally, there is a reflecting pool at the base of the
carving.
Reflecting Pool
There was once a reflecting pool at the
summit
but this is all that's left of it.
Map of lakes and streams