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I think this is a relatively moderate hike up to the top – 499 steps to the top – which my 76 year old father and 69 year old mother managed just fine. The number one thing to do here is to climb to the top of the rock on the Chimney Rock hike. In 2006, the “World’s Edge” land was added to the park, making it a total of 1,568-acres. It was discovered by Lucius B. Morse who opened it as a private park in 1902.
Feisty and territorial falcons fly back to NC mountains. Climbers are getting credit. - Charlotte Observer
Feisty and territorial falcons fly back to NC mountains. Climbers are getting credit..
Posted: Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Chimney Rock Attraction
Restrooms are located at the Sky Lounge, the parking lot, and in the Meadows near the entrance. We recommend going before setting out on a trail, as there won’t be more bathroom facilities along the way. Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is a nature lover’s paradise with a collaboration of spectacular views and incredible hiking trails.
Things to Do in Chimney Rock State Park
We also love this experience for inexperienced rockhounders, and those with young families who have children with an interest in rocks, minerals and crystals. Many rare and unusual rocks and minerals have been found in this area including samarskite, uranophane, and hyalite opal. We love that this is a way for rockhounders to dig in an area that they know they will find some minerals, instead of having to venture into areas that might not have anything.
Plan Your Visit
At Exit #49A (Bat Cave and Highway 64 East), turn right onto Highway 64 East. At the first exit in North Carolina, Exit #67 (Columbus and Highway 108), turn right onto Highway 108 East. Follow 108 East for approximately 6 miles to the intersection of Highway 108 and Highway 9 (a traffic stoplight).
Please be prepared to make alternate plans if the parking area is full upon arrival. This trail can only be accessed by hiking the entirety of the Exclamation Point Trail. This trail, located inside the Chimney Rock attraction, allows visitors to climb to the top of Chimney Rock. The Outcroppings Trail offers a series of staircases and lookout points threaded through a near-vertical boulder field. They also offer courses with expert instructors from Fox Mountain Guides on these routes, if you’re looking to learn for the first time or simply improve.
The best of the mountains in one place.
Ticket prices and operating hours for Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park are subject to change throughout the seasons. Chimney Rock Management LLC determines the prices, hours, and season schedule for the attraction; please contact them at for questions regarding those topics. Pets are allowed at the park, except they are not permitted inside buildings or in the elevator at the Chimney Rock attraction. Admission fees are charged per person at the Chimney Rock attraction. There are no fees to access Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock for day-use.
Learn about how these animals exist while exploring their beautiful home. Be sure to visit the Animal Discovery Den, set right at the entrance of this trail, to meet some of the native critters in real life. The large deck that overlooks Hickory Nut Gorge at the Sky Lodge is a wonderful little spot to chow down during a hike here. The tunnel takes you to the elevator for the cliff viewpoint, the Cliff Dwellers and Sky Lounge gift shops, a delicious deli, and restrooms all around the parking area.
Park Hours
Visitors can take a swim or float on the water, build sandcastles, or picnic with family and friends. There are a few moderate uphill sections and a small set of stairs at the base of the falls, so we don’t suggest this for strollers or wheelchairs. This trail can be accessed only by hiking the Weed Patch Mountain Trail for about three-fourths of a mile. Eagle Rock access, located at 1911 Shumont Road in Black Mountain, is free to access, but there is currently limited parking.
My dad loved the connection that the Chimney Rock area has to that movie. Fortunately, getting to the top is easy, since the are 499 steps from the park entrace to the viewpoint at the top. Chimney Rock State Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is one of the most popular mountains in Western North Carolina.
Look for the public accesses next to the Old Rock Cafe and the village restrooms.This trail has a natural surface, gravel, paved areas, and stairs. Chimney Rock State Park offers 10 trails of varying difficulty, each with unique vistas and many opportunities to view flora and fauna. Six trails are located at Chimney Rock access, where visitors must pay a per person fee to enter. Four free trails are located at Rumbling Bald access, Eagle Rock access, and Chimney Rock Village. In addition, the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail runs through the park.
It’s a moderate to strenuous hike that climbs up 400 feet through forest to the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. The park is also home to one of the highest waterfalls in North Carolina. The Hickory Nut Falls is 404 foot tall and features a balanced rock known as “Devil’s Head” at the summit of the falls. Some say the rock looks like the head of a devil, which is how it got its infamous name. Head up even higher along the Skyline Trail, which features the Park’s highest lookout, Peregrine’s Point, at 2,640 feet.
Please dispose of pet waste bags in garbage bins and do not throw waste bags in the woods or leave them on the ground. When sharing a trail, hikers with pets must yield to all other trail users, including bicyclists. This family-friendly trail offers fun for nature lovers of all ages.
It was also the setting for the movie, Last of the Mohicans. I didn’t do it on this trip, but I did on a previous trip with other adult friends – ah the serenity of a glass of wine uninterrupted by cries of your kids of “Moooommm”. Sit on the deck of Riverwatch Bar & Grill with a nice glass of champagne while your kids scramble over the rocks below. You can also get a picnic from Old Rock Cafe to take with you on the trail if you forget. After your time hiking and exploring Chimney Rock State Park, head into Chimney Rock Village for shopping and perhaps a coffee or lunch break. It’s a nice cardio and leg workout, although we did have a few stops along the way to catch our breath and admire the views.
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