Monday, April 29, 2024

ULTIMATE GUIDE to Chimney Rock State Park

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The best time to visit Chimney Rock is during fall in North Carolina. Come mid to late October, the area is awash with colors, and Chimney Rock will be even more of a spectacle. The upper waters near Bat Cave offer a teeming population of trout and small and largemouth bass in the lower area.

North Carolina

Me and husband decided that we were not going to take the elevator and just hike all the way up. It was a fun experience but next time we will take the elevator so we can see the rest of the park. Once you make it to where the flag pole is your not going to want to hike up the rest of the way if you didn't take the elevator. There is also two views of a water fall but we only did the bottom view.

Chimney Rock Village

The Weed Patch Mountain Trail, located at Eagle Rock access, connects Eagle Rock in Chimney Rock State Park to Buffalo Creek Park near Rumbling Bald Resort. It traverses rugged mountain terrain through a remote wilderness area. The Rumbling Bald Trail would suit well as a self-guided trail for kids, as part of the nationwide network of Kids in Parks Track Trails, but any trail can be utilized. Our aim is to help you get the most out of your travel around the Carolinas. The park is pet friendly, so feel free to bring any furry companions along in your adventure.

Friends of State Parks

chimney rock charlotte

Fees are charged for group climbing, certain event permits, and facility reservations. We absolutely love exploring Hendersonville and think it’s another wonderful base for visiting Chimney Rock State Park. You’ll enjoy all the fun things to do in and around this small town. After a long day of exploring the park, you’ll likely be looking for a place to eat. There are picnic areas scattered throughout the park, including a few tables near the Four Seasons Trailhead, the Animal Discovery Den, and the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. Find more information about two-hour, half-day, or full-day rock climbing sessions here.

Camping Spots at Chimney Rock

It gets its name because every season has something special to offer. In Spring, it blooms with wildflowers, in the summer, it’s full of lush groves and attracts Swainson and Hooded Wabler birds to the area. In the autumn it is lit up in oranges and yellows, and the winter brings a more rugged landscape. For a strenuous hike, look towards the Exclamation Point Trail and Skyline Trails. The Exclamation Point Trail takes you up the steps of the rock, before traversing through the cliff-side habitat. It passes the Opera Box, Devil’s Head and Exclamation Point.

year-old dies in fall at Chimney Rock

It’s a great pick to avoid some of the bigger crowds and stay on a budget. It’s a 1.5-mile loop located only about two miles from the Chimney Rock entrance. It winds its way around impressive boulders at the base of the Rumbling Bald Mountain. The 315-foot-tall Chimney Rock is the park’s main attraction and it’s easy to see why.

Trails at Chimney Rock State Park

The best way for those looking for little to no walking is to take the elevator to the top. Also, Chimney Rock State Park is one of the few North Carolina state park sites to charge admission. Admission fees go towards maintaining the park and allowing it to operate as a major tourist destination. Take Highway 25 North (White Horse Road) into North Carolina. Follow Highway 19 toward Interstate 40 East and Asheville.

Here's how a family of 6 visited 41 North Carolina State Parks in 10 months on a $246 budget - Axios

Here's how a family of 6 visited 41 North Carolina State Parks in 10 months on a $246 budget.

Posted: Sun, 08 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The amazing scenery and buzz that surrounds this place are enough to keep the park on our NC Bucket List. Music lovers should take a second to listen to John Mason, an award-winning artist who plays most sunny days outside the gift shop. Music has always been a key aspect of Appalachian culture, and the state park strives to incorporate music wherever it can. Before or after you explore the top of Chimney Rock, stop by the gift shop for a souvenir to remember the views!

Chimney Rock Attraction

The entirely of Chimney Rock State Park spans for 6,800 acres and is most famous for the granite “Chimney Rock” which is so named because it looks like a rock chimney. Because the drive time from downtown Asheville is just 40-minutes, it’s one our top suggestions for things to do near Asheville. Please do not wander off the trail when hiking, biking, or walking with your pet. Going off trail also increases the chances of encountering ticks, venomous snakes, and poisonous plants. Along the bottom of the scenic Hickory Nut Gorge runs the rushing Rocky Broad River, from Chimney Rock to Lake Lure.

One of the park’s biggest events is the arrival of Santa during the Christmas season. Beyond hiking, there are even more Chimney Rock State Park attractions. While visiting Chimney Rock State Park, we ask you to PLEASE leave no trace. Pack in and out, and please do not litter in our beloved public spaces. #travelbloggervibes #travelbloggerlifestyle #workremotely #beaufortnorthcarolina #beaufortnc #workview...

Not only do you gain a sense of achievement, but the panoramic views from the observation deck are just magnificent. This trail has a natural surface, including stone steps. The Great Woodland Adventure would suit well as a self-guided trail for kids, as part of the nationwide network of Kids in Parks Track Trails, but any trail can be utilized. Visitors can download activity brochures, track all of their adventures online, and get prizes on the Kids in Parks website. Please follow safety rules and encourage others to do the same when you are near waterfall areas. Cameron grew up in Charlotte and spent his childhood traveling around this great region.

The opening hours always depend on the time of year, as the season will affect weather patterns and daylight. The street address for the GPS is 431 Main Street, Chimney Rock, NC. Be sure to study the park map upon arrival, there are so many magical spots to see within the wild grounds, other than just the main formation of course. It’s a more recent addition to the NC state park scene, as it existed privately until 2007. The preserved ecology and geology of the area make it a special highlight of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a mecca for outdoor adventure.

Located near the elevator, the gift shop sells local pieces as well as apparel, magnets, and more. Chimney Rock’s Animal Discovery Den is home to several animals who serve as ambassadors to educate about the park’s wildlife. In the Den, you’ll meet Mufasa the Eastern King Snake, Petunia the Snapping Turtle, and Ossie the Opossum, among many others. I personally like the hike up because you get a lot of different perspectives of Chimney Rock and the rest of the park. Plus, you pass through the Subway (a small tunnel) and other scenic walkways. To reach the top of Chimney Rock, you’ll have to drive up to the base of the monument.

It also has the most facilities, including riverside areas, interpretive exhibits, and gift shops. The free Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock accesses provide a more rugged backcountry experience. Access to this trail requires paid admission to the attraction. The trailhead is located near the top of the park road; visitors can park at the upper parking area and walk carefully down the park road. Alternatively, there is a set of stairs adjacent to the restrooms in the upper parking area, at the base of the Outcroppings Trail, that leads down to this trail. The park features hiking trails for all skill levels, views of the Devil's Head balancing rock, and a 404-foot (123 m) waterfall, Hickory Nut Falls.

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.

Chimney Rock has all the facilities to make your visit comfortable. You’ll find restrooms at the Meadows near the Ticket Plaza, on the upper parking lot near the Outcroppings trail and in the Sky Lounge at the top of Chimney Rock. The Skyline Trail is a 2-2.5 hour hike that leads from Exclamation Point and into the backcountry. The trail follows the ridge and gives great views of the Hickory Nut Gorge and Peregrine’s Point. It passes through woodlands, wildflowers, and Falls Creek, as well as the top of the Hickory Nut Falls. Rock climbing is a popular activity at Chimney Rock State Park.

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