Complete Guide To Chimney Rock State Park, NC For 2022
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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.
year-old dies in fall at Chimney Rock
In order to preserve the beauty of our parks, we would like to remind visitors to please park only in designated areas. Parking along the grass, along road shoulders, and in front of parking signs causes congestion, damages access areas, and could result in a parking citation. Please respect our resources so that they may be conserved for future visitors. Another spot where you can soak in the scenery is Lake Lure Beach and Water Park.
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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.
Things to Do in Chimney Rock State Park
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.
This is the best state park near Charlotte, Southern Living says. What makes it special - Yahoo Finance
This is the best state park near Charlotte, Southern Living says. What makes it special.
Posted: Fri, 24 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
One Tank Trips: Things to see and do in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Its most notable feature is a 315-foot (96 m) granite monolith named Chimney Rock, which is accessible by elevator and provides views of the park and surrounding countryside. Visitors can catch their breath at Devil’s Head and the Opera Box on a hike to Exclamation Point, where panoramic views of the 14-mile Hickory Nut Gorge are sure to delight. It is a bit on the pricey side to get into the park but the views are really good. The road going up is pretty narrow so beware when you drive in and out of the park. There is an elevator to go almost all the way up to the main Chimney Rock portion.
Chimney Rock State Park (How to Enjoy an NC Icon)
📷 Fort Macon State Park, NC#hikingpartner #fortMacon #hikingviews#hikingtime #hikingvibes #femalehiker #nctrails #ncstateparks... This trail is located inside the Chimney Rock attraction and starts at Exclamation Point. It guides visitors even higher in elevation to Peregrine Point at 2,460 feet. The trailhead is located at the end of the upper parking area, past the restrooms. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times. Please pick up after your pet when you are at the park; pet waste is not fertilizer and can put plants, other animals, and visitors at risk for disease.
This picturesque park lies in the little village of Chimney Rock, which is in Rutherford County. This gem-mining experience even offers gemstone cutting, so visitors can turn their finds into jewelry. About two hours northwest of Charlotte, Crabtree Emerald Mine has been used as an emerald provider for Tiffany Jewelers in New York City. This mine is obviously known for its emeralds, but also has sums of other minerals including quartz and mica. At Chimney Rock State Park, visitors can take a 26-story elevator inside a mountain to view its geology from the inside.
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.
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.
Take Interstate 40 East to Exit #53A (Blue Ridge Parkway and Highway 74A East). Stay on 74A East for 20 miles and the Park entrance will be on the right. Follow Highway 64/74A West for 20 miles and the Park entrance will be on the left. Take Interstate 85 South to Exit #10 (King’s Mountain and Highway 74 West). Go 14 miles to the stop sign (Lake Lure will be opposite the stop sign).
They combine to create a mountain adventure experience that is postcard perfect. Though Chimney Rock is the crown jewel of the park, it slightly overcasts the other hidden gems that this park has to offer. There are several hiking trails and woodlands to explore, so don’t skip these other trails if you have more than half a day to explore the park.
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.
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.
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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