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State parks are great places for birthday parties, reunions, weddings, and more. Learn more about event permits and fees on the Facilities page. Park staff lead regularly scheduled interpretive programs that allow the public to gain perspective into what makes North Carolina state parks naturally wonderful. Most events are free, though some may require pre-registration.
Where is Chimney Rock State Park?
Try the Opera Box for one of the best vistas in the park, or the base of a waterfall for a more wet and wild experience. Scattered across the Chimney Rock access road, you’ll find many picnic tables and grills for enjoying a snack or a meal with a beautiful backdrop. Also, the entire Village of Chimney Rock is set right at the park’s base and offers its enticing array of adorable shops, cafes, and restaurants to try out. The two main areas on the entrance road will offer all of the facilities here. The Old Rock Cafe can be found right at the state park entrance.
From West Asheville
It also happens to be the hub for many of the amenities in the park. Earley, who investigated the incident, said the family had just moved to Charlotte four days earlier from Michigan. They were on a family outing for the day and were hiking on "Cliff Trail," one of the park's main trails. Before anyone noticed, the girl worked her way around the opposite side of a barricade, Earley said. The Four Seasons Trail takes you off the beaten path from the lower parking lot and up through the forests.
From East Asheville
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.
One, more strenuous than the other, is a climb up 500 manmade steps. The other, much more manageable, is an elevator ride to a shorter set of stairs of only 44. Chimney Rock State Park is set just southeast of the cultural city of Asheville. It’s nestled right on the edge of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains within western North Carolina.
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).
Complete Guide to Chimney Rock State Park, NC
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.
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Our farm grows over fifty varieties of Apples sponsored by J&M Farms.
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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.
Park Hours
Check their online calendar full of upcoming excitements to see if there’s something that matches the time frame of your visit to Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock State Park often hosts seasonal and community events. This includes guided hikes, educational programs, and special happenings like the Llamapalooza, the Full Moon Series or Yoga at Sunrise. The lot has been recently renovated and provides convenient and safe parking with enough space for everyone.
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.
Located less than two hours west of Charlotte, Chimney Rock State Park offers different hiking trails that can lead to many rockhounding opportunities. The Hickory Nut Falls Trail is a 0.7-mile one-way trail (1.4 miles round trip) that will lead you straight to the base of the waterfall. The hike is relatively moderate and doable for small children. There are multiple picnic benches and places to rest along the trail and enjoy the views. From an overlook point, the land falls away to provide views of the Piedmont. Transfer of the World's Edge tract to state ownership was completed in 2006.
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.
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.
You can climb in the park all year round, weather permitting, and it’s a very family-friendly activity. The youngest age for this activity is 6-years-old, so the whole family can do it. The spectacular view of the waterfall is totally worth it. From Charlotte it’s a 2-hour drive, from our home in Raleigh it’s 4 hours, and it’s only a 5-minute drive from one of our favorite places to visit in North Carolina, Lake Lure. Don’t worry though, it’s completely worth it once you reach the top.
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