Monday, April 29, 2024

Chimney Rock State Park: How to Enjoy an Epic NC Attraction

chimney rock charlotte

Here we can witness fall colours from the edge of the chimney rock mountain. The price of the ticket for an adult to enter this park is $17. There are even different trails for different groups such as great woodland adventure, hickory nut falls trail, skyline and four seasons trails. A route map for trails is Available at the ticket counter. The best thing over here is, if one arrive after 4 pm DST, we can visit next day at no additional charge. At the fee-based Chimney Rock attraction, hike to Hickory Nut Falls and take an elevator or climb to the top of the park's namesake, a 315-foot freestanding rock spire.

Camping Spots at Chimney Rock

Exit the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 384.7 near Asheville onto Highway 74A East. Take Interstate 26 East toward Hendersonville to Exit #49A (Bat Cave and Highway 64 East). Stay on 64 East for 18 miles and the Park entrance will be on the right. Take Interstate 240 East to Exit #9 (Blue Ridge Parkway and Highway 74A East). Exit Biltmore and turn right onto US Highway 25 S (Hendersonville Road).

Black Mountain

2020 Fall Foliage Peak Map: When Leaves Are Best In NC - Patch

2020 Fall Foliage Peak Map: When Leaves Are Best In NC.

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Black Mountain sits just off I-40 and is another great base for exploring Chimney Rock State Park. The town features quaint shops, impressive restaurants (including Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit!), and the lovely Lake Tomahawk. Hendersonville is a great place to visit throughout the year, but don’t miss the annual NC Apple Festival. This is a celebration of the amazing orchards in and around Henderson County. There are lots of fun things to do at Lake Lure, so spend an afternoon here relaxing on the water or the beach.

Chimney Rock access is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Our love story begins in Wilmington, where we met while attending UNCW. We love the Carolinas and think they are one of the most special areas in the world. Natasha moved to North Carolina for college years ago (but she's not trying to age herself here). Her days were spent reading a book on the beach and enjoying a cold glass of sweet tea in between classes at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Upon graduation, she met her partner, Cameron, and they traveled the world together crossing 85 countries and seven continents. During the summer months of June, July, and August, it’s best to arrive early when the park opens or in the evening.

When is the Best Time to Visit Chimney Rock State Park?

The bridge and gardens are free to visit and open 24 hours a day year-round. “The scenery, the friendliness of the people, the old-timey buildings here, it really is kind of a step back in time to an old mountain village,” said Peter O’Leary. If you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of the river otters, bears, or groundhogs that live nearby. The brewery is family-friendly, including 4-legged furry family members. — Your704 is hitting the road on short trips from Charlotte that you can make on one tank of gas. NC Tripping offers access to a huge audience with multiple advertising options.

Events at Chimney Rock

The Rumbling Bald Climbing Access is a hidden gem in the states. It’s a world-class bouldering and technical rock climbing area and has over 1,500 bouldering problems for experienced boulderers to tackle. If you don’t have the energy to travel too far, there is a cafe at the park entrance called Old Rock Cafe, which is located near the gift shop, Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

chimney rock charlotte

This trail, located near the Chimney Rock attraction entrance, provides free access to the Rocky Broad River at Chimney Rock's Main Street. Visitors can stroll by boulder-strewn waters and readily access local shops and restaurants. Free parking is available in the village alongside U.S. 64.

Ready to Visit Chimney Rock State Park?

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 Village

Those looking for a little more excitement can try their hand at rock climbing! Chimney Rock State Park partnered with Fox Mountain Guides to offer rock climbing at the Rumbling Bald. Chimney Rock State Park in Western North Carolina is best known for the famed Chimney Rock. Sure, the namesake landmark is the first thing on many people’s bucket lists, but we’ve experienced many more fun things inside this state park. The main ones are at the base of Hickory Nut Falls and at Exclamation Point.

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.

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.

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.

chimney rock charlotte

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.

You can find the park by taking I-240 East, Highway 74A, or US Highway 64. If you are visiting the beautiful North Carolina lake, Lake Lure, you’ll want to visit Chimney Rock State Park too. We love that rockhounders can plan a trip to Charlotte and experience all of these different places and excursions without traveling too far outside of the city. Following the rains "we did a more thorough inspection of trails to ensure the safety of our visitors," he said.

From the top of Chimney Rock, you can take in a panoramic view of the North Carolina mountains, the Rocky Broad River, Hickory Nut Gorge, and much more. We had such a fun time in Pirate town, attending festivals, dancing the night away to live music, hiking, and kayaking with wild horses.Grateful to have a travel marriage. I`m not sure I`m the best hiking partner.With my long legs and fifth-gear-energy, I can only go fast.It`s actually painful for me to slow down.

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