Part 7 of an 8 part series
Hike to Chimney Rock and Beyond
Two hours away from Charlotte is Chimney Rock State Park, the home of a 535 million year old Monolith rock. Set up more like a tourist spot versus a state park, it still offers amazing panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge, several fun hikes, a 404 foot tall waterfall, and more stairs than you could ever imagine! I knew my husband was not a huge fan of the stairs so I enlisted my college boy to go this time! This blog will tell you everything you need to know about your hike to Chimney Rock and beyond!
Why Hiking?
Our family trip this summer takes us to Montana. We’re headed to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and everything in between. Unlike most of our family trips, this one is going to involve a lot of exercise. To really experience these beautiful parks, it sounds like you have to do some hiking! In addition to some of the gear we need to buy, we also need to get into some serious hiking shape. Lucky for us, we live in Charlotte where there are a ton of hiking options all within 2 hours. During the next 8 weeks my husband and I will be taking on a different hiking adventure each weekend. For our first week we took on one of the most popular trail locations- Crowders Mountain.
Know before you go
The first thing you need to know when visiting Chimney Rock State Park is there is an admission fee of $10-$17 per adult. Several reviews state that it’s not worth it, but after spending a full day exploring the park I disagree.
The construction that went into the stairs and elevator to get you to Chimney Rock is impressive on it’s own. Add in the fun gifts shops, restaurant, and additional hiking options, and you can easily get your money’s worth. Plus here’s a fun fact. The Last of the Mohicans used the falls as one of their filming locations.
*the day we visited the elevator was not operating but they let you know when you buy tickets
Which Trail do we pick?
There are maps everywhere letting you know where you are and what trails are available. We conquered several in one day:
- Chimney Rock Trail- .4 mile round trip; 30-45 minutes
- Exclamation Point Trail- .6 mile round trip; 45 minutes
- Skyline Trail- 2.2 miles round trip; 1.5 hours
- Hickory Nut Falls Trail- 1.4 miles round trip; 45 minutes to 1 hour
Chimney Rock Trail
This trail consists of 500 steps that lead you to the Chimney Rock lookout. If the elevator was working, this is the point you would end up. It’s strenuous but there are lots of stops along the way to catch your breath. Check out the Grotto, Vista Rock, and Pulpit Rock.
Exclamation Point
Keep going 20 more minutes up and you get to one of the highest spots in the park. The views at the top are truly breathtaking. The trail is a continuation of the stairs but also offers some stops at the Opera Box and the Devil’s Head.
The wind was crazy up there!
Skyline Trail
Starting at Exclamation Point, this trail takes you through forest to the top of the Falls. The hike is fun but DO NOT expect amazing views of the falls at this point. It is an in-out trail so you will venture back the way you came including taking all those stairs back down to the parking lot.
Hickory Nut Falls Trail
Once you are back in the parking lot, check out Gneiss Cave and read about the North Carolina bats. Start this trail there that takes you right to the foot of the 404 foot water fall, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Pretty amazing! I highly recommend adding this on before you leave the park!
So many photo opportunities at Chimney Rock!
Time to hydrate
Climbing this many stairs makes you hungry! The little town of Chimney Rock outside of the park entrance could be a whole day excursion in itself. Fun shops and restaurants line the streets, which is where we found Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery. It looks like a hole in the wall on the outside but is situated right on a stream with lots of great outdoor seating. You order your food and drinks from an outside window, find a table, and they buzz you when it’s ready. We scored with a table right next to the water! The menu is limited but everything we tried was delicious. Of course, they offer a full selection of local beer as well!
Top Pick Beer: Broad River Blonde
Top food pick: Fish and Chips
The Vibe
