Part 6 of an 8 part series
Hike the Trail at hanging rock, nC
Two hours away from Charlotte is Hanging Rock State Park. Here you find some of the best outdoor experiences with a 73-site campground, stocked lake for swimming and fishing, canoe rentals, and 20 miles of trails to hike that take you to spectacular views!
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.
Which trail should we hike?
As always, there are trails offered at all levels of difficulty, but this is hike six of eight, so it’s time to raise the bar. I’m all about a payoff in the end with amazing views.
Moore’s Knob Trail rated “strenuous” did not disappoint. The loop starts by the lake and campground so there is ample parking. As I’ve stated in previous posts a loop can be very different whether you travel it clockwise or counterclockwise. If you prefer stairs over a rugged trail as you ascend, then go counterclockwise. Otherwise, I highly recommend the clockwise direction.
The Moore's Knob Loop trail
After walking along a stream in a tunnel of trees you start ascending for what feels like a very long time! It was warm and humid the day we went so I was so thankful for the water bladder in my backpack.
The trail is narrow with a mix of roots and rocks so watch your footing. Try to enjoy the journey up and check out all the unusual rock formations and little caves along the way. You get little peaks through the trees of how high you are getting but even when you feel like you must be at the top, you are not.
Had it not been for people coming down promising there was an amazing view, I would have started second guessing myself!
the summit
Finally, we reached the summit! Although there were a few more stairs the sign for lookout tower let me know we were near! Trust me… it is all worth it. You for sure want to climb that last little bit to the top of the tower because the 360-degree views are breath taking! There are maps at the top of the tower showing you what you are looking at in each direction. Look for the lake to see how far you have just hiked and you will feel very accomplished! At this point you have also conquered over half your hike and the rest of the trip is all downhill! On the way down, check out the hundreds of steps that you would have climbed up going the counterclockwise direction. No thanks!
Other points of interest
As with most of our hikes there are some other points of interest worth checking out. When you near the summit there is a slight turn off for Balanced Rock. It’s just a couple steps to go check it out, so don’t miss it! There are also several waterfalls which we did not see this time based on a time crunch. It looks like you can get to most of them in under a mile. The lake which seems to be a very popular place on weekends is complete with sand beach, lifeguards, canoes, and even a diving board! I have vowed to come back here and maybe even camp over night!
Time to hydrate
After this very hot 4.5-mile hike it was time for a beer! This week’s brewery is located in Winston-Salem about 30 minutes back toward Charlotte in the renovated Bailey Power Plant. Incendiary Brewing is one of two locations started by local guys and opened its doors on Labor Day in 2018. Incendiary made a name for itself quickly for its IPAs, stouts, and their unique outdoor space dubbed, The Coalpit. Beginning 2021, they plan to launch a new summer concert series, Coalpit Live. Although they do not offer food, you can order from Cugino Forno Pizzeria next door, and they bring it right to your table. The wood fired pizza is known as some of the best in Winston-Salem, but the gelato was even better!
Top Pick Beer: Ritual Pilsner
Top food pick: Any Pizza
The Vibe
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