Asheville & The Central Mountains

Chimney Rock In North Carolina

Jutting up from the rocky rim of Hickory Nut Gorge near Asheville, a 315-foot monolith known as Chimney Rock towers above the surrounding landscape like a sentinel.

From the rock’s summit – elevation 2,280 feet – a breathtaking panorama encompasses 75 miles of scenic beauty, including the gorge’s soaring cliffs and lush forests, the majestic Rumbling Bald Mountain and, on the canyon floor, the Rocky Broad River tumbling into the placid waters of Lake Lure.

Chimney Rock Park first opened as a tourist attraction in 1902, when the Lucius B. Morse family acquired this natural wonder and surrounding property with the dream of preserving, protecting and sharing it with the public – which they did for more than 100 years. The state of North Carolina purchased the park in May 2007.

Encompassing some 3,500 acres of Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock State Park boasts multiple attractions centered around its distinctive landmark, and visitors will find plenty to do here. More than 250,000 sightseers annually ascend the Chimney, some aboard an elevator, which climbs a 26-story shaft inside the rock, and some on foot via 400-plus stairs. For a view from the top, either route is good – just don’t forget the camera.You’ll see additional stunning vistas when you take a hike one or more of the park’s numerous trails.

The Hickory Nut Falls Trail, which is easy enough for the whole family, leads to the spectacular 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls (one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi). Follow the Cliff Trail to reach the top of the falls, where scenes from the 1992 movie, The Last of the Mohicans, were filmed. The Skyline Trail will steer you to the dramatic Opera Box – an observation area overhung by a massive rock ledge – and, the pinnacle of the park, Exclamation Point – situated more than 1,400 vertical feet above the park entrance.

Adventurous visitors in pursuit of a different vantage point can journey off the beaten path to scale the park’s granite cliffs – with help from a professional climbing guide. Instruction for climbers ages 6 to 106 ranges from impromptu 15-minute lessons and two-hour clinics to half-day and full-day top-roping, rappelling and multipitch climbing trips. All equipment is included. Be sure to look for guide services that are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association and that employ AMGA-certified instructors.

Attractions near Chimney Rock include boat tours of Lake Lure and shopping in Hickory Nut Gorge’s quaint villages.

By Carol Cowan, courtesy of Journal Communications

added: December 30, 2008

updated: January 2, 2009