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Privately owned by the Morse family for more than 100 years, Chimney Rock was acquired by the state of North Carolina in 2007. In September of that same year, the N.C. General Assembly recognized the former Chimney Rock Park as the centerpiece of the larger state park to which it was added when it formally approved the renaming of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park to Chimney Rock State Park.
The Hickory Nut Gorge area supports at least 14 natural community types, six of which are considered rare. A study conducted in 1996 revealed 37 rare plant species and 14 rare animal species living in the Gorge.
Outdoor enthusiast visiting the park can enjoy rock climbing, bird-watching (be on the lookout for Swainson’s Warblers and Peregrine Falcons), as well as hiking. Some of the best ways to see the park include hiking the Skyline and Hickory Nut Falls trails.
Chimney Rock State Park
Roughly 25 miles southeast of Asheville and nestled in Hickory Nut Gorge, is Chimney Rock State Park, one of North Carolina’s newest state parks. The most notable feature of the 4000-acre park is the 315-foot granite monolith giving the park its namesake. Chimney Rock, accessible by elevator, provides amazing views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and the Carolina Piedmont. On a clear day you can even see Kings Mountain more than 75 miles away.
Hiking in Chimney Rock State Park
Mileage for the trails below are one-way only:
Hickory Nut Falls Trail is 0.75-mile trail that takes you to the base of a 404-foot waterfall, which is one of the highest falls east of the Mississippi River.
Skyline Trail is a short, but moderate-to-strenuous 0.8-mile hike that visits the highest point in the park; Exclamation Point. At 2480 feet, this vantage point offers dramatic views of Hickory Nut Gorge. It also served as the backdrop for several scenes in the 1992 movie; The Last of the Mohicans. Although of the trail are natural surface, much of it is wooden steps or boardwalk structures. The viewpoints along the trail are outstanding, including that of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
The Four Seasons Trail is a 0.6-mile moderate-to-strenuous trail that begins just above the Meadows. The trail winds through hardwood trees, Carolina Rhododendron and mountain laurel. The trail is known for its abundant wildflowers and indigenous plants, some of which aren’t found on the other trails in the park. You may even spot deer and wild turkeys.
The Outcroppings Trail is a moderate, 0.25-mile trail that provides an option to the elevator to the Chimney. This is actually a network of trails that wind their way up through a huge jumble of rock outcroppings and boulders near the base of the Chimney. There are three options: the Needle's Eye, the Subway, or the Rock-top Trail that crosses several bridges and uses a spiral staircase. All three routes are steep and have many steps and interesting wooden structures.
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