Status of park trails
Park map (PDF)
Chimney Rock State Park offers 10 trails of varying difficulty, each with unique vistas and many opportunities to view flora and fauna. Six trails are located at Chimney Rock access, where visitors must pay a per person fee to enter. Four free trails are located at Rumbling Bald access, Eagle Rock access, and Chimney Rock Village. In addition, the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail runs through the park.
Sharing the Trail
The Weed Patch Mountain Trail allows bicycles. Bicyclists should yield to hikers on the trail. Horses are not permitted on any trail in the park.
Pets
Pets are permitted on park trails. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times. Please pick up after your pet when you are at the park; pet waste is not fertilizer and can put plants, other animals, and visitors at risk for disease. 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.
Don't Forget
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Trail map:Avoid getting lost. Pay attention to trail markers. Download and print a park map (PDF) at home, or stop by the park office to pick up a map.
- Plenty of water:Know the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond.
- Sturdy walking or hiking shoes:Most trails have a natural surface with roots, rocks, and gravel. Areas of the park have large boulder fields and stairs.
Please do not wander off the trail when hiking, biking, or walking with your pet. Going off trail also increases the chances of encountering ticks, venomous snakes, and poisonous plants.
Waterfall Safety
Please follow safety rules and encourage others to do the same when you are near waterfall areas.
List of Trails
Note: The table below can be sorted by length, difficulty, trail use, and accessibility. Click the corresponding header category to change the order of the trails. You can also use the search function to narrow down the list. Click the green plus sign in front of each trail to show the trail description. This table can also be downloaded as an Excel file.
| Trail Name | Blaze | Length | Difficulty | Trail Use | Accessible | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney Rock access: Riverwalk Trail | none | 0.1-mile one way | Easy | Hiking only | No | This trail provides free access to the Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock, where visitors can stroll by boulder-strewn waters and ready access local shops and restaurants. Free parking is available in the village alongside U.S. 64. Look for the public accesses next to the Old Rock Cafe and the village restrooms. This trail has a natural surface, gravel, paved areas, and stairs. |
| Chimney Rock access: Great Woodland Adventure / K.I.P. Track Trail | none | 0.4-mile loop | Easy | Hiking only | No | A child-friendly interpretive trail, the Great Woodland Adventure teaches hikers about the animal residents of Chimney Rock State Park through interactive sculptures and displays. The trailhead is located in The Meadows, the first parking area after the ticket plaza. The Animal Discovery Den is right next to the trailhead. This trail has a natural surface, gravel, a boardwalk/bridge, and stairs. This is the park's Kids in Parks Track Trail. To learn more about the program and to download activity brochures, please visit the Kids in Parks website. |
| Chimney Rock access: Four Seasons Trail | none | 0.7-mile one way | Strenuous | Hiking only | No | This trail is a stready tromp through the harwood forest and past picturesque boulders, giving hikers many opportunities to view the natural flora and fauna of the park. The trailhead is located across the park road from the Great Woodland Adventure trailhead. Use caution when crossing. This trail has a natural surface, gravel, and stairs. |
| Chimney Rock access: Hickory Nut Falls Trail | none | 0.7-mile one way | Moderate | Hiking only | No | Leading to the base of the fantastic 404-foot-tall waterfall, the gently sloping trail hugs the side of Hickory Nut Gorge and grants dramatic views of the towering cliffs above. The trailhead is located near the top of the park road; you can park the upper parking area and walk carefully back down the park road. Alternatively, there is a set of stairs adjacent to the restrooms in the upper parking area, at the base of the Outcroppings Trail, that leads down to this trail. This trail has a natural surface and gravel. |
| Chimney Rock access: Outcroppings Trail | none | 0.2-mile one way | Strenuous | Hiking only | No | For visitors wishing to climb to the top of Chimney Rock itself, the Outcroppings Trail offers a series of staircases and lookout points threaded through a near-vertical boulder field. The trailhead is located at the end of the upper parking area, past the restrooms. This trail is primarily stairs with some segments of natural surface, including stone steps. As an alternative, visitors with limited mobility or disabilities can take the elevator to the Sky Lounge. |
| Chimney Rock access: Exclamation Point Trail | none | 0.3-mile one way | Strenuous | Hiking only | No | Accessing the top of Hickory Nut Gorge, the Exclamation Point Trail connects zigzagging paths with staircases to bring hikers to the edge of Exclamation Point at 2,480 feet. Along the way, there are two additional outlooks where visitors can stop and catch a breath: the Opera Box and Devil's Head. The trailhead is located across the stairs leading to the top of the Chimney. This trail has a natural surface, gravel, and stairs. |
| Chimney Rock access: Skyline Trail | blue diamonds | 1.1-mile one way | Moderate | Hiking only | No | The Skyline Trail starts at Exclamation Point and guides visitors even higher in elevation to Peregrine Point at 2,460 feet. After gazing across and into scenic Hickory Nut Gorge, visitors can continue their woodland hike to Falls Creek, which begins its 404-foot plunge as Hickory Nut Falls near the trail's end. This trail can only be accessed by hiking the entirety of Exclamation Point Trail. This trail has a natural surface and gravel. |
| Rumbling Bald access: Rumbling Bald Trail | orange circles | 1.5-mile loop | Moderate | Hiking only | No | The Rumbling Bald Trail is a loop trail that meanders through a beautiful hardwood forest along the south face of Rumbling Bald Mountain, revealing huge boulder fields and the base of cliff areas. The trailhead is located at Rumbling Bald access, which is off of Boys Camp Road, between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. This trail has a natural surface and gravel. |
| Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Weed Patch Mountain Trail | red circles | 8.5-mile one way | Strenuous | Biking, Hiking | No | The Weed Patch Mountain Trail connects Eagle Rock in Chimney Rock State Park to Buffalo Creek Park near Rumbling Bald Resort. It traverses rugged mountain terrain through a remote wilderness area. The trail is designed for hiking and mountain biking. Only the first mile of the trail is currently within Chimney Rock State Park property, so please be mindful of local rules and regulations. Rock climbing is permitted on Eagle Rock with a permit. The trail can only currently be accessed through Buffalo Creek Park, 2191 Buffalo Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746. This trail has a natural surface. Bicyclists, please yield to hikers on this trail. |
| Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Tunnel Trail | white triangles | 0.15-mile one way | Moderate | Hiking only | No | The Tunnel Trail spurs off the Weed Patch Mountain Trail near Eagle Rock. It showcases natural stone staircases, which bring hikers up and through a tunnel, created by a huge granite rock slab leaning at the base of Eagle Rock. This trail can only be accessed by hiking the entirety of the Weed Patch Mountain Trail from Buffalo Creek Park, 2191 Buffalo Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746. This trail has a natural surface, including stone steps. Mountain bikes are not permitted on this trail. Rock climbing is permitted at Eagle Rock with a permit. |
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