May 23—We just celebrated National Wildflower Week! As the smaller blossom variety of Carolina rhododendron is past bloom, now the Mountain laurel with its small umbrella-shaped pinkish flowers is starting to burst with color. Wild columbine is still in bloom, and you’re likely to spot fire pink along the road. Also, keep an eye out for the poplar trees blooming.

May 8—Chimney Rock's wildflower scenery is in full swing now! With all the recent rain, the vegetation looks bright green. Fire Pinks are now blooming, along with purple phacelia, wild columbine and Little Sweet Betsy trillium. Magnolias are adding color to the beautiful and abundant flowering dogwoods, silverbell trees, sweetshrub and Carolina rhododendron. Sign up for our guided Spring Wildflower Walk to learn how to recognize them this Sat., May 11 from 11am-noon.

April 24—It’s the perfect time to hike Chimney Rock’s Four Seasons trail, which is now packed with blooming wildflowers, flowering trees and shrubs! Expect to still see colorful violets, purple phacelia, chickweed, wild columbine, Little Sweet Betsy trillium and other trilliums. Buckeye trees are blooming, and the flowering dogwoods and silverbell trees look gorgeous now. Sweetshrub and Carolina rhododendron blooms are popping up everywhere.

April 15—Spring is in full swing in Hickory Nut Gorge! Look for loads of violets blooming, along with purple phacelia, trilliums, and wild columbine. Our redbud trees are spectacular now, and other flowering trees and shrubs in bloom include Blue Cohosh, silverbell trees and some of our popular favorites, the white flowering dogwoods and Carolina rhododendron.

April 3, 2013—Chimney Rock is showing some spring colors now. Our bloodroot (right), Little Sweet Betsy Trillium and cut-leaf toothwort that bloomed last week still look great. Several colorful varieties of violets are now blooming, along with star chickweed. Our maple trees are blooming, and the redbud and peach trees are in full bloom with vibrant purples.

Want help identifying these blooming beauties? Learn from an expert on May 11, 11am-noon at our Spring Wildflower Walk on Mother's Day weekend. Wildflower guide books are also available in our gift shops.

April 2013 - TRAIL CLOSURE: The Hickory Nut Falls trail is closed for repairs. Last November, a major rockslide caused significant damage to a footbridge and a large portion of the trail. State geologists, engineers and trail specialists are currently working to determine the best way to stabilize the area and restore access to the waterfall. The plan is to reopen the trail, but no timeline has been established at present. We realize this is a popular trail and are sorry for the inconvenience. Rest assured we are doing our utmost to expedite repairs and restore access to the waterfall.

Due to the Hickory Nut Falls trail closure, admission prices are reduced to $12 adult and $6 youth (ages 5-15). Despite the trail closure, there are still four scenic trails and many points of interest and activities to enjoy at Chimney Rock. Learn more about the Park.

Read the full media release from Nov. 2012.

April 22, 2013—To celebrate Earth Day this week, try practicing some of these fun green tips at home with your children. Help us save the planet, one small act at a time!

1) Get Your Hands Dirty: Most kids love to play in the dirt. Turn this into a fun gardening experience to grow plants and herbs in your yard or in small potted plants. Planting fruits, vegetables, flowers or herbs can thrill children, teach them patience and teach them how we all can contribute to the natural beauty of the world.

2) Pick up Trash: Grab some rubber gloves and garbage bags and help beautify your local parks and playgrounds. Teach your child that having a safe, healthy place to play is good for their community as well as the environment. Afterwards, celebrate your hard work with a picnic outside.

3) Swap Your Car for the Bike: Instead of taking the car, go on a bike ride or pack up a stroller with essentials and walk. Walking and bike-riding are great ways to save gas and reduce emissions while getting healthy exercise for your family.

4) Go Take a Hike: Take your child on a nature walk and encourage your family to play outdoors. Even in urban areas, natural beauty can be found just a few miles from home. While outside, point out birds, insects and plants to educate your child while nurturing a love and appreciation of the natural world.

5) Practice Recycling: Teach your little ones the value of recycling—newspapers, magazines, cans and junk mail are just a start. Even kids as young as toddlers can help sort recycling and place items into bins… just be careful with glass and metal edges.

6) No Gushing While Brushing: Teach children to turn off the water while brushing their teeth during the two-minute brushing time dentists recommend to prevent wasting water.

7) Lighten Up on Energy: Let your toddler/preschooler practice turning off the lights whenever you leave a room. Help them open curtains and blinds to let in the sun's natural light. And put them in charge of making sure you turn off the TV, computer, etc. when not in use. Conserve energy and you’ll save money on your utility bills!

8) Fresh is Best: Go to your local farmers market and teach your child how to pick out ripe seasonal produce for healthy snacks. They’re eco-friendly because these fresh fruits and vegetables haven’t traveled a long distance and aren't wrapped in a lot of packaging. Having your tot smell and feel all the produce is also a great sensory activity for them.

9) Use a Reusable Bag: Next time you go to the store, give children the task of carrying their favorite backpack or bringing along other reusable bags. Put them in charge of decorating those bags and they'll be more likely to remind you to bring them with you.

10) Trash into Treasure: Bring to life the artist in your young one and save those empty containers for crafting projects rather than automatically tossing them. Egg cartons can be used as paint palettes, milk cartons as planters or bird feeders and boxes have infinite possibilities.
Source: IBNLive.com

For more ways to teach your children about nature and being a good steward, check out our Education page.

Get in touch with your wild side by escaping to this family-friendly vacation spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore a variety of outdoor adventures, from scenic hiking to free family nature programs with live critters.

Wondering what the wild critters that roam our forests are up to these first few weeks of spring? They’re certainly not on “break!” From April 1-5, join us at 2pm at the Outdoor Classroom on the Meadows for one of our daily family-friendly Wild Critter Nature Programs to meet some of Grady the Groundhog’s live woodland friends. Best of all, the programs are complimentary with your Park admission! Get more details on Spring Break fun.

March 22, 2013—The Old Rock Café is open daily now (click the link for hours and menu). Later this spring, we’re planning to launch a revised menu with a few new mouth-watering food choices. Come see us soon and bring your friends to enjoy our tasty soups, salads and sandwiches!

February 2, 2013—Grady the Groundhog, Chimney Rock's live animal ambassador, saw his shadow on Groundhog Day around 11:15am, meaning that we can expect more six weeks of winter weather ahead! Having rested up all winter while brushing up on his meteorology and bringing a keen eye to his big day, Grady disagreed with predictions by Punxsutawney Phil and the WNC Nature Center's Nibbles, who each called for an early spring.

About 70-80 people attended Grady's Groundhog Day from 11am-1pm for a brief nature program on groundhogs, followed by his shadow sighting/prediction, family guided hikes and Groundhog Day kids' crafts. Learn more about Grady's Groundhog Day.

January 29, 2013—We’re pleased to share that improvements on the Skyline trail have been completed! Weather permitting, the Skyline trail will be open to the highest point in the Park, Exclamation Point, at 2,480 feet. This rocky sloped area can turn into a skating rink in the winter, so call ahead if you want to know for sure it’s open. On your hike up, check out the Opera Box and Devil’s Head. The trail was closed for two weeks in early December and again for several weeks in January for repairs on the manmade stairways. Come check out the new improvements!

December 20, 2012 - Didn't get all your Christmas shopping done? Not to worry, it's not too late! We've extended our holiday special on Annual Passes through New Year's Eve. Buy now and save $5 on Annual Passes to Chimney Rock—only $23 for adults. Grady’s Kid’s Club Memberships are also on sale for $10 (a $2 savings) during the same time. For less than the cost of two visits, Annual Passes benefits include unlimited visits for 12 months, 15% discounts on Park retail and dining and additional savings at Biltmore, Lake Lure Tours, Mast General Store and many other local favorites. Available at the Park and in our online store. With your extra savings, consider some of our great stocking stuffers for your family and friends, like Chimney Rock sweatshirts, coffee mugs or hiking sticks.

You can also save money by upgrading your admission tickets to Annual Passes for only $13/adult and $5/youth (ages 6-15) within 30 days of purchase. Buy your upgrades online, call 800-277-9611 or show your receipt at the Ticket Plaza on your next visit within 30 days.

It's never too early to open your little ones’ eyes to the natural world. Chimney Rock’s new preschool-age nature program series, called Sprouting Naturalists, does exactly this. Geared to ages 2 to 5, the programs are designed to give young children a better understanding of critters, plants and the great outdoors. Offered on the first Wednesday every month through May, each of the Sprouting Naturalists programs offers a different, fun learning experience. Check out the next couple programs below, or get all the details on our Sprouting Naturalists page.

Critter Kingdoms - Wednesday, February 6
Houses? Who needs houses when you could live in a burrow, nest or cave? Explore animal habitats and play a fun nature game.

Animals and Their Babies - Wednesday, March 6
We all know that our parents take great care of us, but do animal parents do the same? Notice similarities and differences in adult and juvenile animals. What changes as they grow up? We’ll play an exciting matching game after we become experts!

Advance registration required: To register your own little Sprouting Naturalist, call Mary Standish in the business office at (800) 277-9611.

To help you catch the peak fall colors this season, we're bringing you weekly color updates on our website. Check back weekly for the latest color report, and read weekly updates on our Fall Color page.

November 7, 2012 - Leaf Peepers, The Show's Not Over Yet!
While fall color at Chimney Rock is just past peak, there are still many yellows, golds, oranges and occasional reds to be seen throughout the Park. The most vibrant colors are in the northern red oaks and golden hickories in the lower elevations. Fall foliage is beautiful down around Lake Lure, making the 75-mile views from atop the Chimney even more breathtaking. The colorful drive up the Park road, from the Village to the Ticket Plaza, looks awesome right now. Although trees in the higher elevations have lost their leaves, leaf peepers should still be able to find reasonably good color in lower elevations of Hickory Nut Gorge through mid-November, weather permitting.

See photos of Chimney Rock's current fall color and wildflowers in our online gallery.

Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, a national budget-savvy magazine with 2.3 million readers, featured Chimney Rock on the cover of its September/October issue. The tag line read: “America the Beautiful: Why leave home when home looks like this?” We couldn’t agree more! While we’re delighted the editors recognize Chimney Rock as one of America’s most beautiful, affordable places, their listing may have caused some confusion. The magazine mistakenly reported the Park is free with a $15 charge to ride the elevator, but actually the $15 is for admission (and we're at reduced rates due to the waterfall trail closure), which includes the elevator and other amenities at no extra cost. We look forward to seeing you at our beautiful Park this fall! Here are some tips to help plan your visit.

The Blue Ridge Mountains feature one of the most vibrant and longest fall color displays in America, attracting visitors from around the world. Thanks to the large variety of tree species and the wide range of elevations in Hickory Nut Gorge, peak fall colors are expected to appear in different areas of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure from mid-October through early November. See photos of Chimney Rock's "Fall Color and Wildflowers" (current and last year's) in our online gallery. Read the latest weekly Fall Color Report.

Chimney Rock offers many fun and adventurous ways for you to view the Park’s beautiful autumn foliage. Below, we've highlighted six of our favorites that are sure to reward you with an eyeful of fall color. Click the links below to register online for hikes or workshops; advance registration is required.

Take a Hike

1. Soak up 75-mile panoramic views on top of the Chimney. Elevations in the Gorge range from 1,100 feet on the valley floor to more than 2,500 feet on the mountain peaks. This is the most dramatic and popular way to get your fall color fix!

2. Fall wildflowers add bright splashes of color along our trails. This season brings blooming beauties from goldenrod and Pink Turtlehead to several types of asters.

3. Immerse yourself in the vibrant leaf color by hiking along the Hickory Nut Falls trail. Study the full spectrum of leaf colors from oak and hickory to red maple and enjoy gazing at the 404-foot waterfall, one of the highest of its kind east of the Mississippi River, at the trail's end.

Get an Expert Guide

4. View stunning fall color from the end of a rope high above the Gorge. Try a walk-up “taster” or sign up for a rock climbing adventure with Fox Mountain Guides. No prior experience is necessary.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue pairs volunteer hikers with adoptable dogs to enjoy some of Western N.C.’s most scenic, adventurous trails

September 18, 2012—Chimney Rock will host Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s Outward Hounds Hiking Club 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 22. The four-legged companions will hike with volunteers from the Meadows up Four Seasons trail and out to the bottom of the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. Outward Hounds connects volunteer dog-lovers with adoptable canines for weekly hikes on beautiful trails throughout Western North Carolina. Brother Wolf, an Asheville-based, no-kill animal shelter, welcomes volunteers to its Outward Hounds Hiking Club, which meets every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. at its adoption center year-round. The club provides opportunities for social interaction and exercise for both dogs and hikers while raising the awareness of pets looking for loving homes. Visit www.bwar.org or call (828) 505-3440 for more details on Brother Wolf and how to get involved.

Dog-Lovers’ Playground. Chimney Rock is a pet-friendly outdoor destination with five unique hiking trails, a 404-foot-tall waterfall and up to 75-mile panoramic views of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge from its iconic Chimney. Chimney Rock welcomes leashed pets in all the Park's outdoor public areas and asks that guests please clean up after their four-legged family members. Check out our pet-friendly hiking trails.

The Park’s restaurant, Old Rock Café, located in Chimney Rock Village, has a pet friendly area as well. Enjoy a grilled sandwich or award-winning chili on the back deck overlooking the Rocky Broad River and Chimney Rock Mountain. Our website conveniently lists nearby pet friendly accommodations.

Music on the Mountain features some of Western North Carolina's most talented bluegrass and roots country musicians in a beautiful outdoor setting. The family-friendly outdoor concerts were held at the Pavilion, an intimate covered venue in the Meadows, limited to only 300 tickets per event. For more concert info, visit our Music on the Mountain concert page.

Our August 12 concert with Balsam Range and the Harris Brothers was a big success! Check out concert photos on our Facebook page.

Check out photos of the Sept. 16 concert featuring Darin & Brooke Aldridge and Town Mountain on our Facebook page.

A special thanks goes to our sponsors who helped make the concert series possible: PepsiCo, Music City Asheville, Acoustic Corner, BP Solutions Group and WNCW as a media sponsor. Thanks to those who attended the concerts, as a portion of every concert ticket is being donated to the Friends of Chimney Rock State Park!

Have you ever explored our Four Seasons trail connecting the Meadows to the Hickory Nut Falls trail? Join a naturalist for a complimentary guided hike with paid Park admission to witness nature's changing seasons on a 0.6-mile trail on Saturdays, September 8, 15 and 22. Climbing some 400 vertical feet, this moderate-to-strenuous trail winds through hardwood trees, past thickets of Carolina Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel and fall wildflowers. You might be lucky enough to spot deer, wild turkeys, a variety of other birds and small mammals. No sign-up necessary; meet at 1pm at the climbing tower on the Meadows.

August 22, 2012—Our climbing tower on the Meadows will be open to guests for a free climb on Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 1-2, from noon to 3 p.m. with paid Park admission, weather permitting. Enjoy a family picnic in the Park with a $6 (plus tax) meal special for a grilled hot dog, bag of chips and 20-oz. soft drink or bottled water in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts 11am – 3pm both days. Award-winning Park musician John Mason will be playing music from old time to ragtime on hammered dulcimer.

With the elevator now open, take a quick 35-second ride up to the Chimney—or hike the upgraded Outcroppings trail—to see stunning 75-mile views. The Park offers five scenic hiking trails with something for all ages and abilities and features scenery such as a 404-foot waterfall.

Live Critters & Family Fun. Check out Grady’s Animal Discovery Den, where children can meet Grady the Groundhog, the Park’s animal ambassador, and have fun eyeing live critters such as turtles, snakes and an opossum. The adjacent Great Woodland Adventure offers an easy 0.6-mile winding hike with 13 interactive discovery stations, where Grady illustrates how his forest friends live, including chipmunks, frogs, owls and butterflies. Chimney Rock was named one of the top 5 “best summer activities for families” in North Carolina by GeoParent last year.

Grady and all his friends are gearing up to educate hundreds of kids this fall. We're adding an exciting new offering to our programs – Birds of Prey! Our birds will also be featured in a live Birds of Prey program in the region's premier fall migration event, Flock to the Rock, on Sept. 29-30 at Chimney Rock. The juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk, seen right with her original trainer Sarah Lisi, was rehabilitated by students and staff at Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute at Lees-McRrae College. Thanks to their efforts the hawk was saved but is non-releasable because one of its wings was broken and then healed before it was found.

Its wing injury was likely caused by being hit by a car, reminding us to never throw trash, even food waste that is compostable, out of our cars while driving down the road! Little critters who feast on these roadside scraps attract predators that are at risk of getting injured by passing cars. Come learn what you can do to help our feathered friends... check back on our Education page for upcoming raptor programs that will be open to the public.

Our climbing tower on the Meadows will be open to guests for a free climb on July 4th and the following weekend, July 7-8, from 12:30 to 4pm with paid Park admission, weather permitting. Enjoy a family picnic in the Park with a $6 (plus tax) meal special for a grilled hot dog, bag of chips and 20-oz. soft drink or bottled water in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts on July 4, 7 & 8. Park musician John Mason will be playing music from old time to ragtime on a hammered dulcimer.

With the elevator now open, take a quick 35-second ride up to the Chimney—or hike the upgraded Outcroppings trail—to see stunning 75-mile views. The Park offers five scenic hiking trails with something for all ages and abilities and features scenery such as a 404-foot waterfall. Climbers who want a taste of real rock climbing can climb below the Chimney with the expertise of Fox Mountain Guides, who offer the only AMGA-Certified program in the Southeast. The 15-minute "tasters" cost $20 per person and no experience is necessary.

Ruby Robinson and Louis Wall awarded first “official ride” on the modernized elevator, plus Annual Passes for their families and $200 in Park gift certificates

Ruby Robinson of Old Fort, NC, and Louis Wall of Marion, NC, were announced as the winners of our Get Elevated (Again) Contest at our elevator Dedication Ceremony on June 29. The two contestants' great photos (see right) and stories of visiting Chimney Rock in the early 1900s came down to a tie! Both winners and their families were awarded the first "official ride" on the elevator. They also received Annual Passes for family members and $200 each in retail and dining gift certificates at the Park. For more photos and stories from the winners, visit our Get Elevated Contest page.

Check out our Facebook photo album of the June 29 Elevator Dedication and contest winners.

June 20, 2012 — They come in all shapes and colors, so what are they? Chimney Rock will display a collection of the Park's wild fungi picked by the Asheville Mushroom Club from 2-4pm on Sunday, June 24 under tents in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts. These knowledgeable mushroom collectors will share information with guests and answer questions about some 50-60 species of mushrooms on display. They’ll also offer fun, educational activities for children, such as drawing, coloring and constructing toadstools, fun facts and a quiz on mushroom science. The Asheville Mushroom Club obtained a state permit required to forage for mushrooms along the Four Seasons and Great Woodland Adventure trails at Chimney Rock between 10am and 1:30pm. An estimated 1,000 or more species of fungi are believed to grow in Chimney Rock State Park.

If you attended our showing of The Last of the Mohicans for Movie on the Meadows at Chimnney Rock on June 16, we invite you to take this survey and let us know which movies you'd like to see next. Thank you for your time and valuable input! Take the survey here. Check out photos of the outdoor movie and guided hikes to see Mohicans filming locations in Chimney Rock on our Facebook page.

Did you enjoy the day exploring Chimney Rock's trails and scenery? Write a review on TripAdvisor about your visit. Thanks, and come see us again soon!

For one night only, celebrate The Last of the Mohicans’ 20th anniversary by watching the epic romantic adventure outdoors at Chimney Rock, surrounded by towering rock cliffs and the 404-foot waterfall where the final 17 min. were filmed! Grab a friend and a blanket and cozy up for your favorite flick on a 43-foot screen at Movie on the Meadows, presented by Ingles Markets. We’ll be offering concessions, Park souvenirs and some “gotta have” movie merchandise. Special event parking is $5 per car, including Annual Passholders, or complimentary with your receipt of paid Park admission June 16. Get discounted parking tickets in advance to secure your spot at the movie!

Guided Hikes to See Film Locations. Two different hikes will be offered at 3:15pm and again at 4:45pm to see the filming locations, including Hickory Nut Falls, Groundhog Slide (seen from Exclamation Point) and the Huron Indian Village (seen from the Chimney). Hikes will stay on the Park's trails that are currently open. Sign-up is first-come, first-serve at the Park's Cliff Dwellers Gifts starting at 1pm Saturday, June 16. Capacity is limited to the first 15 people for the hike to Exclamation Point (via the elevator to Chimney Rock level) and a limit of 25 for the hike to the bottom of the waterfall; no additional cost with paid Park admission. Read more about Movie on the Meadows.

March 16, 2012 - The Old Rock Café, located in Chimney Rock Village and operated by the Park, reopened in March 2012 after an extensive winter renovation. The restaurant offers delicious grilled sandwiches, soups and salads (and beer & wine), with riverside dining on our outdoor deck. We redesigned, repainted, replaced equipment and paneling in the kitchen and replaced the carpet in the dining room. Now we're looking better than ever and ready for your business! Read about the Old Rock Café and check out our restaurant hours and delicious menu.

Everyone probably remembers the Beatles’ I Get “By With a Little Help From My Friends.” The Friends of Chimney Rock State Park – a new “Friends” group designed to aid in fundraising and volunteer work – are now forming and are calling on a little help from you. The first Friends meeting was March 1 and had a superb turnout of more than 65 people! The Friends group is open to anyone, regardless of age or background, interested in the Park and its preservation and outdoor recreational opportunities. They will be organizing a membership structure and setting goals, including fundraising, education, trail building and trail maintenance. In doing so, they will work with Park staff to further the park’s mission.

To join or get more information, download the Friends of Chimney Rock State Park's two-page Brochure & Membership Application form. You may also "like" their Facebook page to follow their progress! Read the recent article in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

February 26, 2012 - You may have seen a chopper hovering over the Chimney recently and wondered "what's going on?" On February 27, 2012, a helicopter flew into the Park for its third operation to airlift construction materials and place structural steel columns into the footings that will support the new stairways. After last winter’s trail improvements, the remaining stairways were replaced on the Outcroppings trail that leads to/from the Chimney. The old stairs were removed and new concrete footings were poured by Taylor & Murphy Construction Co. of Asheville. Check out the progress photo to the right! Unseasonably warm weather this winter has fueled progress on Chimney Rock’s winter 2011 capital improvements, which began this past December.

Rest rooms Renovation. Williams Construction of Robinsville, N.C. renovated the Park’s rest rooms on the Meadows and in the top parking lot to make them handicap accessible. Work on both sets of rest rooms were completed in April 2012. The remarkable nature murals on the rest rooms’ interior walls by professional artist Clive Haynes were preserved and touched up.

Read more about our capital improvements, including winter hours and admission rates.

February 2, 2012 - Ready for his big day, Grady emerged from his den and DID see his shadow at 10:45am at Chimney Rock. According to the tradition, this means six more weeks of winter are ahead. But if it's six more weeks of the weather we've had so far this winter, we're in for a treat! About 65 people attended Grady's Groundhog Day, including the second grade class and principal of Mount Vernon-Ruth Elementary School, Chimney Rock’s adopted school from Forest City, N.C.

We're celebrating Grady during the month of February by offering his Grady's Kids Club Passes for just $8! Don't miss this great special.

See photos of Grady on Groundhog Day via Facebook.
Learn about Grady and other groundhogs on YouTube.

Excited to meet Grady the Groundhog?
Come visit the Park and say hi to the Chimney Rock celebrity at Grady's Animal Discovery Den in the Meadows. He lives here with his woodland friends, which include an opossum, snakes and turtles.

The Pisgah Friday crew of the Carolina Mountain Club (CMC), a group of about 20 volunteers from Hendersonville, will be conducting trail improvements on Fridays at Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. Their first work day is Friday, January 27, and they will continue for at least a couple weeks, weather dependent. Most of the work will be done on the Hickory Nut Falls trail, which is visited by up to 200,000 hikers each year. The CMC volunteer group will assist with clearing invasive tree species, making repairs for erosion control and improving the trail surfaces to provide a better hiking experience to visitors.

It Keeps Them Young. Trial maintenance can be hard work. You might be surprised that – while CMC’s volunteer crew members range from their 30s to 86 years of age – many in the Pisgah Friday crew are in their 60s and 70s and going strong. “Trail maintenance keeps us young and active. We enjoy the camaraderie that comes out of it,” said Pete Petersen with the Pisgah Friday crew of Carolina Mountain Club. “Even our wives are happy we’re away for a day. Everybody wins!”

The Pisgah Friday crew usually works on the trails in the Pisgah National Forest and Mountains-to-Sea trail, but the Carolina Mountain Club is interested in a new partnership with Chimney Rock to help maintain this iconic natural resource in WNC. For anyone interested in volunteering, e-mail Pete Petersen or visit www.carolinamountainclub.org.

Chimney Rock has been awarded a Viva America 2012 Pick, one of only 5 attractions honored in North Carolina! According to Viva America, the Park was selected thanks to consistent visitors’ reviews that the Park “offers a unique, one-of-a-kind experience” with a “genuine effort to provide every visitor with an amazing experience.” Check out the handmade award to the right. For more details on Viva America and Chimney Rock’s award, visit www.vivaamerica.com.

Learn about the natural wonders and incredible hikes that Chimney Rock has to offer. Visit NC goes behind the scenes to show us what makes the Park so special, from beautiful scenery and rock climbing to educational programs. Check out the video!

Chimney Rock brings the best of the mountains together in one place. Stand atop the 315-foot Chimney Rock and see amazing 75-mile views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and the Carolina Piedmont. Along its unique hiking trails the Park has something for everyone, from the family-friendly Great Woodland Adventure to the more adventurous Four Seasons trail, climbing more than 400 feet. Venture out on the Hickory Nut Falls trail and be rewarded at the 404-foot falls, the highest waterfall on the east coast. Chimney Rock also offers guided rock climbing lessons for beginner to advanced climbers. Whether you're bringing a group for a day full of adventure or your pet for a quiet hike, get ready to be amazed by the natural beauty of Chimney Rock!

In December 2011, the N.C. Council of State approved the purchase of 1,222 acres at Rumbling Bald Mountain to expand Chimney Rock State Park by more than 20 percent. The purchase continues a pre-arranged schedule of the state park expansion funded through dedicated sources approved by the General Assembly in 2007.

"Our parks are such an important part of tourism in our state, which is our second largest industry," said Lt. Governor Dalton. “I am thrilled Chimney Rock Park will be expanded and additional lands protected for generations to come."

It has "everything to offer, from low and high elevations, rock outcroppings, interesting plants and recreation opportunities. It’s a gift that the whole state will be able to enjoy," said Debbie Crane, conservancy communications director at The Nature Conservancy.

Read more about the expansion in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

November 28, 2011 - Getting to the top of Chimney Rock is sometimes harder than you think—especially if you’re hauling almost 50 thousand pounds up the mountainside! On November 24, 2011 - Thanksgiving Day, a helicopter hovered above the iconic chimney, carefully threading a 1,000lb load dangling from a 300-foot rope between large trees into a drop zone on the upper mountain. The helicopter, piloted by Mike Provost of Pirate Airlift based in Atlanta, GA, airlifted 45 loads of supplies, including construction materials and equipment, from the Park’s top parking lot to two drop locations adjacent to the Outcroppings trail that leads to the Chimney. The fly-in operation was completed by early afternoon, just in time for a late Thanksgiving lunch! Check out more photos at our Facebook photo album.

The construction supplies were used to replace the Outcroppings trail stairways from December 2011 to April 2012 to improve access to the Chimney. Upon reopening in spring 2012, the new upgraded Outcroppings stairways accommodate more traffic, offer a better guest experience and help maintain access for future generations!

For more information about the (now completed) improvements, please visit our Progress page.

At Chimney Rock, we do everything we can to be green and help protect the environment. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that our Park has become the first among America’s state and national parks to offer PepsiCo’s Dream Machine recycling program. The recycling initiative, one of many eco-friendly practices at Chimney Rock, provides guests with a convenient and rewarding way to recycle their bottles and cans while on-the-go. The Dream Machine is located in the Park’s top parking lot. To learn more about the Dream Machine, visit www.facebook.com/DreamMachine.

To commemorate America Recycles Day on November 15, Chimney Rock is helping support the goal of increasing beverage container recycling rates to 50 percent by 2018. Since 2010, almost 500 Dream Machine kiosks and 2,000 bins have been placed; recycling programs have been run in more than 550 schools in 32 states; and about nine million containers and more than 450,000 pounds of plastic bottles and aluminum cans have been recycled.

Supporting our Veterans. This recycling initiative helps America's heroes, too! For all the bottles and cans recycled in our Dream Machine kiosk – and in Dream Machine kiosks across the nation – the more support PepsiCo will provide to the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, a national program offering free experiential training in small business management to post-9/11 U.S. veterans with disabilities.

Eco-Friendly Initiatives. Chimney Rock State Park’s mission is to conserve and protect ecological features and recreational resources, offer environmental education and promote stewardship of natural resources. Chimney Rock’s Green Team continuously strives to achieve greener practices in the Park’s operations. The Dream Machine recycling program is just one of the Park’s many eco-friendly practices, which include the following:
- Recycling co-mingled materials locally
- Using compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs) in public areas
- Using limited local produce when in-season at the Old Rock Café
- Serving food and beverages in compostable containers made from plant-based or recycled materials
- Reusing thousands of trail maps annually
- Providing environmental education programs to schoolchildren and the public

November 15, 2011- In the photo to the right, check out the new wooden decking that was recently installed on the clear-span bridge to the Sky Lounge Gift Shop & Deli. The construction crew added new pickets to the existing guardrails for improved safety. The Sky Lounge is also being updated to meet state regulations. Inside, the fireproof vestibule around the elevator and renovation of the ADA-compliant rest rooms has been completed.

Work is nearing completion on replacing the 26-story, metal evacuation staircase located behind the elevator. After that project is done, the entire elevator will be modernized and nearly every part, including the original elevator car, will be replaced. After the remaining stairs on the Outcroppings trail are replaced this winter, the elevator and Sky Lounge are scheduled to reopen to the public in spring 2012. For more information on our capital improvements progress, click here.

The Master Plan was completed in May 2011 and released July 2011 by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Division of Parks and Recreation. Although there’s no clear timeline attached to these plans and proposed additions, Chimney Rock is excited about what’s in plan for the Park — down the road and in the near future!

Click here for a link to the Master Plan Executive Summary (please be patient as it loads).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for the new Master Plan for Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park

Note: The FAQs below relate only to the attraction of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. The entire Master Plan and other information related to the non-fee areas of Chimney Rock State Park can be found online at: www.ncparks.gov.

1. When will the Master Plan and its proposed changes be implemented?
The Master Plan is presented as a 100-year vision, 25-year master plan and 5-year action plan. There is no clearly established timeline for the proposed changes and new facilities and trails in the Master Plan. The plan is fluid, organic and subject to budgets, funding and many other factors.

2. Will the Skyline trail from Exclamation Point to the top of Hickory Nut Falls be reopened?
Yes, we are thrilled that our guests will again be able to see out to the top of the Falls! But it will differ from the original trail, which is not sustainable. A new alignment for the Skyline trail will be established from Exclamation Point along the top of Chimney Rock Mountain. The proposed trail will be constructed inside the existing tree line and not on the cliff faces. However, observation platforms will be constructed to provide views of the top of Hickory Nut Falls, Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.

3. Will the Cliff trail, as originally constructed, be reopened?
No, but the Cliff trail could be opened in the future in cooperation with a contractor who guides adventure tours, such as a via ferrata.

4. Will other features around the Chimney, including Pulpit Rock, the Subway, the Grotto and Needles Eye, be reopened?
Pulpit Rock, the Subway, and the Grotto will be reopened as trail destinations after structural improvements are made to the boardwalk and trails. The Needles Eye does not fit state requirements and has been assessed as unsustainable, so it will remain closed.

5. Will there be new hiking trails added to Chimney Rock State Park?
In addition to restoring access to the trails and features that you know as Chimney Rock, a 15-mile, multi-day trail will be constructed along the perimeter of Chimney Rock Mountain, connecting Hickory Nut Falls, the Orchards, the ridges of Sugarloaf Mountain, World’s Edge, and Cane Creek Mountain, the Bottomless Pools and the Meadows. See the Master Plan at www.ncparks.gov for more information about this trail and others proposed for the greater Chimney Rock State Park and the Hickory Nut Gorge region.

As the new master plan is unveiled, construction projects are underway to improve and continue providing access to Chimney Rock. For more information on our capital improvements, visit chimneyrockpark.com/progress.

Family Adventure Awaits! From June 22 through December 31, 2011, kids 15 and under are admitted free to Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park when they redeem one 12oz. Sierra Mist Natural can with the special offer printed on it. One free Youth admission (with redemption of specially marked Sierra Mist cans) with each full price adult admission. Not valid with any other offer or discount.

Cub Scout Pack 659, from the Polk County, North Carolina area, raised the flag on Chimney Rock this morning in honor of Veteran's Day.

Color guard included: Sandra Poteat (Cubmaster)and Ed Harrelson (Weebelos Leader) and Weebelos Alex Harrelson, Caleb Potter and Josh Poteat (ages 9-10). Participating scouts included: Eric Harrelson, Lukas Tipton, Colin Searcy, Sebastian Potter, Riley Searcy, Logan Conner, Josh Munn, Michael Morgan and Trey Thompson (ages 6-9).

"We teach our boys all about the flag and what it represents and we encourage them to be good citizens. Also, one of the pack's requirements is to understand the special days you should display your flag. As they grow up, they will always remember raising the flag on Chimney Rock that can be seen for miles and miles," says Sandra Poteat, Cubmaster.

Check out the images from the Asheville Mushroom Club's recent visit to Chimney Rock. The club is working with NC State Parks and Chimney Rock education staff to develop an inventory of all the different types of mushrooms found in the Park.

This morning, a crew from Aircrane Inc. out of Atlanta, GA airlifted two reservoir tanks and a base from the meadows area at mid-mountain to their new site near the Sky Lounge on the side of Chimney Rock Mountain. This is one of many capital improvements North Carolina State Parks has planned for Chimney Rock.

“When you’re a mountain attraction, no project is simple,” said PR and Events Manager Meghan Rogers. The upgrade to the reservoir system began several months ago when crews built the framework for their foundations. Next, workers had the challenging task of moving concrete more than 300 vertical feet up the mountainside before it set.

The reservoirs serve as the main water supply for facilities on the top of the mountain including the Sky Lounge, Cliff Dwellers Gifts and the upper restrooms.

Rogers continued, “It was an impressive sight watching the helicopter hover above Chimney Rock. The pilot and crew were amazing, not to mention efficient; they made the three trips in about two hours.”

Click here to view more photos.

Birthdays are special, so to make your day even brighter we're offering FREE one-day admission on your birthday. Offer valid on birthday only and does not apply to other guests in party; must show a valid ID. This complimentary admission cannot be upgraded and is not good for next day re-entry.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is excited to announce that a pair of Peregrine Falcons has successfully nested in the Park. Two juvenile falcons, one male and one female, have been spotted near the nesting site high on the Park’s cliffs.

Avid birder and contributor to Chimney Rock’s education department, Reese Mitchell, spotted the birds this morning (June 9, 2010).

“They engaged in a lot of ‘play,’ diving at each other and chasing. The male did most of the ‘attacking’ as he is more agile than the female and flew faster,” noted Mitchell.

In 1984, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reintroduced Peregrines to Western North Carolina and the birds have been documented nesting in Chimney Rock almost continuously since 1989. They were absent in 1995 and 1996, but returned in 1997.

Until this year, only once was a pair successful in raising chicks in Chimney Rock. In 1990, three chicks fledged and were raised in the Park by their Peregrine parents. Chimney Rock is the only state park currently known to have a successful breeding pair this year.

The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the US Endangered Species List in 1999, and although it remains on the FSC (Federal Species of Concern) List, its numbers have increased throughout the Southeast and Western North Carolina and it was also removed from the North Carolina Endangered Species List in 2007.

It is a large, crow-sized falcon, with a blue-gray back, barred white underparts and a black head and "moustache." Peregrines have been clocked at speeds over 200 mph in a stoop (dive) making them the fastest creatures on the planet.

September 2009 -- The Associated Press and ABC News recently including Chimney Rock's Hickory Nut Falls as one of the best places in North Carolina to see fall foliage and waterfalls. We're thrilled to be part of this list of beautiful places in Western North Carolina. Click here to check out the story.

Our former Naturalist Clint Calhoun recently captured a timber rattlesnake courtship dance. This ritual is rarely seen by humans. Many thanks to Clint for allowing us to share this video with you.

The above video was shot in the Hickory Nut Gorge area and shows two males competing for a nearby female. The males do not injure each other, rather continue to writhe around trying to dominate until one finally gives up.

Here's more information about timber rattlesnake young from the very knowledgeable folks at the St. Louis Zoo:

The female gives birth to live young in late summer or early fall. A litter may have anywhere from five to 14 snakelings, with eight being the average. Newborns are about 10 to 13 inches long, and are somewhat lighter in color than adults.

Babies are born with a single tiny rattle segment (called a button) on their tail. Each time the skin is shed, a new segment is added to the base of the tail. You'd think this means the rattle will grow longer and longer throughout a snake's lifetime. But no! As the rattle becomes longer, the end pieces become weak and break off.

Female timber rattlesnakes, and some other pit vipers, keep close watch over their young, a trait that's rather unusual among snakes. Female timber rattlers even lay scent trails to help their offspring find winter dens.

Source St. Louis Zoo website.

July 2009 -- We're excited to be one of the North Carolina locations featured in National Geographic Traveler's "Family Vacation Planner." The magazine posted on its website the best places across the nation to take a family with children.

Here's how they describe the Family Vacation Planner: Spice up your family’s travels with this comprehensive collection of memorable local attractions from every state and the District of Columbia. These family-friendly sights and activities were chosen by National Geographic Traveler for their authenticity and lasting value. You’ll find entries grouped by states and by categories of interest—adventure, animals, culture, entertainment, history, nature, and science. Whether they’re in your own backyard or across the country, you’re sure to find a wealth of attractions—many of them free—that your whole family will enjoy.

Click here to see the Chimney Rock listing.

July 2009 -- Jack Betts, an associate editor with the Charlotte Observer, named Chimney Rock as one of the "best places to stand in North Carolina."

June 2009 -- Budget Travel picked its favorite eight lake towns across the country and Lake Lure and Chimney Rock made the cut.

MORGANTON, NC – The ridge, summit and slopes of Cane Creek Mountain are now part of the developing Chimney Rock State Park thanks to two acquisitions totaling 330 acres secured by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina on behalf of the North Carolina state parks system.

Cane Creek Mountain extends the new state park northeast from “Worlds Edge” and offers outstanding views of Chimney Rock, the Pool Creek watershed and Lake Lure. The mountain is also part of the stunning view looking south from Lake Lure and east from Chimney Rock.

Foothills Conservancy negotiated the first purchase agreement a year-and-a-half ago with landowners Bob and Anne Washburn for a pristine 174-acre wilderness tract which was purchased by the state parks system in December. The purchase of 156 adjoining acres from John and Alan Moore was made by Foothills in February, using a loan from The Conservation Fund.

The state completed the acquisition of both tracts last week for addition to Chimney Rock State Park. Funding awards to state parks in 2007 and 2008 by the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund made the $6.5 million needed for the purchases possible.

“Lasting protection of Cane Creek Mountain represents another milestone in safeguarding the scenic views and nationally significant natural heritage of Hickory Nut Gorge,” said Tom Kenney, Foothills Conservancy’s land protection director. “We are very grateful for these landowners’ careful stewardship of the land over many years and their wishes to achieve conservation with these sales.”

The federally endangered White irisette plant and a number of other rare plants and animals find shelter on Cane Creek Mountain, part of a nationally significant natural area. The acquisition also protects a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Action Plan priority habitat – forested rock outcrop complex.

Foothills Conservancy has worked closely in western Rutherford County with the state parks system and other conservation partners since 2004 to secure support for and create a new state park in the Hickory Nut Gorge by acquiring priority tracts, including Chimney Rock Park and Cane Creek Mountain.

“Our longstanding partnership with Foothills Conservancy has yielded many benefits both in the Hickory Nut Gorge and elsewhere in western North Carolina,” said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. “Targeted, high quality land acquisitions such as these result in very effective conservation as well as the creation of a world-class state park.”

To date, 4,320 acres have been set aside for the park, with acquisitions supported by the three state conservation trust funds, the N.C. General Assembly and private donors. Foothills Conservancy continues to work with the owners of other tracts that are strategic to this new park.

The only current public access is at Chimney Rock, the former 1,000-acre tourist destination. The state parks system is developing a master plan to guide long-term conservation efforts and development of facilities and access throughout the state park, and public input will be a part of that process.

Foothills Conservancy is a non-profit regional land trust working to protect significant natural areas and open spaces, including watersheds, farms and forests, along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Foothills in Rutherford, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Alexander, Catawba, Lincoln and Cleveland counties. Find more information about Foothills Conservancy on the web at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930. Foothills Conservancy is also a participant in “Blue Ridge Forever,” a campaign to protect 50,000 acres in the Southern Blue Ridge by 2010.

January 2009 -- In a recent survey of Southern Living Magazine readers from Delaware to Texas, Chimney Rock was named number three for best scenic views.

Click here to view other winners. Thanks Southern Living readers!

December 2008 -- We're excited to be on this very exclusive top ten list from USA Today! Check out the complete article here.

September 2008 -- Chimney Rock was featured on the Our State program on UNC- TV. To view the segment, click here.