Sheer cliffs, breathtaking views, and the dramatic plunge of a waterfall—just a few of the fascinating sights along the Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop. This one-and-a-half to two-hour, moderately strenuous hike courses through lush woodland and across natural cliffs and ledges on its way to such geologic spectacles as the 2,280-foot-high top of the Chimney, the remarkable overhang and panoramic vistas at Opera Box and the highest point in the Park, 2,480-foot-tall Exclamation Point (whose name speaks for itself!).
Along the way, you'll enjoy awe-inspiring vistas of distant horizons, delight in the acrobatic displays of the Peregrine falcons nesting in our cliffs and marvel at the wealth of spring, summer and fall wildflowers. Shooting star, dwarf crested iris, false goat's beard and Joe Pye-weed are favorites that keep the meadows and mountainsides bathed in color throughout the growing season. Hickory Nut Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in eastern America, begins its long 404-foot dive here, a spectacle that never ceases to amaze. There's a whole lot more—Nature's air conditioner, Inspiration Point (the only place in the Park from which you can see both Hickory Nut Falls and Lake Lure), and Moonshiner's Cave, to name a few—just waiting to be discovered.
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