Chimney Rock Vacations

When traveling in Western North Carolina, there are few activities as a exhilarating as a visit to Chimney Rock Park. The expansive park is located just 25 miles southeast of Asheville and offers some of the best views, hiking trails, and waterfalls in the area.

Getting There Is Half the Fun!

No matter where are coming from, you’ll be thrilled to drive on scenic mountain roads down into beautiful Hickory Nut Gorge. These views are breathtaking and are magnificent preludes to what awaits you in the park. When you arrive at the gates in Chimney Rock Village, signs will guide you across the quaint wooden bridge, which lets you off on a road up to the Ticket Plaza. From there, it’s two more curvy miles up to the famous “Chimney.”

Where to Begin at Chimney Rock?

With over 1,000 acres of gorgeous mountain beauty, six spectacular hiking trails, a 404-foot cascading waterfall, excellent shopping and dining, you might feel overwhelmed. But don't worry, no matter where you start, you will not be disappointed.

A great way to work up an appetite for the fine local Chimney Rock cuisine is to climb to the top of the towering 315-foot monolith located on the very edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, high above Hickory Nut Gorge. At an impressive elevation of 2,280 feet with its 75-mile views, this mountaintop experience will leave you electrified by its sheer beauty.

Even though it is an extra hike to the waterfall, it’s well worth the effort. From the top, there is a spectacular vertical drop of 404 feet. From below, you can see the sinews of crystal water spinning through the crisp air. Hickory Nut Falls, one of the very highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, can be reached by walking along the Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop to its top or by taking the gentler walk along the Forest Stroll to a platform at its bottom. Either view is magnificent! Get an especially majestic angle of the Falls from Peregrine's Rest on the Skyline Trail, or Inspiration Point along the Cliff Trail. These views make Chimney Rock a must-see for any western North Carolina vacation.

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