We recently went on vacation to the North Carolina mountains for the purpose of hitting some of our State Parks in the west. The parks in western North Carolina are some of the most beautiful state parks in the country. We were especially excited about visiting Chimney Rock. We have lived in North Carolina for our whole lives but we had never visited (crazy, right?). This park was definitely different from the other ones we have visited so far, but different can be good! We really loved our time at Chimney Rock, one of the most unique parks in the North Carolina Parks system.

Where is Chimney Rock State Park

Chimney Rock is located in the Village of Chimney Rock about 25 miles southeast of Asheville. From I-40 all you have to do is take US Highway 74A for 20 miles and you are there. There are two main park access points, but for this post we will be focusing on Chimney Rock proper.

Something to keep in mind with Chimney Rock is that it is one of the few parks in the North Carolina system that charges an admission. If you live in North Carolina you are blessed to be in a state where the majority of the parks do not charge. Many states charge admission for all of their state parks (I’m looking at you, South Carolina). Maybe because we are not used to paying for the park system (outside of our taxes) we felt a little weird going to this park. The cost of admission though was pretty high, which left a little bad taste in our mouths. For adults the cost is $17 and for kids 5-15 the cost is $8. For the three of us the cost was $42. You can get family passes that are cheaper once you get to four people.

What to do at Chimney Rock State Park

The highlight of Chimney Rock State Park is the actual Chimney Rock. This is a 315-foot spire off the side of the mountain that makes you feel like you are on a floating island. It is a pretty cool experience where you feel like you are flying over the gorge. There are some incredible views from the top of Chimney Rock looking down on the village and nearby Lake Lure. Unlike Hanging Rock and others, this area is fenced in, so we felt safe letting Silas walk around.

Take the Elevator

You can get to the top of Chimney Rock two ways, the steps or the elevator. We would suggest doing both because both are unique experiences. We opted to take the elevator up and the stairs down. The elevator was dug into the mountain and was super cool. The attendant there was fun and gave some great information to us on the way up. We got there right at opening so there was no line, but it can be a long wait later in the day.

On the way down we took the stairs and had a lot of fun checking out the little caves and grottos that you can explore. One thing to keep in mind is there are a lot of stairs! Be prepared to get a workout if you don’t opt for the elevator. There are plenty of decks along the way for you to stop and take breaks.

Take a Hike

The Chimney Rock is not the highest point of the park. You can continue up on the Exclamation Point Trail to get to, well, Exclamation Point. This is a great overlook of the surrounding gorge. There are a lot more steps but really cool places to stop and relax. We loved sitting in the Opera Box, a hole in the side of the mountain with a great view of Chimney Rock. From Exclamation Point you can take the Skyline Trail all the way to the top of Hickory Nut Falls.

Speaking of Hickory Nut Falls, there is a great trail (Hickory Nut Falls Trail) leading to the bottom of the falls that is relatively easy and has a great payoff, the huge 404-foot waterfall. It is a beautiful area of the park. They actually filmed some of the scenes from the movie “Last of the Mohicans” here. You can climb down to the bottom of the rocks right to where the water hits the creek. It is a pretty cool experience. For another epic waterfall trail check out Stone Mountains State Park.

If you have kids, make sure to check out the Great Woodland Adventure Trail. It is a fun Kids Track Trail that teaches kids about the animals that live in and around Chimney Rock. There are some actual live animals and some interactive features. Silas loved checking this out.

An interesting thing that we realized was that the State Park begins at the river at the bottom of the mountain. The Broad River flows right behind downtown Chimney Rock and this is actually part of the State Park. This is a great place to get in the water and relax. We saw a lot of people down there getting some sun on the rocks when we went down there.

There really is a lot to do at Chimney Rock, so we understand charging admission. We spent a little over three hours there and felt like we got our money’s worth. It is also good to know that the money goes to preserve the park.

What Else Is Around Chimney Rock State Park

There is a ton to do right around Chimney Rock State Park! The Village of Chimney Rock barely has 100 people in it but has plenty to offer the tourists who flock to visit the rock. Megan said it felt like you were walking through the town at Tweetsie Railroad in Boone. Kind of like an old west theme park. There was plenty of fun general stores to check out, great food options, and fun activities like mini golf. There is everything from ice cream shops to Sasquatch outposts. It was touristy, but we had a great time walking around and looking at everything.

We sat down and had a great lunch at the Old Rock Cafe and LOVED IT! Silas said it was the best restaurant he ever ate at. His chicken strips were cooked to perfection and the breading he said was amazing.

Megan got the chicken wrap and loved it. I got a couple of hot dogs and they were pretty spectacular. Prices weren’t bad either. I think we got out of there having spent less than $20.

We took some time and went gem mining at Chimney Rock Gem Mining. The staff was incredible here and went out of their way to make sure we had a great time, and we did! Silas loved hunting for gems and he came away with a bag full of them. They have a bunch of different sizes for you to choose from depending on the size of your group, including a full-sized garbage can bucket. This place was better priced than other places we checked out during the week we were there.

Lake Lure is also pretty close to Chimney Rock. A lot of people stay in this area when they are visiting the rock. There are plenty of options here and it is a great place for boating.

Tips For Visiting Chimney Rock

• Get there as close to park opening as possible. We went on a Friday in the summer and got there about 15 minutes after park opening. We were still able to park at the top. If you don’t park at the top, you have park at the lower lot and take the shuttle up. The wait to get on the shuttle was really long when we were leaving.
• If you are going to be there at lunch, stop by one of the restaurants in town and grab a bagged lunch from them. This is really convenient and the food is fresh!
• The elevator is an experience on its own. It will also save your knees going up. It often is down, so make sure you check the website before you go. The elevator is included with park admission.
• It can be really hot here during the summer so we recommend arriving early to not only beat the crowds, but also the heat! Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks!
• Make sure you take time to visit the Village of Chimney Rock. It really is a fun little place and worth a couple of hours of your time.
• At the top of Chimney Rock there is a cafe that serves lunch items and ice cream; with very limited seating outdoors. It does have some amazing views of Chimney Rock and is something to consider when visiting.
• You can get your stamp for your NC parks passport at the gift shop at the top of Chimney Rock. Just ask one of the workers onsite, they are very helpful!

Chimney Rock was super cool, a park you definitely need to check out at least once in your life. It is a great place to go the adventure way. Have you ever been to Chimney Rock? What were your favorite things to do?