What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park

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Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park

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*Reservations recommended at Chimney Rock State Park. Chimney Rock brings the best of the mountains together in one place.
(5332)

More info at ChimneyRockPark.com*

Chimney Rock State Park features 75-mile views, a 404-foot-tall waterfall, hiking trails, guided rock climbing, and more! Experience a thrill of accomplishment by hiking our 499-step Outcroppings trail to the 315-foot Chimney Rock, where you'll see amazing 75-mile views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and the Carolina Piedmont. With several unique hiking trails, the Park has something for everyone, from the family-friendly Great Woodland Adventure Trail with 12 interactive discovery stations to the adventurous Four Seasons Trail which climbs more than 400 feet. Catch your breath at Devil’s Head and the Opera Box on a hike to Exclamation Point, the highest point in the Park at 2,480 feet, where you'll experience panoramic views of the 14-mile Hickory Nut Gorge. Be sure to hike the Hickory Nut Falls trail -- the reward is the 404-foot falls, one of the highest in the East. Kids love Grady the Groundhog’s Animal Discovery Den, where they can meet live animal educators.

10/30/2026

This weeks’s Fall Color Report is now on our website!

Gorgeous color is continuing to develop throughout Chimney Rock State Park and the Hickory Nut Gorge. Peak color is expected over the next week, bringing an outstanding mix of autumn colors across the mountain landscape. Join us this week to witness stunning views of the season along our six unique trails!

Visit ChimneyRockPark.com to learn more, purchase tickets, or register for events. We’ll see you at the Rock soon!

10/29/2026

It is the end of October, and there are so many exciting things happening in the Gorge! Peak fall color is almost here, and crisp temperatures & clear skies make this week and next the best times to visit the Park to experience the vibrance of autumn!

Visiting this weekend? Make sure to stop by Chimney Rock Village and check out unique shops, great restaurants, and creative scarecrows! While you're here, stick around for Trick-or-Treating in the Village and visit a Park Ranger and Naturalist at the historic gate. We hope to see you there, and dressed in your best costumes!

10/26/2026

Monday blues got you down? Don’t worry, we have just the thing… Join us Monday, November 2nd at 11am for our first Hike with a Naturalist series! These hikes will take place every Monday in November.

Each guided hike is included with regular Park admission. Explore one of our six trails with a naturalist and watch the landscape change from the last of the fall color as the forest prepares for winter. We’ll see you there!

10/20/2026

Looking to get outside and enjoy the season? Join us this Saturday, October 24th from 9:00am - 11:00am for our Naturalist Niche: Fall Color Hike! Explore the Park alongside a naturalist and learn more about the flora and fauna of Chimney Rock, and see stunning views of fall foliage. To register visit the link in our bio today.

Enjoy this photo taken in Fall of 2023 from the top of the Chimney!

10/19/2026

Our fall photo contest: “Nature’s Palette” has begun! Fall foliage, the last wildflowers, and wildlife can be seen throughout the Park, and they are ready to be captured by your cameras.

The contest will run through November 15th. Enter to win complimentary Park access and bragging rights all year long! See contest details below, or find more info at the link in our bio.

The contest is open to all photographers, amateur and professional. You may send up to three photos per photographer to [email protected] to enter. Photos must be taken in the Chimney Rock attraction section of Chimney Rock State Park between October 15th and November 15th of 2026.

Enjoy a previous entry from 2025 sent in by Claudia Moose, and taken along the Four Seasons Trail.

10/15/2026

Looking for weekend plans? Join us this Saturday, October 17th as we celebrate Great Trails State Day. We’re enjoying all NC, a.k.a “The Great Trails State” has to offer by hiking some of our favorite trails with a Park Naturalist, and enjoying beautiful fall color.

Our favorite musician, John Mason, will be joining us as well! Stop by the tunnel from 11:00am - 2:00pm to listen to the beautiful sound of hand dulcimer music floating on the cool breeze. To learn more about this event visit the link in our bio.

10/15/2026

It’s beginning to look a lot like fall here at the Rock! Thank you to our amazing Guest Services team for their help in getting us ready for the season.

10/13/2026

The wait for 2026 Fall Color Reports is over!

Hints of color are popping up at the Park’s highest elevations, and cooler temperatures are in store for us this week. To read the report, visit our website.

New updates will be published every week throughout the fall season! Use these as a guide to the fall foliage of Hickory Nut Gorge from the perspective of Chimney Rock. We look forward to sharing a beautiful fall day at the Park with you soon!

09/30/2026

For this week’s we wanted to feature some views from up top. These higher elevation spots are beginning to show the first signs of fall. Make sure to visit soon, and check the weekly fall color reports throughout October to see what waits for you along the trails. We’ll see you soon!

09/25/2026

Rise and Shine Annual Passholders! It’s almost time for one of our favorite events of the year. The Passholder Sunrise Breakfast. Head to the Park before the gates open to the public to witness a beautiful early fall sunset, and get to know some of the other Passholders. Gates open 6:45am-7:15am for a 7:31am Sunrise. To learn more and register visit ChimneyRockPark.com

Address

174 Chimney Rock Park Road
Chimney Rock, NC
28720

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18286259611

Website

http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

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