North Carolina is such a beautiful state, and I’m so glad my family decided to take a trip to visit Chimney Rock. We visited in August of last year and I’m glad we did because shortly after the state park suffered damage during Hurricane Helene. The village took a major hit and while it will take time to rebuild everything, the State Park has officially reopened to the public as of June 2025.

We had an easy drive from South Carolina with amazing views of the Blue Ridge mountains. Chimney Rock is located in Chimney Rock State Park and is considered paradise for anyone who absolutely loves nature. Leading up to Chimney Rock we drove through Lake Lure which was just divine. There were so many people out boating, sunbathing and enjoying the sun. We drove through Chimney Rock Village which included several shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors and they even had a small carnival for the kids. You could spend hours wandering around the village before entering the State Park.

One thing I thought was very neat was a pathway to the Riverwalk, so many families made their way down to the water and spent the day fishing, grilling and taking a dip in the water.

Once you enter the State Park there is about a mile and a half drive up to the parking area. There is a parking area closer to the entrance however you would need to take the shuttle to reach the top. The fees to enter the park are fairly inexpensive. Youth ages 4 and under are free. Youth ages 5-15 are $8 and adults are $17. There is a special for family tickets you can purchase online for $45.

While Chimney Rock is the main attraction there are many other amenities the park offers such as the Animal Discovery Den and six hiking trails that vary by difficulty level. My family decided to hike the Hickory Nut Falls Trails which was considered to be moderate. Overall, it was 1.4 miles round trip and led to a beautiful waterfall.

You could spend the entire day in the State Park as they offer gift shops, a cafe which serves sandwiches, wraps, nachos, hot dogs, pretzels and popcorn.

You have the option to walk up the mountain to reach the top or take the elevator. We opted to save our energy for the hike and took the elevator. While there was about a 30-minute wait to the entrance of the elevator, it was air conditioned which made it very nice.

It was a great day trip that I would highly recommend. Next time you are in North Carolina be sure to plan a trip to Chimney Rock State Park.

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