Chimney Rock State Park, NC

It's hard to see it with the rest of the mountain behind it but here's Chimney Rock.   From the www.chimneyrockpark.com website. "Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is located in Chimney Rock Village near Lake Lure in the NC mountains. Just 25 miles southeast of Asheville, NC, the Park is nestled in Hickory Nut Gorge between the towns of Lake Lure and Bat Cave. Privately owned by the Morse family for more than 100 years, Chimney Rock was acquired by the state of North Carolina in 2007 to become part of the greater Chimney Rock State Park. Currently, the 1,000-acre Chimney Rock is one of only two areas of the state park open to the public.
Chimney Rock, the 535-million-year-old monolith for which the Park is named, is considered one of the most iconic sites in North Carolina. From its top, you’ll soak in the 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.
The Park features mountain hiking trails for all ages and abilities."

The road up to the parking area is a windy, narrow two-lane.

Better view of Chimney Rock from the parking lot.

The following two photos are closer shots of this sign.

Click on the photo to enlarge for reading.

We took the elevator to the shop near the top of Chimney Rock then hiked up Skyline Trail to Exclamation Point before hiking back down to the parking lot.  We wanted to do more but it was just too humid for us.

Tunnel to the elevator.

The following three photos are close ups of this sign.

The following three photos are close up shots of this sign.

Bridge between gift shop at top of elevator and stairs up to Chimney Rock.

Lake Lure from the bridge.

Stairs up to Chimney Rock.



View of parking lot from Chimney Rock

Stairs up to the top of Exclamation Point. Under the overhang is a feature they call the Opera Box.

 



The Opera Box was a little full when we got there.

The next stop was the view of Devil's Head

Close up of Devil's Head.  Nolan says it looks more like a Smurf

View of the top of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure from Devil's Head.

Another overhang on the way up to the top.  We're a little wilted here.  Very, very humid.  Thank goodness the temp was only in the high 80's and it was mostly cloudy.

Only 1/2 the distance was on stairs.  The rest was dirt, wood, mud and rock.

Looking down the steps.

Just about  there.

We can see it from here.

Looking down on Chimney Rock.

We went back down and I got this shot of Chimney Rock from below the top.

I wonder if someone put that little rock on top the big one.

Rest spot at Vista Point.

Still headed down.

The spot they call the Grotto was closed.

Bet they had fun building this staircase.

As we left the park, we got a picture of this interesting house on the inside of a hairpin curve.  Yep, the road goes right around it.

Tall grass along Hwy 9.