Chimney Rock Park
by Marilyn Westphal
Description
Added to the North Carolina State Park system in 2007, Chimney Rock Park provides excellent birding, beautiful vistas, fun hiking trails, and a wide variety of wildflowers. The 1000-acre park consists largely of deciduous and mixed forest and rocky cliffs. Best birding is in spring, especially April and May, although fall can be interesting as well. It is not unusual to find 15 to 20 species of warbler on a fine spring day. Breeding species include Black-throated Green, Cerulean, Swainson's, Worm-eating, Black-and-white, and Hooded Warblers, as well as Northern Parula, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, and Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, and many others. During migration many other species are regularly found in both spring and fall. Best trails for birding include the Hickory Nut Falls trail where Worm-eating Warblers often nest right along the trail and where it is often easy to see warblers looking down the slope at the tops of the trees rather than suffering from “warbler neck.” The Hickory Nut Falls trail is located on the right of the last big left curve on the road to the top. Also check out the Great Woodlands Adventure trail where Swainson's Warblers can sometimes be found next to or even in the trail. This trail is located half-way up the road at the right end of the picnic area near the climbing wall. The most scenic hiking is the breathtaking Skyline-Cliff trail, although the birdlife is less diverse along this trail. To get to this trail take the elevator from the upper parking lot to the “chimney.” The trail begins next to the chimney.
Directions
From Asheville take NC74 25 miles east to the town of Chimney Rock. The entrance to the park is in the center of town. There is still an entrance fee, which is currently $14 for adults, but this may be subject to change. An annual pass can also be purchased.
Facilities
Restrooms and snack/lunch bars are available in the park. Parking is available half-way to the top (about 1/2 mile) and at the top of the entrance road. However, the park can be very busy from late May through October, so it is always best to arrive before 10am. The park opens at 8:30am and closes at 6 or 7 pm depending on the season.