Chimney Rock State Park
Also known as Hickory Nut Gorge State Park
Notice: Bike Trails: Closed — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Free entryAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ncparks.gov(828) 625-1823
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Bike Trails: Closed
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Chimney Rock State Park is a park in Rutherford County, about 3 miles west of Lake Lure.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — Chimney Rock Attraction | Daily | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | — |
| Park | Daily | 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | — |
| Other — April | Daily | 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | — |
| Park | Daily | 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. | — |
| Other — December | Daily | 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. | — |
| Park | Chimney Rock access is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The access is open during all other holidays. | ||
| Other — January | Daily | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | — |
| Other — March | Daily | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | — |
| Other — May | Daily | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Chimney Rock Attraction: Ticket prices and operating hours for Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park are subject to change throughout the seasons. Chimney Rock Management LLC determines the prices, hours, and season schedule for the attraction; please contact them at visit@chimneyrockpark.com for questions regarding those topics. *The exact dates of when seasonal hours and pricing change vary annually — they usually happen the first week of January, the first week of March, and the first week of November. If you are planning on visiting on these weeks, please make sure you visit the Chimney Rock attraction website to see the correct ticket price and hours for the exact day you are visiting. Month: Gate Hours: Ticket Sales and Admission January**: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: end at 4:30 p.m.
February: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: end at 4:30 p.m.
March**: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
April: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
May: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
June: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
July: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
August: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
September: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
October: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: end at 5:30 p.m.
November**: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: end at 4:30 p.m.
December: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: end at 4:30 p.m.
Chimney Rock access is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The access is open during all other holidays.
Rumbling Bald Access: This access is free for day-use.
January: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Febuary: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
April: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
May: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
June: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
July: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
August: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
September: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
October: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
November: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
December: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Both Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock accesses are closed on Christmas Day. This access is open during all other holidays.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
The park lists no entrance fee.
North Carolina park passes
- Annual Pass for Reservoirs — $70 Details
- Annual Pass — $100 Details
- Annual Pass with 4WD Beach Access — $200. Annual Pass benefits plus four-wheel-drive beach access Details
From the North Carolina state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (northcarolinastateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-722-6762
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: buildings or in the elevator at the chimney rock attraction.
Pets are allowed at the park, except they are not permitted inside buildings or in the elevator at the Chimney Rock attraction. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping
There are no camping facilities at Chimney Rock. The closest state park with camping is Lake James State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney Rock access: Riverwalk Trail | 0.1 mi | Easy | 0.1-mile one way; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Great Woodland Adventure / K.I.P. Track Trail | 0.4 mi | Easy | 0.4-mile loop; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Four Seasons Trail | 0.7 mi | Strenuous | 0.7-mile one way; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Hickory Nut Falls Trail | 0.7 mi | Moderate | 0.7-mile one way; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Outcroppings Trail | 0.2 mi | Strenuous | 0.2-mile one way; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Exclamation Point Trail | 0.3 mi | Strenuous | 0.3-mile one way; Blaze: noneHiking only |
| Chimney Rock access: Skyline Trail | 1.1 mi | Moderate | 1.1-mile one way; Blaze: blue diamondsHiking only |
| Rumbling Bald access: Rumbling Bald Trail | 1.5 mi | Moderate | 1.5-mile loop; Blaze: orange circlesHiking only |
| Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Weed Patch Mountain Trail | 8.5 mi | Strenuous | 8.5-mile one way; Blaze: red circlesBikingHiking |
| Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Tunnel Trail | 0.15 mi | Moderate | 0.15-mile one way; Blaze: white trianglesHiking only |
Trail descriptions from the park
Hiking Trails: Partially Open. Weed Patch Mountain Trail, Tunnel Trail, and Riverwalk Trail are closed.
Bike Trails: Closed
Chimney Rock access: Riverwalk Trail (0.1-mile one way; Blaze: none), Easy, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Great Woodland Adventure / K.I.P. Track Trail (0.4-mile loop; Blaze: none), Easy, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Four Seasons Trail (0.7-mile one way; Blaze: none), Strenuous, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Hickory Nut Falls Trail (0.7-mile one way; Blaze: none), Moderate, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Outcroppings Trail (0.2-mile one way; Blaze: none), Strenuous, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Exclamation Point Trail (0.3-mile one way; Blaze: none), Strenuous, Hiking only
Chimney Rock access: Skyline Trail (1.1-mile one way; Blaze: blue diamonds), Moderate, Hiking only
Rumbling Bald access: Rumbling Bald Trail (1.5-mile loop; Blaze: orange circles), Moderate, Hiking only
Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Weed Patch Mountain Trail (8.5-mile one way; Blaze: red circles), Strenuous, Biking/Hiking
Buffalo Creek Park (managed by Town of Lake Lure): Tunnel Trail (0.15-mile one way; Blaze: white triangles), Moderate, Hiking only
Getting there
- Address
- 743 Chimney Rock Park Road
Chimney Rock, NC 28720 - Nearest town
- Lake Lure — about 3 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 35.4327, -82.2502
- Phone
- (828) 625-1823
- chimney.rock@ncparks.gov
Entrances
- Chimney Rock Access and Park Office — 743 Chimney Rock Park Road, Chimney Rock, NC 28720
- Rumbling Bald Access — 827 Boys Camp Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746
- Eagle Rock Access
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- North Carolina State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- NC State Parks 'Catalog: Find a State Park Access' (paged Drupal view, ?page=0..6)
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology