On our first trip to Chimney Rock State Park, mom and I covered some considerable ground, but there was still one trail that we weren’t able to hike – Hickory Nut Falls. We glimpsed the 400 ft falls from their upper vantage point, looking down over the sheer drop, but nothing quite compares to the blast of mist from the foot of a waterfall.
Since our weekend was calling for lots of thunder and rain, we set out early for the State Park to see if we could beat the forecast. The trail is 1.4 miles round trip, and very easy; well marked, wide, and moderately flat. All along the way, the trail is surrounded by the beautiful canopy of trees, so even though it was a hot and humid July day, we were offered plenty of shade.
We were also pleased to find that there were plenty of beautiful rhododendrons in bloom, as well as wild blackberries growing, which offered interesting photographic opportunities as we hiked.
We finally heard the roar of the crashing water as we approached the stairs that lead to the observation platform – but before you continue, take a moment to appreciate the falls from a distance, really appreciating the sheer height of the limestone cliff.
The viewing platform was busy, and there were a lot of people that were also patiently waiting their turn for photos at the base of the falls, but it was still an enjoyable experience despite the handful of onlookers. If you were hoping for some quiet solitude on an early morning, this might not be the hike for you!
We stayed for about 15 minutes before hearing a park ranger tell us that there was rain headed into the valley – we took this as our cue to head back to the car, but not before snagging a photo of this little cutie hanging out on some ferns.
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