I wrote this post on behalf of Chimney Rock at Chimney State Park. Mama to 5 Blessings received admission tickets to the park for my family in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in any way.
My family and I recently visited Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. The beauty that surrounded us in this natural fulfillment setting in the North Carolina mountains was something this Florida girl had never seen before!
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park offers the best of the Blue Ridge Mountains in one place. Marvel at spectacular 75-mile views of Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills or let your cares fade away in the cool mist of 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls, featured in The Last of the Mohicans. It is a definite time to reconnect with nature. With ancient geological features, unique hiking trails, nature programs and rock climbing attract visitors from around the world. Chimney Rock has been recognized as one of the Southeast’s most iconic and popular travel destinations for more than 100 years. It was recently voted “Favorite State Park” by readers of Blue Ridge Country magazine. We’re only 45 minutes from Asheville and less than 2 hours west of Charlotte, NC.
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park offers so much do to. From hiking, rock climbing, Grady’s Discovery Den have a picnic and much more! Our journey began as we climbed up 491 steps to the Chimney Rock! Yes climbed! If you are not able to climb they do have an elevator to get to the top where you can see panoramic views.
Along the the climb there are several things to do and see which was perfect for my children (four of them walked the baby was on my back in a carrier) so that they were not focused on the long climb but it broke it up making it not so long for little ones.
What makes Chimney Rock so special other than the amazing views you can see from the top? This towering 315-foot monolith rock which is located on the very edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains high above beautiful Hickory Nut Gorge.
With a soaring elevation of 2,280 feet with its 75-mile views, this mountaintop experience will take your breath away. I stood in awe at the beauty that surrounded me. At the top of Chimney Rock waves the American Flag which is very fitting!
The climb up the 491 stairs was worth the view. Everywhere you look is plush greenery depending on the time of the year and if it’s clear outside you can see this scenery as far as the eye can see.
Tired from the climb, stop in at the Ski Lounge Gift Shop & Deli for a nice small break and then head back out for more exploring!
Perfect for family travel or homeschool field trips too! Check out the calendar events that this park offers, there is so much to do throughout the year! Definitely so many wonderful educational experiences for all ages.
Stay tuned to see more my family’s hiking expedition and our experience with the animals up close at Grady’s Animal Discovery Den!
Follow Chimney Rock at Chimney State Park on Facebook and/or Twitter for updates on their events and much more! If you are ever in North Carolina I highly suggest you add Chimney Rock at Chimney State Park to your list of must see’s!
This looks gorgeous! I’d love to take my family on a trip to visit because it looks so peaceful. We love going up high to see good views.
That looks like a really cool place. My two boys would LOVE it.
Wow! Almost 500 stairs! It certainly looks like it was worth it though! I like that there are exploratory stations on the way up.
It’s definitely a leg workout, I’m sure! I think it’s just beautiful.
oh my gosh. my legs ache just thinking of the stairs to climb. i bet your butt felt great a few days after the sore went away LOL
This looks like an amazing place to visit! I would love to go rock climbing one day it is on my bucket list!
My boys and I both love rock climbing! You’ll definitely have to try it some day!
I can’t do hardcore rock climbing, but if it’s smaller scale I would love to try it.
Start at a rock climbing gym! It definitely takes practice.
How fun!!! Looks like y’all had an amazing time. For being such a girly girl, I can’t get enough of the outdoors, especially when it comes to hiking and rock climbing. This looks amazing!
xo,
Stephanie
What a breathtaking view! I’m a bit scared of heights, but it would totally worth it to climb all of those stairs to get up there and see that 🙂
It looks beautiful, I want to travel to NC. Lets see if I can make it happen
That looks like a great family adventure! I love how you can stop and visit exhibits on the way up instead of only hiking!
Chimney Rock looks amazing. I love natural formations like these, Especially when I can explore them. Too cool.
I love places like this. It’s so much fun to see all the different formations, and the scenery is gorgeous.
Looks like you guys had an awesome time.
Quite the hike up but the view is amazing.
So peaceful!
I have never been to NC, but a really close friend just moved there and she is always talking about this place and how lovely it is. Perhaps I need to make a trip out East and try hiking the area. – Katy
what a cool formation. We love visiting state parks, there are so many surprises so close to hom.e
That view is spectacular! I think I would get up there and not want to leave.
What an amazing place. This looks like such a wonderful place to go for a family trip. Thanks so much for sharing.
I haven’t been to Chimney Rock yet, but it looks beautiful! I’ll have to add this to my bucket list.
What a beautiful place to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors. I will have to look into taking my family here. We enjoy visiting different places and travelling.
Wow this looks like such a beautiful and amazing place to visit! I love your pictures!
How pretty! I’m so impressed that you were able to climb with a baby on your back!
Wow, you really got some gorgeous scenic shots of the park. We have visited a lot of state parks in PA, but really want to venture out to other states. Looks like I can add NC to the must visit list.
This isn’t too far away from us! It looks like an awesome place to visit.
We have never been hiking before but it is on my bucket list! I bet you all had a blast!
This is really beautiful. Love it!
Beautiful place to hike and spend the day with the family!
We love visiting places like this with my children!
Everything about this place looks amazing! Chimney rock is awesome, and the lake is so beautiful.
Oh my goodness, what a fun place to visit. Seems like there is so much to look at and do. Nature is just amazing, isn’t it?
What a gorgeous view.
Those pictures sold me! I’ve got to get out there with my kids. They’d love it.
I’d love to take my daughter there. She loves places like that. It’s gorgeous!
Wow, what gorgeous scenery! I’d absolutely love to visit Chimney Rock some day!
How cool, this is one place we have never been. We love outdoors travel and hiking though, so it is going on my list of places to visit.
This place looks amazing!!
I MUST visit there someday. I don’t know who I’d go with since most of my family is scared of heights but that looks so cool. What a great idea to have activities along the way to keep the kids interested, brilliant.
This is totally on my and my husbands list! That view is incredible!!
Gosh, what a beautiful place! I would love to go hiking there!
I’ll have to take a weekend trip over there sometime. What gorgeous views!
Wow, this looks like an incredible place to visit. I would really like to visit.
We love to check out parks. Our first stop is always the Information Center – we get our map of the park and discuss where to go and what to look for. FUN TIMES!
How beautiful. We have a place up here by kinzua called Jakes Rock and Rim Rock that we take the kids to go hiking and exploring and when we get up high on the hills (mountains) and look over it looks so similiar to these pics.
This is just gorgeous. I would love to visit some day. I love your photos.
There are so many state parks that I so want to pay a visit to. I haven’t been to a lot of them but I am going to put this one on my list as well.
We love to visit parks when we travel. They are so educational and gorgeous! They wouldn’t be a park if they were not gorgeous right? Not only are they educational and gorgeous but generally the cost is low enough that we don’t have to give up a meal on our vacation to get in.
Looks fun! I’ll have to try this next time i’m in the area.
NC is not far from me. I may take the boys here for a trip one weekend.
491 steps! That must have been quite the walk up. I can imagine the vista from the top… Breathless!?
I LOVE visiting places where the kids, hubby, and I can learn so much from! I hope I can visit this place one day.
I have lived in WNC for my entire life… and only been to Chimney Rock ONCE. How crazy is that?!!? Looks like y’all had a great time!
This place looks amazing with some beautiful views. I want to visit so I can take lots of pictures.
OMG, I would love to visit. 500 stairs? I’d have to make the trek then!
What a crazy cool looking rock! It is very pretty. But dang, that is a long trek to make up those stairs for sure!
Thanks for sharing!
~Cathy~
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