Chimney Rock State Park has more trail mileage than most visitors realize, split across three separate access points. Most people only ever see the seven trails inside the main, paid-admission area near Chimney Rock itself — but there are three more, free to hike, on the far side of the gorge.

Distances and difficulty ratings below come directly from the park's own official trail data (NC State Parks) — not estimates.

Main Park Trails (Paid Access)

These start from inside the ticketed area, near the elevator and Chimney Rock itself.

Riverwalk Trail — 0.1 mile one way, Easy. A short, flat path along the river — good for a quick stretch or with very young kids.

Great Woodland Adventure Trail (also called the K.I.P. Track) — 0.4 mile loop, Easy. A loop built for families, close to the base area.

Four Seasons Trail — 0.7 mile one way, Strenuous. Short but steep enough to earn its rating.

Hickory Nut Falls Trail — 0.7 mile one way (1.4 miles round trip), Moderate, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Leads to the base of the falls. Full details on our Hickory Nut Falls page.

Outcroppings Trail — 0.2 mile one way, Strenuous. Short and steep, winding among the rock formations below the summit.

Exclamation Point Trail — 0.3 mile one way, Strenuous. Ends at one of the park's best overlooks and is also the starting point for Skyline Trail.

Skyline Trail — 1.1 miles one way (2.2 miles round trip), Moderate to strenuous, about 2 to 2.5 hours. The park's backcountry ridgeline trail, ending at Peregrine's Point (2,640 ft) with the top-down view of Hickory Nut Falls along the way.

Free-Access Trails

Two more access points reach trails outside the main ticketed area — no admission required for these.

Rumbling Bald Trail — 1.5 mile loop, Moderate. Reached from the Rumbling Bald community side of the gorge.

Weed Patch Mountain Trail and Tunnel Trail — 8.5 miles one way (Strenuous) and 0.15 mile one way (Moderate) respectively. Both are reached through Buffalo Creek Park's Eagle Rock Access, at 2191 State Road 1314, Lake Lure — managed by the Town of Lake Lure rather than the state park.

Current status: Closed until further notice. Since Weed Patch Mountain and Tunnel trails are only reached through this entrance, both are effectively unreachable while it's closed. This is the kind of thing that changes without much warning — call ahead rather than planning a trip around it.

More Hiking Nearby (Beyond the Park)

Done the park's trails, or want more mileage than Chimney Rock's short, steep paths give you? These are worth the drive — pulled from AllTrails' listings for the area around Lake Lure and Chimney Rock.

Trail conditions and closures change — check current conditions on AllTrails before you go.

More Trails Across Rutherford County

Chimney Rock isn't the only place to hike around here. The Rutherford Outdoor Coalition maintains a county-wide directory covering everything from short in-town walking paths to 40+ miles of trail at South Mountains State Park — see our full Rutherford County trail directory for the complete list, grouped by area with length, difficulty, and elevation.

Dogs on the Trails

Permitted on all trails on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The exception is the elevator and Sky Lounge, where only service animals are permitted.

More Chimney Rock Guides

Chimney RockHickory Nut FallsThe 404-foot waterfall — both routes, base and summit view.Chimney RockElevator & AccessibilityWhich trails work for limited mobility, and what the elevator skips.Chimney RockTickets & HoursEntry deadlines, gate times, and what most people get wrong.StatusCurrent StatusWhat's open right now across the park, lake, and roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hiking trails are at Chimney Rock State Park?

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Seven trails inside the main paid-access area (Riverwalk, Great Woodland Adventure, Four Seasons, Hickory Nut Falls, Outcroppings, Exclamation Point, and Skyline), plus three more in the park's free-access areas (Rumbling Bald Trail, and Weed Patch Mountain and Tunnel trails via Buffalo Creek Park).

What is the easiest trail at Chimney Rock?

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Riverwalk Trail is the shortest and easiest, at 0.1 mile one way. Great Woodland Adventure Trail (0.4 mile loop) is also rated Easy and is a good option for young kids.

What is the hardest trail at Chimney Rock?

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Four Seasons Trail, Outcroppings Trail, and Exclamation Point Trail are all rated Strenuous by the park, though each is short (under a mile one way). Weed Patch Mountain Trail, accessed free through Buffalo Creek Park, is both Strenuous and by far the longest at 8.5 miles one way — but that access point is currently closed.

Are dogs allowed on Chimney Rock trails?

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Yes. Dogs are permitted on all trails on a leash no longer than 6 feet. They are not permitted in the elevator or the Sky Lounge.

Is Eagle Rock open right now?

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No. Eagle Rock Access, reached through Buffalo Creek Park, is closed until further notice as of this page's last check. The Weed Patch Mountain and Tunnel trails are accessed through that entrance, so both are currently unreachable from that side. This changes without much notice — call the park before planning a trip around it.

Which trail leads to the waterfall?

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Hickory Nut Falls Trail takes you to the base of the falls. Skyline Trail passes the top of the falls on its way to Peregrine's Point. See our full [Hickory Nut Falls guide](/chimney-rock/hickory-nut-falls) for both routes.

Last updated: 2026-08-28