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Get to the Top at Chimney Rock
 Ever see the movie Last of the
Mohicans? Many of the landscaped
scenes and the last 17 minutes of
the movie were filmed in Chimney
Rock Park near Morganton, N.C.,
which is about 15 or 20 miles from
Asheville. This area was chosen
because the producers believed the
area most resembled the Adirondack
Mountains of New York State. But
the scene where they walked behind
a waterfall, that was filmed in
a studio in Asheville.
Chimney Rock Park is dominated
by the 315-foot Chimney Rock. From
the top, you can see beautiful scenery
for 75 miles. How you get there
is your choice: by elevator, stairs
or car.
The History of Chimney Rock Park
 Dr. Lucius B. Moore came to the
area for his health after being
diagnosed with leukemia. The good
doctor took to hiking and horseback
riding the area, often stopping
and standing in amazement and awe
of the Chimney Rock. After paying
a man a quarter to take him to the
top by donkey, his wonder of this
icon of nature grew to historic
proportions. It was not long after
he’d surveyed the incredible views
from the top that he decided to
purchase and develop the monolith
for commercial use.
The current owner at the time
was Jerome B. Freeman, who had bought
it for the incredible price of $25
in 1870. For that price, he
also purchased 400 acres of land
around Chimney Rock. Freeman erected
a stairway to the top in 1885.
Morse contacted his two older
twin brothers, and together the
three paid Freeman $5,000 for Chimney
Rock and 64 acres of Chimney Rock
Mountain. More land has been added
since, and today, the park covers
1,000 acres.
 The brothers improved the area
with a bridge across the Rocky Broad
River to facilitate tourists arriving
by carriage, and they eventually
replaced the old wooden stairs with
metal and added an elevator that
is reached through a tunnel they
blasted in the mountain. The tunnel
is 198 feet long, and the elevator
is 258 feet high. The other paths
to the top are the 470 steps on
the trail from the parking area
to the summit or a three-mile drive.
However you get there, the view
from the top of Chimney Rock is
breathtaking. But it isn’t the only
sight worth seeing in the Park.
Skyline Cliff Trail
 Sheer cliffs, breathtaking views,
and the dramatic plunge of a waterfall
are just a few of the fascinating
sights along the Skyline-Cliff Trail
Loop. This one-and-a-half to two-hour,
moderately-strenuous hike courses
through lush woodland and across
natural cliffs and ledges on its
way to such geologic spectacles
as the 2,280-foot-high Top of the
Chimney, the remarkable overhang,
and panoramic vistas at Opera Box,
and the highest point in the Park,
2,480-foot-tall Exclamation Point
(whose name speaks for itself!).
Hickory Nut Falls
 However you reach Hickory Nut
Falls, it’s well worth the effort.
From the top, it's a spectacular
vertical drop of 404 feet. From
below, it's a cool, refreshing stop.
Hickory Nut Falls, one of the highest
waterfalls east of the Mississippi
River, can be reached by hiking
along the Skyline Cliff Trail Loop
to its top or by taking the gentler
walk via the Forest Stroll to a
platform at its bottom. Get a majestic
perspective of the Falls from Peregrine's
Rest on the Skyline Trail or Inspiration
Point along the Cliff Trail.
Opera Box
 On your way up the Skyline Trail,
just a short distance from the Chimney,
catch your breath and enjoy the
views of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut
Gorge from the Opera Box. When you
enter this unique spot, you are
covered by a rock overhang with
a narrow horizontal opening that
presents panoramic scenes of sky,
water and trees while the wind and
the birds provide the perfect soundtrack
Inspiration Point
This vantage point offers one
of the most dramatic and unique
views in the Park. Inspiration Point,
located along the Cliff Trail, is
the only place from which you can
see both Hickory Nut Falls and Lake
Lure. This location even inspired
movie magic. Some scenes from the
1992 movie The Last of the Mohicans
were filmed along the Cliff Trail.
And at Inspiration Point, Hawkeye
(Daniel Day-Lewis) and Cora (Madeleine
Stowe) shared a romantic moment.
So don’t miss this spot, and your
chance to get inspired!
Needle’s Eye
One hundred eighty-five stairs
fill this narrow passage developed
within a vertical joint in the granite
between the Rock Pile and Pulpit
Rock. The top portion of the joint
is a mass of boulders and blocks,
some of which have fallen into the
crack and created the "eye
of the needle.” As you thread your
way through the Needle's Eye, hang
on tight and stay focused on the
light at the end of the tunnel.
You have just conquered the ultimate
Stairmaster.
Peregrine’s Rest
When you visit this soaring vantage
point, perched high above Hickory
Nut Gorge, it will make you feel
like the bird for which it was named.
Peregrine’s Rest offers the first
full view of spectacular 404-foot
Hickory Nut Falls along the Skyline
Trail. Using your keen eyesight,
you’ll spot the waterfall to your
left. Make sure you take in the
sweeping view of the Gorge below.
Chimney Rock Park is a great
stop on your next trip. A
couple of notes:
- Wheelchairs and baby packs
are available.
- Use of strollers on trails
is not recommended.
- There are no restroom facilities
along the hiking trails.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied
by an adult.
Tickets are $14 for adults, $6
for kids 6-15, and free for 6 and
under. Tickets are sold daily 8:30-4:30,
and the park is open 1 ½ hours after
ticket sales close. Group rates
are available, as is shuttle service.
Directions:
 Take Interstate 85 North into
South Carolina. In the Greenville,
S.C. area, exit onto Interstate
185. Go one exit to Exit #1 (White
Horse Road and Highway 25). Turn
left onto Highway 25 North. Follow
25 North for about one hour into
North Carolina. Follow signs to
Interstate 26 West and Asheville
(do not take Highway 25 into Hendersonville).
Get on Interstate 26 West. At Exit
#49A (Old Exit #18A - Bat Cave and
Highway 64 East) get off and turn
right onto Highway 64 East. Go 15
miles and the Park entrance will
be on the right.
For information, call 800-277-9611.
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