National Get Outdoors Day at Chimney Rock State Park

June 11, 2016 - National Get Outdoors Day    Bring your family and friends for a day of outdoor-themed activities, which could include live animals and programs on how to enjoy the great outdoors responsibly. Daytime activities and times will vary so check the website for last minute details. Continue the fun and bring a picnic to enjoy a special viewing of The Last of the Mohicans that evening. 


5th Annual Movie on the Meadows    The gate opens at 7:30 PM and the movie begins at 9 PM.  Watch The Last of the Mohicans on a giant outdoor movie screen surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and under a canopy of stars. Don’t forget to pack a blanket or camping chair and a flashlight. This event is presented by Ingles Markets and Mast General Store.   

Get complete local information on our Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide.

 

Spring Break Family Fun At Chimney Rock State Park

March 28 - 31, 2016   Spring Break Family Fun   Meet some of Grady the Groundhog’s woodland friends or possibly the birds of prey, a Red-tailed hawk and Great Horned Owl, at the daily 2 PM Family Animal Encounters.  A Park naturalist will explain each animal’s role in our ecosystem, how they came to live at the park and lessons on what we can do to help protect wildlife. 

Meet at Grady’s Animal Discovery Den for weekday Family Animal Encounters Mon-Fri and at the Outdoor Classroom Sat-Sun. Then, grab a Track Trail brochure at Grady’s Animal Discovery Den and round out the day with a hike along our Great Woodland Adventure trail with 12 interactive education stations.

Boy Scout Day at Chimney Rock State Park

November 14, 2015    Fall Boy Scout Day at Chimney Rock State Park   Chimney Rock’s Fall Scout Days are among the Park’s most popular annual events. Fall is a beautiful time to seek adventure outdoors and learn more about our natural world.

With ever-changing programs and expert presenters, Park naturalists continue to offer new programs to meet your scouting needs. Scouts will also have the opportunity to earn a patch specific to Chimney Rock State Park by becoming Junior Rangers. Advance registration required. 

Chimney Rock State Park Offers Special Weekend of Kids Programs for National Take a Child Outside Week

September 25 - 27, 2015    Take a Child Outside Programs and Hikes  at Chimney Rock State Park.  Take a Child Outside Week is a national movement started in North Carolina that features special ranger-led programs at NC State Parks. 

Fun hikes and/or nature education programs introduce children and families to the outdoors and healthy activities. All activities offered daily and open to the public. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to camp beneath the stars of Chimney Rock on Saturday, Sept. 26. 

September 26, 2015   Writers on the Rock for Kids    This event is part of Take a Child Outside Week, Writers on the Rock for Kids will feature children’s books about the natural world and special, interactive presentations by children’s authors Janie DeVos (How High Can You Fly?, Barthello’s Wing and more) and Marci Spencer (Potluck: Message Delivered). 

Janie will lead kids in the discovery of what makes them special during “Your Special Gift” beginning at 1 PM. At 2 PM, Marci will teach kids how to track a bear and her cub during a “Junior Bear Biologist” program. Both authors will be available to chat with fans and autograph their books, which will be available for purchase through The Fountainhead Bookstore.

Learn more about Chimney Rock NC on our Visitor Information Guide.  



 

Bird is the Word this Weekend at Chimney Rock State Park with the Annual Flock to the Rock and guided Early Birdwalk

September 19, 2015    Naturalist Niche: Early Bird Walk at Chimney Rock Park    Kick off the Flock to the Rock event with an early birdwalk led by a Park naturalist to see which of our feathered friends are out on trails before the Park opens. Then stick around for Flock to the Rock, the region’s premier fall migration birding event featuring live Birds of Prey programs (a Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl), birdwalks led by local experts, workshops like bird photography and hummingbirds, plus family nature walks. Event coincides with the annual hawk migration. Meet at tunnel entrance; advance registration is required by calling 800-277-9611. 

Birding at Chimney Rock State Park

September 19, 2015   7th Annual Flock to the Rock at Chimney Rock Park    The region’s premier fall migration birding event is held at Chimney Rock, an official site on the NC Birding Trail. It features live Birds of Prey programs with a Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl, birdwalks led by local experts, workshops like bird photography and hummingbirds plus family nature walks. Chimney Rock is home to over 130 species of birds throughout the year, including warblers, vireos, tanagers, woodpeckers, thrushes, owls and other birds of prey, including the Peregrine Falcon. This prime birding weekend coincides with the annual hawk migration when dozens, sometimes hundreds, of hawks can be seen winging their way south.  

Get links for complete local information on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide.

 

Take a Hike: Naturalist Niche Series - Wild Edibles at Chimney Rock State Park

August 22, 2015     Naturalist Niche Series: Wild Edibles    ‘Wild edibles’ is always a popular topic among naturalists and enthusiasts. Let the Chimney Rock State Park team help you identify some local edibles that you might even find in your backyard. 

This hike will be moderate-to-strenuous. Important: collecting or removing mushrooms and plants from Chimney Rock and all NC State Parks is NOT allowed without a permit. Advance registration is required by calling 800-277-9611; limit first 20 hikers. 

Get links for more local information on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide. 

Fathers Day Weekend Events: Chimney Rock State Park Admission Special

June 20 - 21, 2015   Father's Day Weekend Admission Special Buy one regularly-priced adult admission and Dad or Grampa receives one free, Forget the tie! Give dad what he really wants: a getaway to the mountains at Chimney Rock for incredible views and scenic hiking with the family. 

Buy one regularly-priced adult admission and dad's or granddad's admission is free with the online coupon. Coupon must be presented (in print or on your mobile device) to the Ticket Plaza at the time of purchase. Valid June 20-21, 2015 only. 

Get complete local information on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide.

 

Take a hike and Create a Journal at Chimney Rock State Park

March 14, 2015   Naturalist Niche: Creating a Nature Journal A nature journal allows you to explore your relationship with the great outdoors by providing a place for interpreting observations and thoughts. Nora visual artist with over 30 years’ experience in developing and leading educational programs for folks of all ages, will demonstrate how to create a journal you can use to document your discoveries in the natural world. Advance registration required. 

Chimney Rock State Park Nature Programs

 October 4 - 5, 2014    Grady's Wildlife of WNC at Chimney Rock State Park   Come meet some of Grady the Groundhog's live woodland friends and learn about their natural habitats. Or marvel at our Birds of Prey, including a Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl. 

The family-friendly Grady’s Wildlife of WNC programs vary and are offered at 2 PM at the Outdoor Classroom on the Meadows. Best of all, the programs are included with your Park admission. All you need to bring are your kids and their curiosity about the natural world. 

Flock to the Rock at Chimney Rock Park State Park

September 20 - 21, 2014   6th Annual Flock to the Rock at Chimney Rock State Park   (No additional cost with paid Park admission but “Early Bird” Watch is extra)  The region’s premier fall migration birding event held at Chimney Rock, a birder’s paradise and official site on the NC Birding Trail.
 
The event features live Birds of Prey programs with a Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl, this weekend includes bird walks guided by local experts, workshops ranging from bird photography to hummingbirds and family nature walks. Kids can get in on the fun too, dissecting owl pellets to see what these birds of prey eat. 

Find links for lodging, dining and attractions on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide.  

 

Chimney Rock State Park Guided Walks

September 19, 2014  Wild Mushroom Walks in Chimney Rock Park   Mushrooms can be found popping up all over Chimney Rock in the summer and early fall, especially after rainfall. Enjoy a casual Friday hike seeking a variety of fascinating fungi along the Four Seasons or Great Woodland Adventure trail. Meet by Grady's Animal Discovery Den in the Meadows - limited to 20 participants, first come basis. This event is included with the Park admission.

Chimney Rock State Park is named for a 500 million-year-old giant granite monolith overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge. Visitors are awed by the breathtaking view that spreads 1200 vertical feet beneath them and 75 miles across the Carolinas. The now state owned park encompasses 1,000 acres offers the best of the mountains in one place with spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a variety of special events and much more.

Get links for local lodging, dining and information on the Chimney Rock NC Visitor Guide