From a press release:
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2014) — Chimney Rock’s panoramic 75-mile views capture the full spectrum of Western North Carolina’s legendary fall foliage, and it’s getting easier to know when to catch it at the peak. Weekly fall color and wildflower reports are available at chimneyrockpark.com to help you know where and when to find the best color. Peak fall colors are expected to appear in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure between mid-October and early November. Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park offers a handful of favorite ways to admire autumn colors this year, from expert- and self-guided hikes to rock climbing and a photography workshop. The Park was named one of the 50 “Best Things to See and Do This Fall” by Blue Ridge Country.
“The Blue Ridge Mountains feature one of most vibrant and longest fall color displays in America, attracting visitors from around the world. In late September to early November, from popular destinations along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, Western North Carolina is among the most beautiful places to go leaf peeping, hiking and auto touring,” said Emily Walker, Park Naturalist & Education Manager.
Catching Peak Colors. Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains rewards leaf peepers with brilliant displays of leaf colors, from deep red and maroon to fiery yellow and orange. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure have a large variety of colorful tree species and an elevation ranging from 1,100 to 2,500 feet, which are ideal conditions to create a long window for optimal viewing. Peak colors typically arrive at the Park’s higher elevations around mid-October and spread down to the lower elevations through early November.
Fall Color Report – October 7: Wildflowers are providing beautiful fall color along our trails. A variety of asters can already be found on any trail or along the roadside. We also have plenty of snakeroot, goldenrod and sunflowers adding contrast. The dogwood leaves have begun to turn their rich maroon, bringing color to our understory. Yellowing poplars are beginning to pop up throughout the Gorge. Our recent cool nights and sunny days will prompt more fall color to appear in the Gorge.
Below is a list of Chimney Rock’s favorite outings that will reward leaf peepers with an eyeful of autumn foliage. Advance registration is required for most guided hikes and workshops; register online at chimneyrockpark.com.
Get an Expert Guide
Head Off the Beaten Path and take a guided Big Basswood Hike or Fall Ridge Hike with internationally-renowned naturalist Ron Lance. Hikers will see unique views of fall foliage in parts of the Park not normally accessible to the public. Both hikes require advanced registration and there is a cost in addition to Park admission.
Hickory Nut Falls trail is stunning during the autumn months. Rockin’ Naturalist Guided Hikes, offered every Saturday at 11am, offer hikers the chance to learn all about the flora and fauna of this popular trail with a Park naturalist. Fun for the whole family, Rockin’ Naturalist Guided Hikes will end this month, and it’s included with Park admission.
View spectacular fall colors from a rope high above the Gorge. Sign up for a rock climbing adventure with Fox Mountain Guides for a two-hour, half- or full-day clinic for beginners to advanced climbers.
Bring friends to save money with a group rate.
Shutterbugs looking for expert tips and tricks to frame peak fall colors will find them at the Park’s Shutterbugs Nature Photography Workshop on November 1-2, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Award-winning photographer Jeff Miller leads one of the region’s most affordable workshops.
Explore on Your Own
Soak up 75-mile panoramic views on top of the Chimney via a rewarding 15-20 minute hike. This is the most dramatic and popular way to get your fall color fix! If you’re unable to hike up, we’ll get you there in less than a minute via our 26-story elevator ride inside the mountain.
Chimney Rock offers a colorful variety of fall wildflowers. Pick up a local wildflower guidebook from the Park’s gift shop to identify many blooming beauties along Chimney Rock’s trails, including asters, goldenrod and Pink Turtlehead, to name a few.
Beats, Burgers & Brews adds a local soundtrack to the colorful autumn scene with live folk, bluegrass, blues and Americana music at the Old Rock Café at 6-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October starting Oct. 10. Located at the Park’s entrance, the restaurant offers regional craft beer and local burgers from Hickory Nut Gap Meats. Relax on the riverside deck with a great view of the Chimney framed by fall foliage.
Park admission is $15 for adults, $7 for youth ages 5-15 and free for children under 5. Guided hikes, rock climbing and workshops cost extra. For more information on fall color, scenic drives and events throughout Western North Carolina, visit fallinthemountains.com.
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park offers scenic hiking trails, guided rock climbing, live animal education programs and ancient geological features that attract visitors from around the world. The Park’s 535-million-year-old monolith called Chimney Rock, which can be accessed via a 491-step Outcroppings Trail or a 26-story elevator, offers guests 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. The Park features one of the highest waterfalls of its kind east of the Mississippi River, Hickory Nut Falls, at 404 feet. A destination for travel groups, weddings and special events, the Park also hosts innovative educational programs for schools, homeschoolers, scouts and fall and summer camps. Chimney Rock is located only 45 minutes southeast of Asheville on Highway 64/74A in Chimney Rock, N.C. Call (800) 277-9611 or go to chimneyrockpark.com to plan your visit.
Weekly fall color reports on chimneyrockpark.com help leaf peepers plan their visit during peak colors
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