CHIMNEY ROCK — Weekly fall color and wildflower reports for Chimney Rock and its 75-mile panoramic views are available at chimneyrockpark.com to help the public 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 variety of ways to admire autumn colors this year, from expert- and self-guided hikes to rock climbing and a photography workshop.
Chimney Rock and Lake Lure have a large range 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 to mid-November.
Early leaf colors are just beginning to show on the higher-elevation roads leading to Chimney Rock State Park and will dot the ridges and upper trails in the park. Splashes of red will appear in the dogwood and sourwood trees, along with yellows in the poplars. Already, fall wildflowers such as goldenrod, snakeroot, turtlehead, a variety of asters and foamflowers are popping up along the park’s trails.
Grab your binoculars and field guide and join world-traveled birding expert Simon Thompson at the Naturalist Niche: Simon Says Fall Bird Walk on Sunday, Oct. 18 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Discover which of our feathered friends will be sticking around during the cooler season and view the first fall color to arrive at the park. Fee includes park admission: $22 adults, $7 for annual passholder, $12 youth (ages 5-15), $5 Grady’s Kids Club member. Pre-registration is required; call 800-277-9611 or email visit@chimeyrockpark.com.
Experience the park after hours at Park in the Dark on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7:30-10 p.m. This family friendly event will feature self-guided hikes along the Outcroppings trail to the Chimney, live nocturnal animal programs, campfire storytelling and stargazing with the Asheville Astronomy Club. A percentage of the admission fee of $5 per person and sales from the evening will benefit Friends of Chimney Rock State Park, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support Chimney Rock; currently their primary goal is to raise money and to find volunteers to help reopen the park’s popular Skyline trail, which leads to the top of Hickory Nut Falls. Space is limited and registration is required. Call today to reserve your spot to this special event.
Join local naturalist Clint Calhoun for one of the last chance to see fall color and embark on an adventure into Chimney Rock’s Old Growth Forest during our Naturalist Niche: Survival Skills hike. You’ll learn about helpful survival tips and techniques and essential gear, plus you’ll discover what makes this forest ecologically remarkable. Fee includes park admission: $22 adults, $7 annual passholder, $12 youth (ages 5-15), $5 Grady’s Kids Club member. Pre-registration is required; call 800-277-9611 or email visit@chimeyrockpark.com.
Sign up for a rock climbing adventure with Fox Mountain Guides on two-hour, half- and full-day clinics for beginner to advanced climbers.
Shutterbugs looking for expert tips and tricks to frame peak fall colors will find them at the park’s Shutterbugs Nature Photography Workshop on Nov. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Award-winning photographer Chuck Hill leads one of the region’s most affordable workshops. The $100 fee includes an annual pass to the park and lunch; $75 fee for annual passholders includes lunch. Space is limited, so call 800-277-9611 or email visit@chimneyrockpark.com to register.
Submit your fall photos of the park by Nov. 27 for a chance to win great prizes in the “Chimney Rock: What’s Your View” photo contest. Prizes include a two-day getaway with a stay at the historic Esmeralda Inn, Park annual passes, Lake Lure boat tours and more. Contest rules and entry instructions can be found at chimneyrockpark.com.
Due to the elevator being out of service, park admission is reduced to $13 for adults and $6 youth ages 5-15; kids under 5 are always free. For more information on fall color, scenic drives and events throughout Western North Carolina, visit fallinthemountains.com.
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