Hickory Nut Falls | Chimney Rock State Park | North Carolina | Film Location Last of the Mohicans

Описание: Chimney Rock is located just 25 miles southeast of Asheville and is home to stunning mountainside scenery and many moderate hiking opportunities. While there is free hiking around the base, we opted to pay the fee to access the in-mountain elevator and stairs that reach the park’s namesake 315-foot rock spire. This also gave us access to heart-pounding overlooks of the Hickory Nut Gorge and unique hiking trails to reach both the top and bottom of the legendary Hickory Nut Falls.

CONTENTS
00:00 Intro Teaser
00:48 Map & Overview
01:45 Parking/Trailhead
02:30 Subway to Chimney Rock
03:48 Exclamation Point Trail
07:30 Trial Down
09:07 Elevator & Tunnel
09:42 Hickory Nut Falls Trail
10:48 The Falls!
11:45 Outro

For movie buffs, Chimney Rock provides a glimpse into a few famous cinematic backdrops. The body of water in view at the top of Chimney Rock is Lake Lure, the filming location of Dirty Dancing’s iconic lakeside scene. And the cliffside areas within the park are where they filmed the final dramatic chase of Last of the Mohicans.

In 2023 the fee to access the state park attraction was $17 for adults and $8 for children ages 5 to 15. We started from a lower parking area, made our way to the spire base, by-passed the elevator and took the Outcroppings trail and 499 stairs to the top of Chimney Rock. Using the elevator would leave just 44 steps to the top.

After visiting Chimney Rock, you can take 330 more stairs and switchbacks on the Exclamation Point Trail. On this 20 minute hike you will pass the Opera Box and Devil’s Head on your way to stunning views of the gorge and eventually to the top of Hickory Nut Falls.

It is time to head back, take the elevator down, and make our way to the bottom of the falls - where we get a view of the entire 404 foot aquatic drop.

The 258-foot elevator shaft was first put in use back in 1949. At the bottom, there is a 198-foot access tunnel carved through solid rock. This is a stunning feat to behold.

Near our original parking spot, we can find the popular Hickory Nut Falls trail that leads to one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This moderate family-friendly hike is 1.4 miles round-trip with modest elevation gain and should take around 45 minutes to complete. At the end, however, is a spectacular view of the 400-foot tall natural wonder.