Damaged by ferocious storms, Chimney Rock State Park set to reopen

Damaged by ferocious late October storms, Chimney Rock State Park is set to reopen over the next several days.

All trails at the popular hiking and rock climbing destination reopened on Wednesday, park officials said. Chimney Rock is 95 miles west of Charlotte in Rutherford County.

The top part of the park, which includes access to its iconic chimney and the Outcroppings, Exclamation Point and Skyline trails, will reopen by the weekend, the park announced

Chimney Rock closed on Oct. 24 after a retaining wall at the top parking lot collapsed during heavy rains a day earlier. Some of the debris toppled onto the road below.

While state road crews and a contractor worked to remove the debris and stabilize the area, only the lower part of the park remained open, including access to the Great Woodland Adventure and Four Seasons trails and part of the Hickory Nut Falls trail.

Chimney Rock’s elevator remains out of service, so getting to the top of Chimney Rock requires hiking the Outcroppings trail. Pets are welcome, as long as they are leashed.

Work on the connector stairs from the upper parking area to Hickory Nut Falls “is progressing,” officials said.

The park’s ticket plaza is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm. – 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. beginning on Monday. The park is open daily through December, except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Admission is $13 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-15. Children 4 and under are admitted free.

This story was originally published November 22, 2017 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Damaged by ferocious storms, Chimney Rock State Park set to reopen."