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| Episode Three - The Vertical Rock Trail |
The Vertical Rock Trail episode takes place in the North Carolina piedmont
near the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. There are many ways to get to the area from Asheville
NC and surrounding areas. From Asheville, take Highway 74A east to the small, ever so small,
town of Bat Cave which is about 20 miles from Asheville A new four lane highway is a vast improvement
for this route until you reach Fairview, then it changes to a winding two-lane slow moving route
up and over Hickory Nut Gap and continues this serpentine course until Bat Cave. This is close
to the junction of Highways 64 and 9 and will be the reference point where one can then proceed
to the other points of interest in my episode.
From Hendersonville, take Highway 64 west to Bat Cave. This road goes thru many apple orchards
and is quite scenic and rural before entering Bat Cave. It is about 14 miles and does get into
a lot of slow moving curvy mountain road.
From Black Mountain, take Highway 9 south towards Bat Cave. This road is a real trip. Not more
than a mile out of Black Mountain on this two-lane road you start up one of the most winding
roads anywhere in the US. At times, the road makes more than a 180 degree change in direction.
Let me put it this way, if the sun were shining, first it would be in your eyes, then behind
you, and then you could almost catch the rays again in your peripheral vision. 17 miles later,
thru very winding scenic country, you are in Bat Cave.
Ok, now we have that over with, the trail to Eagle Rock is reached by going up Highway 9 from
Bat Cave about 3.5 miles and turning right onto Shumont Road. Again, believe it or not, a very
curvy two-lane road will end up at the dead end of the paved road. This is where it becomes
a little tricky because you have to park there somewhere to enter the jeep trail to Eagle Rock.
There are many "no parking" and "private road" signs there. I ask permission to park, but many
do not. The Nature Conservancy has recently acquired property access to this vantage point.
It is a one-half mile hike to the summit thru a gated entrance. This gate is 100 yards up the
upper gravel road to the left of the paved road.
This area is also leased by a hunting club and is in use by them quite frequently, depending
on what is in season. It has also been a very popular spot for locals for many years so it is
used quite a bit. Take a left off of the jeep road on a trail that goes past what appears to
be the first vantage point of some rock cliffs to another similar rock outcrop. Here, use your
common sense to scale the rocks and get on top.
What a spectacular view awaits. You can see Mt. Mitchell and the Black Mountain Range which
contain six of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. On a clear day you can also
see Grandfather Mountain and all the way to Kings Mountain near Charlotte. Nice, really nice
views of Lake Lure and Rumbling Bald and rock cliffs galore. |
Chimney Rock Park is 2.5 miles east of Bat Cave. This is a private park and an admission is
charged to enter but well worth the money. Fox Mountain Guides are the only guide service allowed
to climb in this totally awesome cliff area above Lake Lure. Sign up for climbing opportunities
at the top of the park in the gift shop there. An elevator there can take you quickly to the
"chimney" if you decide not to climb.
The park offers excellent base line cliff and above cliff hikes from this area. I cannot emphasize
how beautiful and how tall Hickory Nut Falls are. Be sure to at least visit Inspiration Point
where I filmed my interview with Phil Potter of the Colburn Earth Science Museum. And be sure
to take note of all of the truly significant geological features present there. You can visit
the Colburn Earth Science Museum in Asheville NC to see and learn much more about these features
while looking at the many gems and minerals on exhibit.
The climbing access trail to Rumbling Bald is reached by traveling up Boys Camp Road just east
of Chimney Rock, right before crossing over the bridge over the Rocky Broad River into Lake
Lure. Turning left, it is about 1.5 miles up to a an unmarked jeep trail on your left. The road
is rough and the clay bed can be very slick after a rain. Four-wheel drive might be a good thing
to have here. It ends in a parking area that is often times very crowded during the warmer months
with vehicles that are full of eager climbers.
Continue up the jeep road for a while and be on the look out for the access trail that quickly
turns into a deeply rutted and often root infested challenge full of rocks and obstacles. It
will eventually end up at the base of the cliffs on Rumbling Bald in about 1/2 mile. Watch out
during the summer months as the area is infested with poison ivy and other varmints such as
snakes. Contact local climbers and guide books for popular routes on the rock face.
Enjoy the area, it is well worth it. For more information, submit our Contact Us form. |
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