About 1/2 an hour southeast of the store is an amazing park, Chimney Rock. As Parks go, this one has it all. Miles of hiking trails with huge elevation changes, rock climbing, a small cave named Moonshiner’s and even the 404 foot Hickory Nut waterfall. The pamphlet reminds guests that the movie “Last of the Mohicans” was filmed in the park.

The entrance fee of $14 must go to maintain the main roadway, the trails, the wooden staircases; in fact the entire park was well maintained. Additionally, the views of the valley below including the Rocky Broad River and the distant mountains were well worth both the steep price and climb to the top of “Chimney Rock” at 2280 feet above sea level.

Like many of the adventures I’ve had this year so far, Chimney Rock is a bit off the beaten path and a place I could easily have missed if it weren’t for my Garmin GPS unit calling it out to me. That said, like so many of my stops during the 2008 Wonder Explore Believe National Tour, I am glad to have stumbled upon it.