Hickory Nut Falls
is in the privately-owned Chimney Rock Park in the western part of Rutherford
County near Lake Lure. Open only from late spring to early autumn, a fee is
charged for admission. The falls are a series of drops for better than 900
feet. The main falls swoops over a granite ledge and drops some 400 feet to
the pool below.
You don't have to
walk any trail; you can view the whole thing through special telescopic
viewers just outside the town (Chimney Rock). But, if you really want to
experience the might of this marvel of nature, you hike. (There are some other
'nature trails' in the park, also.)
From
Hendersonville, take US-64 to the intersection of US74-A, turn right and the
park entrance (well signed) will be on your right a few miles down the Broad
River. There are wide areas here and there along the river where you can pull
off and enjoy the sights of the rapids. This can be a vicious river and has
caused millions of dollars of damage in several spectacular floods. Chimney
Rock Park phone: 828-625-9611.
Our
thanks to Zzyvko Marjanovitch for this description and directions
