点评:This unique state park is well worth the price of admission. At the time of our visit, tickets were $17 a person with a $2 discount for seniors. The park is about 25 miles southeast of Asheville. Lake Lure is directly east of Chimney Rock. Our visit was our second in four years.
It was originally in private hands since the 19th century. The Morse family developed the park which was originally called Hickory Nut Gorge Park. The State of North Carolina took over the park in 2007.
We recommend going to this park when there is reasonable amount of sunshine. Also, there are usually less people on weekdays. The area is well managed with personnel in key areas for assistance. You may remember a movie called, “Last of the Mohicans.” There were scenes from this park.
There is reasonable amount of parking at the main facility. A large bathroom and gift shop is at the base of Chimney Rock. To go to the top is an elevator that will take you up 26 stories. It is a fairly large elevator. My wife who has claustrophobia had no trouble. It is quite a story and feat on how the entire structure was built.
The elevator will take you to another gift shop and even a small café.
There are stairs leading up to the photographic part of Chimney Rock which is 2280 feet high. If you have mobility concerns, there are tables with umbrellas close by before the stairs.
Behind the main Chimney Rock there are more stairs to “Devils’ Rock, Exclamation Point and to Skyline trail. The climb to see Devil’s Rock and the Opera Box is well worth the effort. You will also get a spectacular view of Chimney Rock itself. It does make a stunning picture with the American flag flying.
Going to Exclamation Point, 2480 feet of elevation, will take more effort. We don’t think the scenery facing west is not as nice as looking east to Lake Lure. For those interested in doing Skyline Trail along the ridge, you will need to follow the Exclamation Point route.
On this journey we did trek the round trip to Hickory Nut Falls which is a total of 1.5 miles. There is a trail down from the main parking lot which does in tale going down stairs (and going up those stairs coming back). You can also drive to the Hickory Nut Falls parking lot which is only a short drive away.
The Hickory Nut Trail is reasonably flat with little elevation gain. Unfortunately, it is not for people who have mobility concerns as there are a number of rocks on the path. Your effort will be reward with a 404 waterfall.
Standing on Chimney Rock, seeing the Devil’s Head, trekking to Exclamation Point and doing Hickory Nut Falls took over two hours. The experience was indeed a memory that will last for a lifetime.
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翻译:这座独具特色的州立公园绝对物有所值。我们到访时,门票价格为每人17美元,老年人可享受2美元的折扣。公园位于阿什维尔东南约25英里处,莱尔湖则在烟囱岩的正东方。这是我们四年内的第二次到访。
自19世纪以来,该地一直为私人所有。后来莫尔斯家族对公园进行了开发,最初将其命名为“山核桃峡谷公园”。2007年,北卡罗来纳州政府接管了这座公园。我们建议在阳光适中的时候去这个公园。此外,工作日时游客通常较少。公园管理得很好,在关键区域还有工作人员提供帮助。您可能记得一部名为《最后的莫希干人》的电影,其中有一些场景就是在这个公园拍摄的。
主园区内有足够的停车位。在烟囱岩脚下有一个大型洗手间和礼品店。要登上山顶,可以乘坐电梯,它能带你直达26层楼的高度。这是一台相当大的电梯。我的妻子有幽闭恐惧症,但使用起来毫无问题。整个建筑的建造过程堪称一个传奇,实属壮举。
乘坐电梯可以到达另一家礼品店,甚至还有一家小咖啡馆。
有楼梯可通往海拔2280英尺的烟囱岩观景区。如果您行动不便,在楼梯前不远处就有带遮阳伞的桌椅可供休息。
在主烟囱岩后面还有更多楼梯,可以通往“魔鬼岩”。前往惊叹点以及天际线步道。爬上去后便能看到魔鬼岩和歌剧院岩,这样的付出绝对值得。您还能欣赏到烟囱岩的壮丽景致。当美国国旗在风中飘扬时,更能拍出令人惊叹的照片。
前往海拔2480英尺的惊叹点则需要付出更多努力。我们认为,向西眺望的景色不如向东眺望卢尔湖的景致优美。对于想要沿着山脊行走天际线步道的人来说……你需要沿着“感叹号”路线前进。
在这次行程中,我们徒步往返了希科里努特瀑布,全程共计1.5英里。从主停车场有一条小径可以下去,途中需要走下很多台阶(返回时则要爬上这些台阶)。你也可以开车前往希科里努特瀑布的停车场,那里距离主停车场仅有一小段车程。
希科里努特小径的地势相当平坦,海拔上升幅度也很小。可惜的是……这条路线并不适合行动不便的人士,因为路上有很多石头。不过付出努力后,你将有幸欣赏到壮观的404瀑布。
从烟囱岩上眺望魔鬼头像岩、徒步前往感叹点,再前往山核桃瀑布,整个过程耗时超过两小时。这次经历确实会成为终生难忘的回忆。
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