Day Hike in Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock is a very scenic state park located in beautiful Danbury, North Carolina, about an hour north of Greensboro. I was lucky enough to get to make a pit stop here on a drive back from a tech conference in Raleigh. While I only got to spend about an hour here, I got the chance to see a really nice point of interest and have a very fun hike with a lot of solitude.

I spent my time at Hanging Rock taking the "Hanging Rock Trail", a 1.3-mile (one way) excursion up the side of a mountain to a 2500-ft. peak and rock formation for which the park is named after. Unfortunately, at the early time in the morning I was here, the mountain was still draped in clouds, so the view from the top was not as picturesque as I had hoped.

The trail starts at the edge of the visitor center parking area, and immediately descends down a paved path into the woods. After a few hundred feet, the trail becomes gravel and steeply rises upward into the dense woods. Soon, the gravel runs out and the trail becomes a traditional "trail", mostly dirt, but also somewhat rocky. The ascents and descents are fairly moderate, and only the last several hundred feet of the hike does it become anything near what could be considered "strenuous". In fact, the trail itself is rated as moderate for both its length and terrain.

The hike through the dense woods is serene, and a great way to take in the sights and sounds of the forest. Many birds and insects take refuge here in this quiet natural habitat. At the base of Hanging Rock, one can look up and see the rock formation overhead. There is a nice little cave area to the left to rest. Sadly, many people have found this a fun place to graffiti--detracting from the natural beauty. I will never understand why people cannot appreciate nature for what it is and not destroy it!

From the base of the trail up to Hanging Rock, there is a set of stone stairs widing up the side of the mountain. This hike is not hard by any means, but will cause a hiker to stop and take a breath every now and then. The rocks can be quite slippery when wet. Finally, once at the rock outcrop, the trail becomes very rocky. One can actually climb out on the outcrop, and on a clear day, see the Piedmont Triad area down below. My only view was a valley blanketed in clouds, but the peace and quiet of being up there alone was nice. I enjoyed a Clif Bar while sitting on the rock, took in some of the scenery around me, and headed back down. The trail down and back to the parking area is much easier and faster.

This park has many more trails I just did not have time to explore, including a 6-mile, "strenuous" loop around "Moore's Wall", which is visible from other areas in the park. There is also a very scenic lake here, which I imagine is a popular destination during the summer.

If you are ever in north central North Carolina, make a point to stop at Hanging Rock State Park. It's a scenic natural area with a lot to offer--only a short distance away from the big cities of Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Never stop exploring!

Images on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/outlan/sets/72157627617117499/show/

Check out the video from the top of Hanging Rock on my YouTube Channel: