Peaks reach more than 2,500 feet, providing excellent views.   Hanging Rock is a naturalist’s nirvana.   About 25,000 people visited the swimming hole last summer.

Cascading waterfalls, majestic cliffs, and peaceful forest trails. Welcome to Hanging Rock State Park, nestled within Piedmont’s rolling hills just 15 miles from the North Carolina-Virginia state line. This tourist gem possesses a natural beauty that can be created only by time and the skillful hand of Mother Nature.

Located in Danbury in Stokes County, the park’s sprawling 7,000-plus acres include some breathtaking views of the Sauratown Mountain range. Named for the region’s early inhabitants, the Saura Indians, the mountains are one of the most easterly mountain ranges in North Carolina. Peaks range in elevation from 1,700 feet to more than 2,500 feet. This ancient mountain range once towered over the landscape, but the picturesque peaks, ridges and knobs that visitors enjoy today are the handiwork of millions of years of erosion. Dubbed “the mountains away from the mountains,” the Sauratown Mountains are separated from the more widely celebrated Blue Ridge Mountains.

A naturalist’s nirvana, the park is home to more than 300 plant species, including azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, galax, ferns and the rare pink ladies slipper. In the spring, many visitors are lured by blooming mountain laurel and rhododendron. Oak and pine trees blanket most of the landscape, but hemlock is found in the more moist areas of the forest. In fact, Hanging Rock is one of the few places where Canadian and Carolina hemlock co-exist.

A variety of wildlife, such as white tail deer, wild turkeys and gray foxes inhabit the park. For the past several years, Hanging Rock’s Moore’s Wall has been the most easterly natural nesting site in North Carolina for peregrine falcons.

Endless exploration
Hanging Rock State Park boasts an array of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. More than 400,000 visitors toured the park last year. About 120,000 of those were hikers exploring 12 trails stretching more than 18 miles across the park. A wheelchair-accessible trail also leads to a rock outcrop and a deck near the visitors center, providing a peek of Hanging Rock.

Over the past year, park officials have improved the trail ascending to the top of Moore’s Knob. While much easier to walk, the trail is still a strenuous hike that leads to an old fire tower once used by the state Forest Service. Today, the tower serves as an observation deck where visitors can capture a panoramic view of the Saura Mountains. On clear days, hikers can enjoy a picturesque view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

For the more adventure-seeking, there’s rocking climbing. Cook’s Wall and Moore’s Wall, which boasts cliffs that stand more than 400 feet tall and stretch for nearly 2 miles, are the only areas in the park where rock climbing is allowed. A permit is required, and climbers must register with the park.

Gone fishing, swimming
A popular park destination during the summer months is the 12-acre lake. Last year, some 25,000 people visited the swimming hole during June, July and August. Park officials say many generations of families have learned to swim in these waters.

Anglers might enjoy a leisurely day of fishing from the shore or pier. Private boats are not permitted in the park, but rowboats and canoes are available for rent during the summer.

Near the lake is a stone and timber bathhouse with restroom and dressing facilities and a snack bar and lounge. Built in the 1930s, the bathhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. As part of the bathhouse, the park has an open pavilion with a covered canopy overlooking the lake. This rustic park view is a popular destination for weddings.

The campground includes 73 sites for tents and trailers. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis, campsites include a grill, picnic tables and tent pad, with washing and bathroom facilities nearby.

Those not so accustomed to roughing it might prefer renting a rustic vacation cabin. The park recently built four additional cabins, bringing the total to 10. The cabins, two of which are handicap-accessible, sleep up to six people and include two bedrooms, a kitchen and living room. The air-conditioned cabins make for a relaxed, quite retreat away from television and telephones.

Want to go?
Hanging Rock State Park
2015 Hanging Rock Park Road
Danbury, NC 27016
336-593-8480
www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/haro/main.php

Park Hours
November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
April, May, September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
June-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day