Like many, Christmas break had me traveling, and terrible traffic south of Asheville, North Carolina, provided me the chance to pay a visit to one of my favorite spots, Eagle Rock.
Just a two-hour drive from Clemson, Eagle Rock is a small piece of the vast outdoors and vacation complex surrounding the Hickory Nut Gorge, including the famous Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. Laying at the top of several trails on the side of Shumont Mountain, the rock provides one of the best free attractions in the area.
Beyond the end of a twisting mountain holler road lies one of Chimney Rock State Park’s most distant trailheads, the gateway to Eagle Rock.
Just a 10-minute walk along an old forestry road will take you to a pair of large rock piles that sit at the top of a massive granite monolith. A quick scramble up them will reveal one of the best panoramic views of the North Carolina mountains.
In the west, you have the two titans that flank the gates at the start of the Hickory Nut Gorge, Bearwallow Mountain to the south and Little Pisgah to the north. Then, beyond the Swannanoa Mountains to the north lies the fabulous highlands just east of Asheville, with the Great Craggy Mountains to the west and the towering Black Mountains to the east, including Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi.
Further to the east lie the craggy peaks of Grandfather Mountain and the funky peaks of North Carolina’s Table Rock and the Linville Gorge. The endless ridges of the South Mountains, and even Crowders Mountain on a clear day, dot the rolling plain of Piedmont stretching out to the horizon.
Down below, the shining cliffs of Rumbling Bald and the twinkling waters of Lake Lure put on a dazzling show in the sun.
Eagle Rock is also beloved by rock climbers, offering everything from quick scrambles up boulders to sheer cliffs that pose a challenge to even experienced cliff dwellers. Be careful though, as without the proper safety gear, many of the falls can be quite deadly.
Eagle Rock is at the top of the 7-mile-long Weed Patch Mountain trail, a popular hiking and mountain biking trail that leads over 2,500 feet down to Buffalo Creek Park, near the shores of the lake.
A relatively short but steep hike will take you down to the bottom of Eagle Rock, with its delightful, wacky tunnel-like formations around its base. However, be careful to follow the side trail, as getting lost would lead you to seven miles and several thousand feet below your car.
Overall, Eagle Rock is a good leg stretcher with a great view if you ever find yourself in the area, especially this time of year with the leaves off the trees.
