Hickory Nut Falls — Local services in Columbus

You must enter chimney rock state park in order to access this waterfall.

You’ll need to lay a $17/person fee at the guard shack. (Discounts for seniors & little kids)

You’ll park at the lower parking lot & catch a bus that will take you up to the upper construction lot.

From there you can walk either up to the beginning of the stairs to chimney rock, or you can walk back down the bus road a little & catch the trail head to Hickory Nut Falls.

The trail is very wide & maintained. Not an extreme trail, but i would not recommend this for baby strollers or elderly who have trouble walking. There are a couple of places to sit down & rest along the trail.

The trail will take you about 30min(45mim if you aren’t in shape) to walk. Near the end you will begin to hear rushing water.

When you get to the water fall you will have a resting area with trash cans & places to sit down. You’ll see some stairs that lead up closer to the falls.

After climbing the stairs you’ll see a large rock that has wooden guard rails installed. We noticed that a park employee was resting on the rocks nearby for emergencies.

You are allowed to traverse the rocks & get right inside the waterfall if you like, but they frown on getting down into the deeper parts of the water. I did not get wet, but my wife & kids did & said the water was ice cold.

The walk back seems to feel just as long(longer for me) as the walk in.

The bus’s run all day & will pick you up near the tents where you...

Dramatic, beautiful falls, just an easy, pleasant hike from the Chimney Rock parking area—well worth your time. The hike to Hickorynut Falls from the main Chimney Rock State Park parking area starts with your choice of either with a sloping walk down around back down along a roadway path or a stair climb (great stairway structure) from the park’s base area—recommend the stair climb. The walk is a nice 20-minute or so stroll from the bottom of the stairs through a lush forest—the hike is fairly easy on a sloping, sometimes rocky trail. The falls are dramatic, colorful, and picturesque, with multiple viewing areas including an area where the trail meets the falls, a platform just beneath the falls, and a platform to the left of the falls that’s just a short stair climb—be sure to check out the views from all areas for great pictures. There is a gate to the falls trail that we believe closes the falls after dark; at the gate there is also a connection between the falls trail and the Four Seasons Trail which runs from the park’s Great Woodland Adventure kid’s area. The trail was very well maintained and included trash/recycling cans. Overall, I would definitely recommend the hike to Hickorynut Falls if you’re visiting Chimney Rock State Park—highly...

A nice milky thin waterfall. A little to moderate hike to reach this falls. Not very steep if you are going to do only this falls , if you had done chimney rock , exclamation point or top of the falls hike, considerable to do this trail. You can take the trail by parking at the lot on chimney rock information center. A moderate number of uneven rocks near the falls if you are planning to touch the water. No swimming or wading are allowed, but you will be able to touch the water or can drench you. But the deck is built about 20 feet from the falls to have a look and photography. Modestly slippery rock if you are thinking to touch the waterfalls. Trail has lot of shades , resting benches , picnic tables with trash area. No restrooms available on the trail but on the head of the trail when you are taking the wooden steps from parking lot. Drinking water vending machine , water fountain are there in this restroom area. Load up your snack , water or liquid for Hyderating you. Not very hardest trail but easy to moderate for a family , only at some places. Gravel path , Staffs or emergency staffs can reach the falls by ATV if there is anything emergency on waterfall area. Good for anyone and...