Scale the heights! - Rock Climbing in Lake Lure
Most Popular Season: Fall & Winter
Type of climbing: Traditional, Sport & Bouldering
Rumbling Bald Mountain is a 1,100-acre collection of cliffs and boulders located in the non-fee area of Chimney Rock State Park.
Rumbling Bald is considered world-class bouldering and technical rock climbing with some of the best terrains in the Southeast.
Its boulder fields contain an estimated 1,500 bouldering problems that are easily accessible.
In the words of one climber from the Carolina Climbers' Coalition, "Southern exposure, classic lines of all grades and world-class bouldering make Rumbling Bald a mandatory part of the winter climbing circuit in the South."
Currently, Chimney Rock and the Rumbling Bald Climbing Access are the only public accesses within Chimney Rock State Park. However, N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will eventually develop other areas of the state park with facilities and recreation traditionally enjoyed in our Western North Carolina state parks.'
At this time, there are no designated parking areas or public accesses for state park properties located on Round Top Mountain and Eagle Rock. Also, there are no designated hiking trails in these areas. Visitors are cautioned not to trespass and not to park on the private property adjoining these lands.
Presently, there is not a designated camping area at Chimney Rock State Park. Rock climbing and bouldering are currently only allowed at the Rumbling Bald Climbing Access, where climbers may park in the designated parking area located off Boys Camp Road. Click the link to the left to find nearby camping facilities.
The greater Chimney Rock State Park currently encompasses roughly 5,700 acres on both the north and south sides of the gorge, and expansion efforts continue to bring more of the gorge's rich natural resources into conservation.
When visiting the Rumbling Bald Climbing Access, please follow the simple ideas below:
- Leave No trace. Pack out what you pack in. Pick up trash from others.
- No camping at the parking lot or at the crags.
- Be courteous and respectful of non-climbers that you see on the mountain.
- Patronize local shops and restaurants. Let them know that you are a climber. This helps to communicate that climbers and outdoor enthusiasts are a valued aspect of tourism spending.
- Please note that the Southside is the only area currently open to climbing.
Directions To Rumbling Bald Climbing Area:
From Brevard: Take US Highway 64 east through Hendersonville. Keep going as you cross I-26 and continue until you reach the town of Bat Cave. Here, US 64 joins US 74 as you turn to the right. Proceed to the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. This is a popular tourist route in the summer, so be prepared for slow going. As you pass through Chimney Rock and into Lake Lure, look for Boys Camp Road on your left. If you go across the bridge, you have gone too far. Take Boys Camp road about 1.5 miles to the top of a ridge. On your left, look for the entrance to Chimney Rock State Park.
From Columbia, SC, I-26 via I-95 for Floridians: Continue on I-26 toward Greenville / Spartanburg. Just after reaching the NC border, look for exit 36, SR 108, to Columbus/Chimney Rock/Lake Lure. Turn right on SR 108 and continue for about 4 miles. When you reach an intersection with SR 9, follow the signs to Lake Lure (left). Continue for another 10 miles until you come down a hill and see Lake Lure. Go left on Highway 64/74/9 for 4 miles, passing Lake Lure Public Beach and Washburn Marina on your right. Turn right after the bridge onto Boys Camp Road and follow the directions above.
(828) 625-1823
(828) 625-9945
chimney.rock@ncparks.gov
PO Box 220, Chimney Rock, NC 28720
GPS: 35.432799, -82.250260
