Hanging Rock State Park

Understand

Hanging Rock State Park is a part of the North Carolina State Parks system, and is one of the most visited of the system. Located near the small town of Danbury, the county seat of Stokes County, it is less than an hour and a half drive from major regional cities like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Danville, Virginia.

History

Hanging Rock State Park was created in the 1930s from land donated by the Winston-Salem Foundation and the Stock County Committee for Hanging Rock after plans to develop a private mountain resort succumbed to the Great Depression. Between 1935 and 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a 12 acre (4.6 ha) lake and stone bathhouse, a sand beach, picnic areas, and the park road and parking areas.

Landscape

Hanging Rock State Park is geologically part of the Sauratown Mountain range in North Carolina, with peaks varying between 800 feet and 1700 feet (244 meters to 518 meters) above the rolling plains below.

Flora and fauna

Ecologically, the park has more in common with the North Carolina Mountains due to its higher elevations. Most of the park is covered with hardwood forests primarily consisting of oak and hickory, but is also home to rhododendron, mountain laurel, wild azalea, and several varieties of wildflowers. The forests are also home to white-tailed deer and wild turkey, with opportunities to view peregrine falcons that occasionally nest in the craggy peaks on the park. The park also has two species of venomous snakes, copperhead and timber rattlesnakes, but most encounters are rare with the snakes only striking when provoked.

As with all North Carolina State Parks, all wildlife is protected and collecting plants or animals without a valid permit is strictly prohibited.

Climate

Get in

The nearest city is Winston-Salem and from there, you would take the 52 N, exit to 66N, and follow it until you can take the Moore Spring Road exit. At the end of Moore Spring Road, you will have reached the entrance to the park, where you will see signs taking you into the park.

Note that, if you are not coming in from Winston-Salem, for example Raleigh or Charlotte, you may not need to touch the main part of Winston-Salem, and there could be other back country roads that you would take to get to 66N.

Fees and permits

North Carolina State Parks do not charge access fees to enjoy the parks, but some park amenities have a fee to participate:

• Boats (2-person canoes or 3-person rowboats) may be rented for $7 per hour. No private boats are permitted on the park lake.
• Swimming fees are $6 per day for adults (13 and over) and $4 per day for children (3-12) and under 3 are admitted free of charge.

Visitors that wish to climb or rappel in the park must register and obtain an activity permit either at the park office or at the climbing access point. There is no fee for this permit, but access may be limited during crowded periods in the park.

Visitors that want to fish in the park's lake are bound by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's fishing regulations and all persons over 16 years old must have a valid NC Fishing license.

Go next

Pilot Mountain State Park is a 30 minute drive away.