Table Rock and the Chimneys

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
8/3/2022	3.1 miles	3 hours 5 minutes	695'	1.4 mph	568.9

Parking: 

• See 100 Favorite Trails map

Maps:

• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge (for directions)
• Gaia GPS app

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails map

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• 100 Favorite Trails #92, Table Rock and the Chimneys

We went out with the Carolina Mountain Club on a 3-hike trip. They were all short hikes in the Linville Gorge area. We headed out early, because it was going to be a long day with a chance of rain. The end of the drive to the Table Rock trailhead is a long gravel road. Our car did okay, but just a warning, it's a rough road.

From the parking lot, we first headed to Table Rock, then back to the parking lot, then to the Chimneys, and back to the parking lot. These hikes have great views at their end points. We saw an Outward Bound group on our way to the Chimneys - teaching rock climbing to kids. This trail doesn't have a lot of elevation gain, but the distance was short, and it was hot. I was dripping sweat in no time. We had good information on the "easier" way up the Chimneys. We didn't see what the hard way up was. The trail in general has rocky footing. We stopped to have lunch at the Chimneys. We found shady spots and took in the views. We learned that the variety of pine trees at the top are called Table Mountain pines. I'm wondering if that's what the 2 pine trees in our yard are. They are lovely. The trail has a fair amount of sun exposure, and most of us found that we were going through our water very quickly.

Carolina lily

Hawksbill Mountain, which we'll go up for our second hike