Hickory Nut Falls: reservations and access
At 404 feet, Hickory Nut Falls is one of the taller waterfalls east of the Mississippi, reached by a 1.4-mile round-trip trail inside Chimney Rock State Park. The park took some of Hurricane Helene's worst damage and reopened on June 27, 2025 after nine months closed; getting to the falls today means booking a timed-entry visit through the park's main access rather than just walking up. Our waterfalls in North Carolina guide covers this one alongside nine others in the state, with the full waterfalls near me map for anywhere else.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | About 35.433°N, 82.260°W, Rutherford County, per USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS record 986721, listed as "Hickorynut Falls," checked August 18, 2026) |
| Height | 404 ft |
| Trail length | About 1.4 miles round trip |
| Access | Through Chimney Rock State Park's main access, open 7 days a week; the separate Eagle Rock Access remains closed until further notice (NC State Parks, September 2026) |
| Admission | Paid attraction; current pricing isn't published on this page. Book through chimneyrockpark.com/info-and-tickets |
| Reservations | NC State Parks says timed-entry reservations are required to enter the access; the attraction's operator says booking ahead is recommended for busy weekends and holidays (both checked September 2026) |
| Legal status | Public, Chimney Rock State Park (paid attraction) |
| Status | Reopened June 27, 2025 after nine months closed for Hurricane Helene damage (NC State Parks reopening release, June 2025) |
Getting in: reservations and access
Chimney Rock State Park's main access, the entrance that leads to the Hickory Nut Falls trail, is open seven days a week (NC State Parks, Chimney Rock State Park). The park's own page says timed-entry reservations are required to get in; the attraction's operator, on its own tickets page, describes booking ahead as recommended for busy weekends and holidays rather than a strict requirement every day. Either way, booking before you drive up removes the guesswork: reserve through chimneyrockpark.com, which also carries current pricing and hours. A separate entrance, Eagle Rock Access, remains closed until further notice; it isn't the way to Hickory Nut Falls, so don't plan around it. Our access and legality guide explains why a timed reservation and an admission fee are two separate things to check before a trip like this one.
The falls and the trail
Hickory Nut Falls drops 404 feet, tall enough to rank among the taller waterfalls east of the Mississippi, and the trail to it covers about 1.4 miles round trip from inside the park. Unlike the free national-forest falls elsewhere in the state, seeing it means paying the park's attraction admission and fitting the falls trail into a visit that also takes in the park's other overlooks and the chimney rock formation itself.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from NC State Parks' Chimney Rock State Park page and the attraction operator's tickets page at chimneyrockpark.com, both checked in September 2026, plus the park's June 2025 reopening release. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Reservation policy is described slightly differently by the state and the operator, both cited above; admission pricing changes and isn't reproduced on this page. Verify current pricing and booking requirements with the park before you go. Last checked September 2026.
FAQ
Is Chimney Rock State Park open?
Yes. It reopened June 27, 2025 after nine months closed for Hurricane Helene damage, and the main access is open seven days a week as of September 2026.
Do you need a reservation to see Hickory Nut Falls?
NC State Parks says timed-entry reservations are required to enter the access; the attraction's operator describes booking ahead as recommended for busy weekends and holidays. Book ahead either way through chimneyrockpark.com.
How long is the trail to Hickory Nut Falls?
About 1.4 miles round trip from inside Chimney Rock State Park.
How much does it cost to see Hickory Nut Falls?
This page doesn't list a price, because admission rates change; the operator's tickets page at chimneyrockpark.com/info-and-tickets carries the current rate, so check it before you go.
Is Eagle Rock Access the way to Hickory Nut Falls?
No. Eagle Rock Access remains closed until further notice. Reach the falls through the park's main access instead.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked September 2026. Read our full methodology.