CHIMNEY ROCK TRAIL OVERNIGHT BACKPACK 4/7/23 TO 4/8/23

We decided to start our hike at the Chimney Rock Trailhead for a relaxing one night camp that had very little elevation change. The trailhead is just off highway 24 and very easy to find. The parking was a little iffy so you may have to wait for someone to leave in order to find a spot. Keep in mind that we were there in the off-season as well so in if it was peak season this could potentially be very full.

The first .5 mile from at Chimney Rock Trailhead we were on the Chimney Rock Loop Trail and it took us across some flats and up a steep incline atop a cliff. At the top we veered left-straight because we wanted to get to the Chimney Rock Canyon Trail and to get deeper into the canyon. We then descended down .8 mile into the valley of the junction of Chimney Rock Canyon Trail. Here, if you veer right you would finish the Chimney Rock Loop Trail and come back out at the first cliff we ascended.

We continued along the Chimney Rock Canyon Trail through the canyon valley for 1.6 miles to the Upper Spring Canyon Trail junction on our left. Our campsite was approximately .5 mile on the right side as we headed down the trail. It was up on a small hill that overlooked the canyon with the creek which at that time of the year had ample water to sustain our overnight. I will say that in drier times there will not be enough water so it would be a dry camp. Of course, an extra mile or two will get you down to the spring where there is a nice little pool of water. I’m not sure if and when this spring dries up and to what extent. Across the creek from our campsite I noted there looked to be a few more campsites as well.

Once we had our tents set up we continued on down a side trail for another 1 to 2 miles where there is a spring. There is a small muddy pool at the spring fed partly from a cliff overhead. Whether the spring seeps from the ground I’m not sure of but I would say it does. If it was raining heavily I imagine that waterfall could increase drastically. I’m not sure how dangerous these canyons could be in heavy rains.

I really enjoyed this overnight hike as it was perfect to see this kind of landscape that is completely different from where I’m from. It may not be on top of a mountain or cliff like some of the other trails out there but equally beautiful in it’s own right.

I do earn commission on some links on this site.

Some of my gear for this hike

#paid#commission

Oboz Bridger Low

Zpacks Altaplex Tent

Enlightened Equipment Torrid Jacket

Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Degree Quilt

Hyperlite Junction 55

Nemo Tensor Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad

Black Diamond Distance FLZ Trekking Poles

I have to give a shout out to my favorite hiking hat of all time. It’s the 7even Merino Wool beanie and I get it from Amazon, although, at the moment it’s unavailable. I never hike without it because it works for all seasons. It’s not the warmest hat but it’s always with me. On the coldest of winter hikes I will also take a much warmer hat. The best thing about this hat though is the fact that it dries in minutes but always adds an element of warmth.