Love Waterfalls? Visit Hanging Rock State Park!

The mountains of western North Carolina is destination for waterfall-chasers from around the country, but you can explore a wonderland of waterfalls a little bit closer to Charlotte by visiting Hanging Rock State Park.

Hanging Rock State Park, at 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, North Carolina, is an easy day trip from Charlotte. It’s 107 miles from the center of Charlotte, so you should be able to make it there in under two hours, depending on what part of Charlotte you call home. Those along the I-85 corridor (Concord, Salisbury, etc.) have a jump start on the journey.

Hanging Rock State Park is free to visit, and there’s plentiful parking. It’s very possible for the lots to fill up on weekends when the weather is nice, though, so you should try to get there early, or visit during the week if that fits your schedule.

Besides the miles of hiking trails, Hanging Rock State Park also offers mountain biking, camping, boat rentals, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, paddling, rock climbing, and picnicking. There is a well maintained visitor center with exhibits, maps and restrooms.

Read on to learn about some of the hiking trails, and the waterfalls that you’ll encounter on those trails.

You might also be interested in this list of 9 waterfalls in North Carolina or this photo guide to hiking North Carolina State Parks.

Check out this list of 50+ walks and hikes near Charlotte!

Indian Creek Trail

Start at the visitor center parking lot, 1005 Visitor Center Drive, Westfield, North Carolina. When you walk out of the visitor center, turn left, and you’ll reach the Indian Creek Trailhead at the end of the parking lot.

This trail is 3.6 miles each way, but there are two waterfalls .6 mile from the trailhead, so if you just want to see the waterfalls and come back, you’ll walk about 1.2 miles (plus a little to access the waterfalls.)

The hike is rated by the park as “strenuous.” This rating is due to the numerous, sometimes steep, steps that head down to each waterfall, and the uphill walk back.

On Indian Creek Trail, you’ll walk past a picnic area with numerous tables and a shelter, and then you’ll shortly come to a sign that directs you to the right for Hidden Falls and to the left to Window Falls.

In total, from the trailhead, the walk to Hidden Falls is .4 mile each way, and the walk to Window Falls is .6 mile each way.

Both of these waterfalls are worth a visit. Make sure to follow any safety signs, and be aware that rocks can be slippery.

There are a couple of benches along Indian Creek Trail, which you’ll probably appreciate on the walk back to the trailhead.

If, after visiting Window Falls, you continue along Indian Creek Trail, instead of heading back to the trailhead, you’ll cross the creek several times (there are no footbridges) and you’ll end up at the Dan River.

Upper Cascades Trail

The Upper Cascades Trail also starts from the visitor’s center parking lot, but on the other side of the parking lot. If you walk out of the visitor center, turn right. You’ll see the sign for the trail, and then follow it across the street.

The Rock Garden Trail is just .1 mile long and is paved and wheelchair accessible. It leads the visitor to a number of huge, ancient boulders.

Upper Cascades Trail is .2 mile each way and is rated as easy by the park. Along this trail is a storywalk with pages from a children’s book. The downhill slope is gentle and ends at a wooden observation deck, where you can get a great view of the Upper Cascades Waterfall.

You can also climb down to the shallow catch pool at the base of the waterfall, but use caution.