Hiking in North Carolina offers year-round adventure, whether you’re trekking over the huge living sand dune at Kill Devil Hills, checking out the enormous trees at Joyce Kilmer, or hiking to a summit high in the clouds. And while you may expect all of the tall summits in the Tar Heel State to be found over in western North Carolina, you may be pleasantly surprised when you hear about Kings Pinnacle. With an elevation of 1,705 feet, its jagged appearance rises above the Piedmont in majestic fashion.
And the best part? It's only 30 miles from Charlotte in Crowders Mountain State Park.
Technically, Kings Pinnacle used to be a mountain approximately 400-500 million years ago. Then, over time, the softer surfaces eroded, leaving the grand quartzite cliffs seen from miles away.
From the Visitors Center at the state park, hikers can pick up the Pinnacle Trail and hike just under two miles to reach the summit and views that stretch for 25-30 miles.
If you have small children, you may want to avoid this trail in favor of another at the state park. In the final ascent to the summit and once atop the summit, there are some dangerous spots. The park has signs posted at the point where things get dicey.
Once at the top, hikers have a bird's eye view of the King's kingdom from a number of rocky perches.
Be sure to bring plenty of water on this hike... and walking sticks, if you have them, for the trip back down the mountain. (Your knees will thank you later.)
The Pinnacle Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park is 3.7 miles, round trip. It's open year-round, unless otherwise posted on the State Park's website.
Crowders Mountain State Park is an easy 30-mile drive west from Charlotte. From Winston-Salem, it’s 104 miles, and from Asheville, it’s a mere 98 miles… plus another two to reach the summit of Kings Pinnacle.
Learn more about the hike from our friends at AllTrails and find out the day-use hours and more things to do while you’re at Crowders Mountain State Park by checking out the official website.
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