{"id":8079,"date":"2023-07-05T22:59:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T14:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8079"},"modified":"2023-12-28T03:42:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T19:42:50","slug":"20230705hanging-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705hanging-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4 of 2023 Independence Day Trip, Hanging Rock of North Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Final day of my July 2023 trip to North Carolina. Today I drove from Asheville back to my home near Washington DC, while checking out Hanging Rock State Park along the way.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6811.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hanging Rock<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:70,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Google Maps predicted it would take me just over 7 hours to drive from Asheville to my home in Washington DC, that meant I could do a little bit of sightseeing along the way. The two possible routes that I could take were I26-I81-I64 and I40-I85-I95. I figured I was pretty acquainted with the mountains along the former route (I wasn&#8217;t into more driving along Blue Ridge Parkway this time). There weren&#8217;t many attractions along the latter route, but I found &#8220;Hanging Rock State Park&#8221; not too far from it. <\/p>\n<p>It turned out the state park was part of Sauratown Mountains, which were isolated remnants of the Blue Ridge Mountains but located further east than Blue Ridge. These mountains rose sharply from the surrounding terrain, so they didn&#8217;t lack prominence.<\/p>\n<p>As the name suggested, the state park was known for a piece of rock that overhung the cliff below. In my opinion that piece of rock was too thick, and the angle at which it overhung wasn&#8217;t that impressive. In comparison, I thought McAfee Knob in Virginia was the better &#8220;hanging rock&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>After having lunch in Winston-Salem, I reached the parking lot of Hanging Rock just after 1pm. After a visit to the nearby visitor center, I started my hike at 1:30pm.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6862C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6862C11.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock from Parking Lot\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hanging Rock from Parking Lot<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near the middle of the parking lot was an observation platform to view the Hanging Rock.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>To reach Hanging Rock, it was a 4km out-and-back trail with 182m elevation gain. The trail condition was the greatest of all the hikes I did for this July 2023 trip, most portions of it were wide, some even paved.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_133318.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_133318.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">First the trail started out paved.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_133608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_133608.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A wide trail made of dirt and gravel in the forest, typical condition of the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_150616.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_150616.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A wide trail made of dirt and gravel in the forest, typical condition of the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_135444.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_135444.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Right below Hanging Rock, there were some stairs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_145858C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_145858C9.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Hanging Rock from Below\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hanging Rock from Below<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Didn&#8217;t have that much the feeling of overhanging from this angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140157.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_140157.jpg\" width=\"95%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The final part of the trail wrapped around Hanging Rock. This was the steepest part of the trail, somewhat rocky.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_140811.jpg\" width=\"97.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">After ascending onto the summit plateau, the trail was rocky but flat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_133318.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_133608.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_150616.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_135444.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_145858C9.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock from Below\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_140157.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_140811.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_133318.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_133318.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">First the trail started out paved.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_133608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_133608.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A wide trail made of dirt and gravel in the forest, typical condition of the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_150616.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_150616.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A wide trail made of dirt and gravel in the forest, typical condition of the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_135444.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_135444.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Right below Hanging Rock, there were some stairs.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_145858C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_145858C9.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock from Below\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hanging Rock from Below<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Didn&#8217;t have that much the feeling of overhanging from this angle.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140157.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_140157.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The final part of the trail wrapped around Hanging Rock. This was the steepest part of the trail, somewhat rocky.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140811.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_140811.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">After ascending onto the summit plateau, the trail was rocky but flat.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>1.5km into the hike, I reached the foot of Hanging Rock. From which point Hanging Rock could be seen in between the trees (p5 above). For the remaining 0.5km, the trail wrapped around Hanging Rock as it found its way up the rocky hill in front. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140518C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-m\/20230705_140518C9.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Deer in Woods\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_140525C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-m\/20230705_140525C9.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Deer in Woods\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer in Woods<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Just as I reached the summit plateau I ran into this group of deer. It looked like a parent in the foreground with its two children in the background. They weren&#8217;t particularly afraid of me, but was certainly alerted by my arrival and slowly retreated into the woods.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The top of Hanging Rock was a field wide enough for people to spread out. At the actual Hanging Rock (p2), I stayed a safe distance from the edge so there was hardly that overhanging feel. Nearby there were some boulders to the north (p3), where one could appreciate the overhanging shape of the rock. To the west, other parts of Sauratown Mountains provided some views to contrast the extensive farmlands to the north and south.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6809.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hanging Rock<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142238.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142238.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Hanging Rock<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142217.jpg\" width=\"83.7%\" alt=\"Area around Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Area around Hanging Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lots of boulders around.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6806.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6805.jpg\" alt=\"Moore's Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Moore&#8217;s Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6810.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6810.jpg\" alt=\"Cooks Wall Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cooks Wall Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6804C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6804C11.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Visitor Center\" \/><\/a><\/br>Visitor Center<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The surrounding parking lot was behind the trees.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_141025C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_141025C9.jpg\" width=\"67%\" alt=\"Geological Survey Mark\" \/><\/a><\/br>Geological Survey Mark<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142305.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142305.jpg\" width=\"83.7%\" alt=\"Tree near Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Tree near Hanging Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This one seemed to sprout from the rocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142226.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142226.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the South<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6809.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_142238.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Hanging Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_142217.jpg\" alt=\"Area around Hanging Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6806.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6805.jpg\" alt=\"Moore's Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6810.jpg\" alt=\"Cooks Wall Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6804C11.jpg\" alt=\"Visitor Center\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_141025C9.jpg\" alt=\"Geological Survey Mark\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_142305.jpg\" alt=\"Tree near Hanging Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-s\/20230705_142226.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6809.jpg\" alt=\"Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hanging Rock<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142238.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142238.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Hanging Rock<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142217.jpg\" alt=\"Area around Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Area around Hanging Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lots of boulders around.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6806.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6805.jpg\" alt=\"Moore's Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Moore&#8217;s Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6810.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6810.jpg\" alt=\"Cooks Wall Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cooks Wall Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6804C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6804C11.jpg\" alt=\"Visitor Center\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Visitor Center<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The surrounding parking lot was behind the trees.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_141025C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_141025C9.jpg\" alt=\"Geological Survey Mark\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Geological Survey Mark<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142305.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142305.jpg\" alt=\"Tree near Hanging Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Tree near Hanging Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This one seemed to sprout from the rocks.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142226.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142226.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the South<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6812_DSC_6826-15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6812_DSC_6826-15.jpg\" alt=\"View from Hanging Rock Towards the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Hanging Rock Towards the West<\/p><\/div>\n<p>While on top of Hanging Rock, a constant background music was the sound of cicadas. I didn&#8217;t see any of them but their presence was hard to ignore.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142902.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142902.jpg\" alt=\"Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The two branches that grow around the rock.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6827_DSC_6841-15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6827_DSC_6841-15.jpg\" alt=\"View from Hanging Rock Towards the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Hanging Rock Towards the Northwest<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Towards the north of the summit plateau there was also an overlook, made of many exposed rocks, one of which featured a rather unique shape (below).<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/20230705_142923.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/20230705_142923.jpg\" alt=\"Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Usually such feature would be called &#8220;Balanced Rock&#8221;. But given where I was at, I assume this was better called &#8220;Little Hanging Rock&#8221;. The overhanging effect was exaggerated by the wide-angle lens though.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the end, I spent about 40 minutes on top of Hanging Rock, before tracing my way back down.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving the park, I also checked out Upper Cascades Falls, located a short walk from the parking lot.<br \/>\nWhile the flow volume wasn&#8217;t huge, it&#8217;s easily the steepest waterfalls that I visited along this trip.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6866.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_6866.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Upper Cascades Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6868.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_6868.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Upper Cascades Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Cascades Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/DSC_6865C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/05\/thumbnails\/DSC_6865C11.jpg\" alt=\"Fish in Water\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fish in Water<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Just next to the waterfalls, I found a large number of fish (likely trout) in a pond. In this photo I easily spotted 17 (in blue circles). I wasn\u2019t sure how they got here since there were more waterfalls downstream.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After that, I left the park just over 4pm, following mostly US29 back home. With dinner along the way, I got home at around 10:30pm, concluding this trip to North Carolina.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Final day of my July 2023 trip to North Carolina. Today I drove from Asheville back to my home near Washington DC, while checking out Hanging Rock State Park along the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[619,2],"tags":[638],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8079"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8079"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8469,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8079\/revisions\/8469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}