If you like the outdoors and some big rocks and cliffs, come check out this State Park. The park…read moreis one of the cooler State parks in North Carolina that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I am a mountain type of person and I am really glad that public access has been provided to these cliffs and this Area. Rumbling Bald park host several great hiking trails through massive boulder fields and spectacular hardwood forests. The main draw for the park has to be for Bouldering and Rock Climbing. While hiking or walking through the woods in the winter/spring it is certain you'll see lots of people climbing up and down rocks. Thanks to the park staff for creating a viable parking lot for the park too. When you come here make sure to try and park as closely together as you can. It can get packed on the weekends. Also, don't double park or block anyone, or else you'll get a ticket. I really hope they access can be opened to the other cliff areas around the lake, like Ghost Town and the Darkside, which are currently closed.. 1 suggestion is to avoid this place in the summer, as it turns into a oven with the south-facing rocks, and there is poison ivy all over the place. Go enjoy the outdoor wander around some rocks.

This park is perfect for climbers and bouldering. The hike during the summer months does not…read moreprovide views unless you're willing to do a little climbing to escape the canopy. However, it's a beautiful trail, and I would bet full of views in the winter.

Drive out to see chimney Rock. The drive there was winding with some rough roads. Still dealing…read morewith hurricane damage. We entered Park with no problems And paid the entrance fee which covers the elevator ride to the top exiting into the gift store. We then climbed to forty steps up to the rock. Stairs easily accessible and well maintained. The view was spectacular. They have several hikes in the area. They even have a short easy hikes for children.

Great park! Amazing views and hikes for all levels. My husband is handicapped and there was an…read moreelevator to get him to the top! Clean restrooms and friendly staff!

The river walk amounts to a bit of infrastructure connecting the street to the stream, with stairs…read moreand bridges and a somewhat continuous trail that allows one to walk over the rocky river here. It's good for splashing around; not comparable to some of the other sights nearby but it's good that the town has made the water accessible.

So fun! We loved walking along the water and seeing all the people up top eating at the different…read morerestaurants. The water was nice and crisp. There are a couple areas with large rocks to sit on and relax.

We heard so much praise about this place before we visited & it did not disappoint. We booked at a…read morehome on Chestertown Dr and had a great stay. My husband really enjoyed how beautiful his golf experience was. The staff are so kind & accommodating. We got lunch once at their restaurant. Everyone loved their food. My burger was quite burnt, however. The fries were good though. The amenities are all very thought through. We enjoyed the 10 minute hike we had up to a waterfall that was nearby. It was so peaceful and nice. We actually came for a destination wedding! Not sure how many weddings they do, but we had a great time. Beautiful wedding & no complaints as a guest. Be aware however that I have AT&T and had no signal my whole stay. I relied on WiFi.

Chef Yvonne does an excellent job in the restaurant. Her tomato bacon dill soup is amazing. The…read moregrilled mahi sandwich is really really good. Her chicken salad sandwich on a croissant is outstanding. The locally sourced beef burger is delicious. The onion rings are some of the best I've ever eaten. The Bloody Mary is in my top 3.

This is beautiful roadside overlook that provides you easy access to the waters of the Rocky Broad,…read morethere are a few parking spaces that runs perpendicular to the road. There are signs posted designating the space as well as a trash barrel - the split rail fence offers you a great view but you'll definitely want to get closer to the water's edge, this requires you to dip under the top railing and maneuver down a rocky bank that has an elevation change of no more than ten feet (the mid-railing is missing in this one spot only that's next to the trash dispenser) I didn't see any signage that would prevent you from accessing the lower level however it's definitely not an improved trail so proceed with caution the terrain is uneven and if wet could be very slippery. Once you transverse the hazards it's all giant boulders and sand, the rocks provide an obstacle course of adventure and some element of danger so good footwear is a must flip flops and bare-feet may add to the risk. The water is beautiful and well worth the effort. This place is often referred to as a beach, it's not like any I've experienced but I liked it. I was definitely interested in finding out something about the namesake and the following information is some of what I've found after doing a short search: Paul Matthews was born Dec 25, 1866 and died January 17, 1954. He was the Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey from 1915 to 1937. He married his wife Elsie Proctor (from the family of Proctor & Gamble) - it seems Paul had respiratory issues and the clean mountain air provided him some relief so he purchased some property and the rest is history. There no doubt Paul and Elsie Matthews had a positive financial impact on the area and this overlook was one way to acknowledge their contribution. It's worth a few minutes of your time and is a great spot to take a break or enjoy a cool drink and a snack in the shade...

Beautiful hike, fairly easy, multiple trails to choose from. Found a geocache while there.read more

I found this trail during a recent camping trip at Lake Lure and decided to run the trail rather…read morethan pound pavement. The trail head has ample parking and is well marked (directly across from Ingles). Before my jog I was taking in the well labeled and color coded map showing the multitude of trails, their difficulty levels and distances. As I was about to start my jog another jogger came off the trail. I asked about their route and they told me a similar route I was considering but mentioned they made a wrong turn and ended up on the nearby vacant golf course. Fast forward about 10 minutes and I find myself on said golf course. With that being said, the trails are gorgeous and vary in difficulty (heed caution on the Roller Coaster Trail - properly named). Nothing beats hitting the tree line and enjoying nature, in my opinion. There are about 3.3 total miles of trails and obviously that can be extended based on the trail layout. The Mountain View Trail was my favorite because there is a slight clearing and bench at the end where you can sit and enjoy the view. The Roller Coaster Trail was a beast with strenuous ups and downs. Trails were decently marked but there are some intersections that are a little confusing. There are a couple of trails that spur off the main trails that are private or not part of the main trail system making it a little confusing. About 1/2 of a mile (est) into the Mountain View Trail is a well groomed trail that forks to the left. That trail takes you to the gold course and is easily confused for the main trail. Enjoyable trail and area overall and I would definitely recommend and return.

We did two hours of tubing for our group of 12 (divided 6 for the first hour, 6 for the second)…read more The boat came to us at our pier, picked us up on time, friendly, with all the lifejackets etc ready for the kids and adults. Our Captain (Michael) was awesome and SO SO SO good with our kids. Some kids were daredevils and others were super nervous and he had the best way with all the kids. He very easily got them comfortable and ensured everyone was having fun. But at the same time, he was really careful and safe - ensuring everyone was following proper rules and safety guidelines. Of our whole week at Lake Lure, kids said that hour of tubing was their favorite activity of the vacation. I'd book your reservations early to ensure you get time with Lake Lure Adventure Company - they're awesome.

Fair price, good atmosphere. Boats like to sink back if…read morethere's four people, I sat upfront on the deck to even put the weight.

We had a great experience with Lake Lure Boat Rental. As promised, they delivered the boat right to…read moreour dock and even a few minutes early. Prior to the actual reservation, I had accidentally booked the boat for a week ahead and they were able to work with us to find a slot on the proper week. We had an issue with the boat while we were out with the family, however a quick text message and 5 minutes later they came out and helped diagnose the issue. Because it wasn't a quick fix, they transferred us to another boat immediately and let us get on our way. A+++ service and I would def. use them again the next time we stay on Lake Lure.

They did a fantastic job taking our daughter and her new husband on a Just Married boat trip from…read morethe wedding venue at Rumbling Bald. Jenny gave them a Scenic evening ride after the wedding, a slow Scenic ride around the lake to their honeymoon suite. Our daughter could not have been happier, and Jenny unexpectedly played her favorite song as they rode away. We highly recommend them for an evening excursion or any boat rental. Jenny was responsive, helpful and flexible.

As far as lake beaches go, it is nice. But let's remember, this is NOT A REAL beach! $52 for a…read morefamily of five which includes a splash pad, shelter house, and...um... a lake. If your 8 year old sees the "water park" (of which the big slide from the pictures no longer exists), extra $10/person. Nice kayaks! Sorry not included. Lifeguards on their phones. I could go on. Want the beach, go to a real one. Should be $3-5 a person

Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but you can get that in Chimney Rock, Black Mountain, etc…read more The water and beach are just gross. There are ducks (and maybe geese) that live at the beach. They crap all over the place. The first 10 feet of sand is basically raked kitty litter, with duck poo instead of cat poo. The water and beach smell like poo. The beach (above the poo line) would be fine without the smell, as the sand is pretty clean and fine. Maybe the rest of the lake is clean, but it's hard to tell from the beach. Eww. The staff is friendly but not assertive enough. We went during COVID restrictions and half the people refused masks inside and none of the staff enforced anything.

We had a wonderful time on the Lake Lure Boat Tour. Mike was kind and entertaining throughout our…read moreexperience. It was so neat seeing all the beautiful homes and the different areas where Dirty Dancing was filmed!

I took a Lake Lure Guided Boat tour with Patrick (not Swayze) who had a fun personality and tried…read moreto add some comedy to the tour. We were given a history of the area; shown some of the places Dirty Dancing was filmed in the Autumn of 1986. We saw the stairs where Jennifer Grey practiced her dancing. The movie was set in summer but the filming was in autumn so the tree leaves were painted. The water was cold while filming so the actors needed to get warmed up between takes. Some of the houses on the lake caught on fire so that led to a fire service with a boat so they can get there quicker than by road for fires on the lake. A lot of the homes are second homes for folks so I was surprised by the size of them. One of the houses had its own incline system to get from the house to the lake. It reminded me of an incline railway. Another house looked like a castle on the lake. Some of the original houses were smaller. The views from the lake were amazing with the Blue Ridge mountains and Chimney Rock. It is a fun tour with great scenery.