Hanging Rock State Park – From Reservoir to Ridgeline
Saturday, September 19, 2026 (1:30 PM-7:30 PM)
(Danbury/Stokes County)
Log your last summer hike at Hanging Rock and hopefully spot some early signs of autumn during the last weekend of summer, days before the autumnal equinox!
This 2.8-mile hike shows off some of the lesser-hiked parts of one of North Carolina’s oldest state parks – the lake and historic bathhouse (both constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the New Deal in the 1930s), the riparian zone and creek tugged between peaks, and Wolf Rock’s ridge.
With a 300-foot elevation change, hikers are encouraged to consider such a climb and descent at signup. The hike will be worth it; ascending among the boulders, hikers are rewarded with views from Wolf Rock, overlooking Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and even High Point visible on a clear day!
As hawk and raptor migration couples with the overall fall bird migrations, bird activity may peak at this time. Birders may get to catch a last glance of summertime birds like the summer tanager, black-and-white warbler, and great-crested flycatcher while hawks and falcons pass overhead! Leaves will begin showing signs of fall colors to come, with the green peaks and valleys of summer still visible before the cold season kicks off.
6 hours will be allocated for the hike, as ‘mountain time’ kicks in and slows things down. If we get back early, a lake loop extended hike will be offered.
Contact hike leader, Patrick DePinto with any questions (depinto.patrick@gmail.com)
Bathrooms will be available in the historic bathhouse.