Hanging Rock State Park

We’ve visited Hanging Rock State Park a few times and it’s one of our favorites. It has so much to offer. You can find a link to their website here and I’ll tell you more about it below.

Hiking has become somewhat of a passion of mine. I don’t know what it is but literally since we moved to North Carolina all I want to do is get outside. It is so beautiful here and there are so many things to do it honestly blows my mind. I also absolutely love hiking with Ryan.

We invested in a carrier for him. He spends most of the time walking (the point is for him to get his energy out) and when he’s done or it’s a part of the hike he’s not comfortable with we throw him the carrier for a break. I firmly believe kids are more capable than we give them credit for. Ryan recently did almost a full 2 miles of tough hiking with steps so big he was basically climbing them. He absolutely loved it. We used this time to learn as well. We talk about what we see, hear, smell. Sometimes we move quickly and don’t stop and sometimes I let Ryan take his time exploring the world because these hikes are not just for the destination. My only goal when hiking with Ryan is to get outside in nature.

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Hanging Rock Info

Hanging Rock State Park is located in Danbury, North Carolina right on the northwest border of Virginia. It’s a super easy day trip from the Triangle. The park has it all hiking, camping, picnicking, swimming in the summer, rock climbing, bouldering, mountain biking, fishing, and canoeing. The best thing is the park is it’s completely free.

There are over 25 hiking/biking trails. We have done Hanging Rock and Indian Creek Trail. Both hikes are considered moderate but I found them pretty easy. It’s more uneven terrain with large steps/rocks than anything. Hanging Rock is the longest at 1.3 miles one way but the Indian Creek falls hikes are super short. The Window Falls is 0.6 miles one way and you pass by the Hidden Falls on the way. I highly recommend bringing some snacks or packing a lunch because both trails boast gorgeous views of the valley.