Hanging Rock and Window Falls Trails is a 3.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Danbury, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
hiking
nature trips
walking
bird watching
running
forest
views
waterfall
wild flowers
wildlife
rocky
Park northwest of Winston-Salem has some of the state's prettiest waterfalls east of the Appalachian Mountains. Three easy strolls to picturesque waterfalls offer the perfect introduction to Hanging Rock State Park, the top hiking destination within an hour of the Triad cities of Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem. None of these falls are more than a mile from your car, so they're open to just about any ability level. They do require delicate footwork at times, offering a prelude to Hanging Rock's more challenging trails, which can be steep, rocky and downright difficult. Main quirk of this tour: you need to park twice, once at the park headquarters and again at Lower Cascade entrance on Hall Road just outside the park entrance.
Hiking up to Hanging rock was great...Great times with Great people!!!
This was an awesome hike today. My day started at 4am to get there at park opening. I went to the lower cascade falls first. Then to this trail. This is more of a walk. Going to the falls is easy. Coming back up is tough in the heat. Hanging Rock was awesome. Packed with people time I got there. Simply awesome!! Well worth the time. If you are a photographer, get there at opening. It fills up fast.
A great spot for an impromptu adventure. picnic tables with a few charcoal grills with plenty of places to clean up after yourself with recycling and garbage receptacles available. clean restrooms
Beautiful views!!
beautiful falls. not a fan of the stairs.
Kinda crowded even for a Monday but the views up on hanging rock are amazing! First .25 is paved and then it switches to gravel with some stairs along the way. The last mile up is mostly rock and steep but not too bad.
I hiked this today and I was very happy with the trip. It takes a leisurely couple hours and expect some 60% gradients and a lot of stairs. Well worth it though!
One of the beautiful places to see the fall colors. It was an easy hike and pet friendly. Usually takes 2-3 hrs from car to car.
Window and hidden falls are beautiful just not a whole lot once you get to them! The travel to hanging rock is amazing with a little challenge to it! Definitely will be going back.
A great hike with several options to lengthen it if wanted. Hanging Rock Trail makes it all worth it.
Love the short strenuous like hike to a beautiful overlook!! The dog did really well too! Bring water!
I'm a novice but this trail was tough but it taught me how to tough it out and finish even though the elevation and steps were a little tough. can't wait to tackle another one.
Water was up for the falls. The rock was crowded. It is a moderate hike.
did this with my friends and we really enjoyed it. not too hard, perfect hike for those who aren’t necessarily extremely athletic.
What a trash heap.
Flutterby F.
2.8 mi 462 ft elevation change Weather was beautiful & one of the first in the parking lot.
Bev H.
fun hike with a friend
Did this during the 5 peaks challenge and this was on the way. You get a badge for it. It's 10.8 miles, I did more than 13 miles in 4hrs
Beautiful views!
We would do this one again. Although it was super crowded, the views from the top were worth it. Arrive early and do the summit first, then the falls, which were less crowded.
Love the waterfalls just it was a drought so the flow was not good . But will be back after some better Rain to capture the beauty of the Falls .
Although our crew arrived a little later than we wanted (10am) we really enjoyed this hike. Narrow areas were a little congested when other families/groups walked through, but once we got to Hanging Rock, it was totally worth it. Incredible views to be sure. There were dozens of people on the rock which made it challenging to get a view from, but there wasn't a bad view from anywhere. Look forward to doing this hike again.
Two very nice out and back trails that start in the same area of the visitor center parking lot and are perfect to combine. I definitely recommend getting an early start, especially on Hanging Rock. A separate entry for Lower Cascades Falls was removed and combined here. It is on Hall Road below and just outside the main park entrance. It's an easy short hike to a wonderful waterfall and pool.
Amazing views from the top. Worth the hike up, can't wait to go back!
Fun hike
Great trail. Difficult 4 miles but well worth the view. Glad we did Hanging Rock Trail first, it was more challenging than the falls. Would do again. Bring lots of water!
Absolutely beautiful can't wait to go back and do the other trails. Just completed the hanging rock trail
awesome trail very scenic with some steep trails. this trail is great for those who are looking to spend a few hours roughing it up the side of this small mountain for an increadible view. took me 3 hours without including the hour i spent at the top taking in the view. plenty of places to hang a hammock at the top. the falls are yet another steep hill going down and its the perfect way to cool down after going to the top of hanging rock. i will be hiking this trail often!
Best trail I've ever hiked in North Carolina so far.
Absolutely awesome hike on an absolutely beautiful clear November day; we started early around 9AM to beat the crowds to Hanging Rock [most hike this in mid to early afternoon] and had the summit practically to ourselves. The weather was a bit cool and windy in the morning but starting warming quickly; with all the leaves off the trees, you can see forever once you ascend the ridge and from the top the view to Moore's Knob is spectacular. Downhill from the top to Window Falls was easy and enjoyed the morning lighting on the bottom falls and Window Falls, as well as the short spur to Hidden Falls. Highly recommend this "almost" loop, but is essentially two out and backs from the Visitor Center parking lot. Enjoy, especially if not crowded!
