Hiking in Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, NC

I wrapped up my Virginia trip with a hop over the border to North Carolina for a Monday-morning hike at Hanging Rock State Park. I’d done one trail here years ago and wanted a redo—this time linking the waterfalls with the park’s namesake summit.

I started with Hidden Falls and Window Falls—pretty mellow when flow is low, but still a fun warm-up through rhododendron (not currently in bloom) and rock. From the same area I headed up the Hanging Rock Trail for those big Sauratown Mountain views. Reaching the top before 10 a.m. meant I had the overlook almost to myself; by the time I was descending, the crowds were just arriving. Peace secured. I’d absolutely recommend this park.

Hidden Falls

Window Falls

Quick trail beta

• Hidden Falls: ~0.4 mi each way from the Visitor Center area. Gentle, tiered cascade. 

• Window Falls: ~0.6 mi each way; short, rocky steps near the end. Often paired with Hidden Falls.

• Hanging Rock Trail: ~1.3 mi each way, steady climb on pavement/gravel/stone steps to a cliff-top panorama. Figure ~4–5 total miles to combine both falls out-and-backs with the summit, depending on connectors and wandering.

Good-to-know

• Day-use is free. Fees apply only to camping, boat rentals, swim passes, etc.

• When to go: Weekdays are best; weekends get packed, especially around the falls and summit. Early starts help.

Short, satisfying miles, big payoff views, and easy logistics—that combo is hard to beat. If you can swing a Monday morning, you might just get the summit to yourself.