Trails

Hiking the entirety of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail segment within Hanging Rock State Park follows Tory's Den, Moore's Wall Loop, and Indian Creek trails. The entire path is marked with the white circle blazes.

The trail begins at the park boundary near Mickey Road at Sauratown Trail Section 1. Follow the Sauratown Trail to Tory's Den Trail and continue to its end junction with Moore's Wall Loop Trail. Turn left onto Moore's Wall Loop Trail and follow it past the observation tower to the lake bathhouse. Follow the white blazes on the trees behind the boathouse, across the earthen dam, then to visitor center parking lot. Follow the white blazes across the length of the parking lot to the Indian Creek trailhead. Follow Indian Creek Trail until it intersects with Hanging Park Road. This is the end of the MST segment inside Hanging Rock State Park. The MST continues towards Walnut Cove and beyond by roadway.

Within Hanging Rock State Park, horses are permitted only on the first part of Tory's Den Trail. A sign marks the end of the bridle section that can be used by horses. Horse trailer parking is available only at the Tory's Den parking lot.

These trails have a natural surface with gravel and rock, with some paved areas. The Moore's Wall Loop and Indian Creek trails have creek crossings.

Hikers should yield to equestrians. Hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users. (Note: Dogs are not permitted on the Sauratown Trail outside the state park boundary).

This trail meanders down the mountain, along the Indian Creek, through shady rhododendron thickets and open oak forests, and ends at the Dan River.

The trail begins at the east end of the visitor center parking lot, located at 1005 Visitor Center Drive in Westfield. It crosses over Hanging Rock Park Road, so please watch out for vehicle traffic. Alternatively, visitors can park at the Dan River access, located at 1258 Flinchum Road in Danbury, to hike to the main park.

The trail has a natural surface with gravel, dirt, and rock. Near the end, it crosses the creek several times, and there are no footbridge. Be aware during high water.

Window Falls, seen emerging from behind a natural "window" in a quartzite wall of rock, is located along the Indian Creek Trail. Hikers can get a safe view of the "window" from a railed overlook.

The waterfalls are+G9 0.6 mile from the trailhead at the visitor center parking lot, located at 1005 Visitor Center Drive in Westfield. It crosses over Hanging Rock Park Road, so please watch out for vehicle traffic.

The trail has a natural surface with gravel.

This short, wheelchair-accessible trail leads through the forest to massive ancient boulders.

The trail begins at the west end of the visitor center parking lot, located at 1005 Visitor Center Drive in Westfield, at the wooden handrail. The trail immediately crosses Hanging Rock Park Road — watch out for vehicle traffic.

This a paved trail.

For a slow elevation climb, visitors should hike Moore's Wall Loop Trail clockwise. The trail leads to the Moore's Observation Tower; at 2,497 feet above sea level, it is the highest point in the Sauratown Mountains. Enjoy awe-inspiring 360-degree views from atop this former fire tower. After passing Balanced Rock, continue down the 684 stone steps of the "endless staircase."

The trailhead is located directly behind the stone bathhouse next to the lake parking lot at 2847 Hanging Rock Park Road in Westfield.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, and a continuous section of stone steps. There is a small creek crossing behind the campground amphitheater. To complete the loop, the trail follows a paved road surface, marked by red dots, to campsite #40, then back into the woods, around the back of the lake, and back to the lake parking lot.

The trail leads to the tallest waterfall in the park, Tory's Falls. Water drops 240 feet over a series of gentle rock terraces. The waterfall can be safely viewed from the trail terminus, but hikers are not able to immerse in the falls due to steep terrain. The trail then continues on to the 20-foot-deep, cool, natural cave. A display at the parking lot describes the fascinating Revolutionary War-era history of the cave.

This trail can only be accessed from the Tory's Den parking lot, located at 1185 Charlie Young Road in Westfield. The trailhead is located at the east end of the parking lot.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock. It also has some wooden steps.

This wide, hiking and bridle trail winds around Ruben Mountain through boulder fields and past a lofty view of Brown Mountain in the distance.

This trail can be accessed only via Tory's Den Trail. Parking is available at the Tory's Den parking lot, at 1185 Charlie Young Road in Westfield. Horse trailer parking is available only at this parking lot and nowhere else inside Hanging Rock State Park.

The trailhead for Ruben Mountain Trail is located about 1 mile from the parking lot. Traveling the entire trail from the parking lot, around the loop, and back is about 5.5 miles.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock.

Hikers should yield to equestrians. Hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users.

To summit the five peaks at the park, hikers can begin and end at the lake parking lot for a 10-mile very strenuous route. Take Moore's Wall Trail and make a right at the junction towards the campground. Follow the counterclockwise loop, up Moore's Knob, until Magnolia Springs Trail. Make a right onto Magnolia Springs Connector Trail and then make another right at its junction with Cook's Wall Trail. Hike to House Rock, then to Cook's Wall. Take Cook's Wall Trail back down, past the junction with Magnolia Springs Connector Trail, and to Wolf Rock. Take the right path at the fork and follow Wolf Rock Trail to Hanging Rock Trail. Hike to Hanging Rock and then back down Hanging Rock Trail to the lake parking lot.

The trail has a natural surface with gravel, dirt and rock. It has stone steps, including the 684 continuous steps on Moore's Wall Loop Trail, as well as creek crossings and boardwalks.

The House Rock formation is located along the Cook's Wall Trail and is named after a house-like portion of a rock shelter overhang cavity that resembles a living room.

House Rock is located 1.4 miles from the trailhead behind the bathhouse at the lake parking lot, located at 2487 Hanging Rock Park Road in Westfield. Cook's Wall and Wolf Rock trails follow the same path, past the junction with Chesnut Oak Nature Trail. The trails eventually split up at a fork by Wolf Rock; take the right path to continue on the Cook's Wall Trail to get to House Rock.

The trail has a natural surface with gravel, dirt and rock. It also has uneven steps.

This loop trail follows alongside the Dan River, past the rock formation called Matrimony Point, past the play waves in the river, to an old homesite. Here, hikers can spot old tobacco rows being erased by a tulip poplar forest.

This trail is located at the Dan River access, at 1258 Flinchum Road in Danbury.

The trail has a natural surface, with dirt and sand.

This trail encircles that 12-acre park lake that feeds the Upper and Lower Cascades waterfalls. Along the way are wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, several benches, and plenty of spots for fishing.

Begin at the trailhead located behind the bathhouse at the lake parking lot, 2847 Hanging Rock Park Road in Westfield. If walking clockwise, the trail crosses a long boardwalk, then follows the edge of the lake. Near the earthen dam, the trail turns left and emerges at Campground Road. Turn right and walk across the paved roadway bridge, then turn right to re-enter the trail on the opposite side of the bridge. Follow the trail uphill to the edge of lake, leading to the fishing pier, before winding gently uphill past the picnic area. The trail then forks to the right, passing behind the boathouse, to complete the loop.

The trail has a natural surface, with dirt, rocks and gravel, as well as parts that travel over a boardwalk and a paved bridge.

The Original Loop is winding with flowing sections and good berms. It is a good loop through rolling forested hills.

Visitors should park at the mountain bike access parking lot, located at 2568 Moores Spring Road in Westfield. Go across the crosswalk; use caution when crossing Moores Spring Road.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock.

Bicyclists have the right of way on the mountain bike trails at Hanging Rock State Park. Hikers should yield to bicyclists on this trail.

The Major Tom Trail begins near trail marker #13 of the Original Loop Trail, parallels a farm field, then ends near marker #10 of the Original Loop Trail. It is fast, rocky trail across steep hillsides.

Visitors should park at the mountain bike access parking lot, located at 2568 Moores Spring Road in Westfield. Go across the crosswalk; use caution when crossing Moores Spring Road.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock.

Bicyclists have the right of way on the mountain bike trails at Hanging Rock State Park. Hikers should yield to bicyclists on this trail.

Most of this trail rides under stately beech trees in a large loop high above the Dan River. It first crosses the metal grate pedestrian bridge and winds past the historic Moore's Spring House, where mineral water was bottled and shipped worldwide in the early 1900s. The trail turns uphill to the right past the springhouse. Halfway up the hill, the trail turns left, and then makes the long loop.

Visitors should park at the mountain bike access parking lot, located at 2568 Moores Spring Road in Westfield. Go across the crosswalk; use caution when crossing Moores Spring Road.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock. A section of it also travels over a metal bridge.

Bicyclists have the right of way on the mountain bike trails at Hanging Rock State Park. Hikers should yield to bicyclists on this trail.

The Black Racer Trail is a short loop beginning and ending near trail marker #33 of the Hognose Trail. The trail follows a ridge through what was once an old campground. This gentle, winding trail is good for newer riders.

Visitors should park at the mountain bike access parking lot, located at 2568 Moores Spring Road in Westfield. Go across the crosswalk; use caution when crossing Moores Spring Road.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock.

Bicyclists have the right of way on the mountain bike trails at Hanging Rock State Park. Hikers should yield to bicyclists on this trail.

The Ring-Necked Trail begins 300 feet on the left from the Kingsnake Trail. It parallels Cascade Creek, then goes past bluffs of the Dan River, before leading uphill through forested hills.

Visitors should park at the mountain bike access parking lot, located at 2568 Moores Spring Road in Westfield. Go across the crosswalk; use caution when crossing Moores Spring Road.

The trail has a natural surface, with gravel, dirt, and rock.

Bicyclists have the right of way on the mountain bike trails at Hanging Rock State Park. Hikers should yield to bicyclists on this trail.