World's Edge

World's Edge...the name itself is enough to intrigue someone to visit. It certainly did me. The place it aptly named, to be sure. Marking a point along the southern Blue Ridge where the mountains suddenly and dramatically give way to the plains of the Piedmont, the cliffs of World's Edge certainly give one the impression that you are standing on the edge of the world. Located just east of Hendersonville, the World's Edge cliffs have only recently been protected. Privately owned until around 2006, the area was in danger of being sold off to real estate developers before the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy stepped in and raised the $16.1 million to acquire it. A few years later the CMLC then transferred the property to the state to be included in the newly formed Chimney Rock State Park.

I had been aware of World's Edge for quite some time but was unsure of access issues until recently. Once I discovered that trespassing or a bushwhack wouldn't be involved in a visit I quickly decided I'd have to stop by for a look. Accessed from the end of World's Edge Road to the east of Edneyville the cliffs can be reached by a short, relatively flat, hike. An old dirt road leads most of the way out to the cliffs while faint side paths lead out to and along the cliffs themselves. It is a spectacular place which will, no doubt, become increasingly popular if the State Park ever gets around to improving access and trails. So...come on along with me on a quick visit to an amazing spot along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. A place that proves once again that the finest views in the mountains don't always involve crazy strenuous hikes. Let's see what I found...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.392437, -82.261446

Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: MODERATE (Petzoldt Rating: 2.60 )

Hike Length: 2.0 miles Hike Duration: 1:15

Trailhead Temp: 55'F

Min. Elevation: ~2,700' Max. Elevation: 3,000'

Total Vertical Gain: 300' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 150'

1-14-2016

Chimney Rock State Park - World's Edge (2.0 miles; d=2.60)

World's Edge Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike along World's Edge, at Chimney Rock State Park, as depicted a la Google Earth...
World's Edge Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike along World's Edge, at Chimney Rock State Park...
World's Edge Road 'Trailhead'
Not so much a trailhead as it is simply the end of a road...appropriate for a place called 'World's Edge. There's room for maybe three cars along the side of Worlds Edge Road where it ends at the state park boundary gate but I seriously doubt parking is ever a real issue...
World's Edge Trail
A minute or so from the car I reached a more substantial gate which blocks motor vehicle traffic out to the cliffs...
World's Edge Trail
The 'road' quickly narrows to a deeply eroded ATV track...
World's Edge Trail
...and then it widens again. What looks like an old parking loop marks the start of the cliffs which are ahead to the right in this shot...
World's Edge Trail
With surprisingly little effort, I arrived at World's Edge...
World's Edge Trail
The sweeping panorama from the first of the overlooks along World's Edge. Here, the Blue Ridge Escarpment drops away dramatically nearly 2,000-feet. Its simply amazing to me how the Appalachians give way so suddenly to the plains of the Piedmont...
World's Edge Trail
Looking west along the escarpment into the late day sun...
World's Edge Trail
The old roadway continues along the top of the ridge but away from the cliffs. I noticed a trail which seemed to follow a bit closer to the edge and decided to follow that instead...
World's Edge Trail
My first look at the cliffs of World's Edge (just to the right of the pine branches in the foreground). I was determined to get out to them, trail or not...
World's Edge
A zoomed in shot of the World's Edge cliffs. The low point between the cliffs and the rounded (unnamed) peak beyond is known as Chinquapin Gap...
World's Edge 'Trail'
Before long the cliff-edge 'path' I'd been following dissolved into the undergrowth. I knew the road had to be close by to my left so I headed in that direction...
World's Edge 'Trail'
I quickly found the road/path once again and continued out along the increasingly narrow ridge...
World's Edge 'Trail'
Arriving at yet another rock ledge...
World's Edge 'Trail'
Looking west along the shadowy Blue Ridge from the second overlook...
World's Edge 'Trail'
It is simply incredible how the Appalachians just 'melt away' into the flatlands to the south...
World's Edge 'Trail'
As the trail enters this tall, thin stand of pines it was nearing the cliff areas pictured previously...
World's Edge
Arriving at the cliffs of World's Edge I once again left the main path to scramble out along the cliffs for a ways...
World's Edge
Walking the faint path along the top of the World's Edge cliffs...
World's Edge
Looking west once again...
World's Edge
The faint path stays quite close to the edge of the cliffs so care had to be taken to avoid an unfortunate slip...
World's Edge
As i neared the end of the ridge I entered this stand of young pines which are taking up residence here despite the rocky terrain...
World's Edge
The edge of World's Edge. The faint path I had been following petered out here, at this final outcrop at the north end of the cliffs....