Portions of a cliff-side trail system at Chimney Rock State Park have been closed as a result of an ongoing trails and facilities assessment by staff of the state parks system.

The closure affects the Cliff Trail and the Skyline ĘTrail beyond the Devil's Head viewing area, affecting about 20 percent of the existing 5.3-mile trails system. The cliff-side trails created a loop on the upper portion of the Chimney Rock section of the park. All of the park's principal natural features remain accessible to the public on alternate trails.

The trail loop incorporates more than 40 structures necessary to navigate the sheer rock faces, including boardwalks, handrail systems and platforms. The decision to close these sections of the trail system was made jointly with Chimney Rock Management LLC, which operates Chimney Rock.

Plans are being finalized to extend the accessible portion of the Skyline Trail to Exclamation Point by renovating an 80-foot section of boardwalk.

The state parks system also will continue with plans already in place to improve the overall infrastructure of Chimney Rock using funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and legislative appropriation. Its planning staff is considering alternate ways to present the cliff-side hiking experience and to broaden the overall visitor experience.

Your comments and questions regarding Chimney Rock's trails system are welcome.

Send comments and questions to denr.dpr.media@ncmail.net where they will be shared with the leadership team of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Also in the near future, the state parks system will launch the development of a formal master plan for the greater Chimney Rock State Park. As part of that process, the division will seek public input on recreation facilities and other aspects of the state park.

Information about visitor amenities, operations and special events at the park can be found at www.chimneyrockpark.com; and visitors can request a regular e-newsletter.

Further developments concerning Chimney Rock and its trails system will be reported on this page.