Updated Tuesday, March 31: NC State Parks status during COVID-19 pandemic
Posted on: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 - 3:19pm |
Ask A Ranger: Hemlocks at Hanging Rock State Park with Ranger Mary
Contact the park
336-593-8480
hanging.rock@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Park entrance
1790 Hanging Rock Park Road
Danbury, NC 27016
GPS: 36.4119, -80.2541
Visitor center
1005 Visitor Center Drive
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.3952, -80.2665
Lake bathhouse
2847 Hanging Rock Park Road
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.3902, -80.2678
Lower Cascades parking area
2143 Hall Road
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.4148, -80.2647
Dan River access
1258 Flinchum Road
Danbury, NC 27016
GPS: 36.4293, -80.2487
Tory's Den parking area
1185 Charlie Young Road
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.4019, -80.2995
Climbing access
1035 Climbing Access Drive
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.3995, -80.2906
Mountain biking access
2568 Moores Spring Road
Westfield, NC 27053
GPS: 36.4187, -80.2839
Hours
►
- December to February:
7:00am to 7:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- Campers and cabin guests must arrive prior to the closing hour, after which the park gate is closed for the night.
►
- Summer months only. Hours may vary due to staff availability. The diving platform may be closed due to staffing; please inquire with staff for hours.
- Monday:
11:00am to 5:45pm
- Tuesday to Sunday:
10:00am to 5:45pm
- Fee charged for all swimmers. Free swim from 5:00pm to 5:45pm.
►
- Open weekends only in spring and fall
- Open daily during summer months
- 10:00am to 5:30pm
►
- Open daily:
9:00am to 4:45pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Ask A Ranger: Hemlocks at Hanging Rock State Park with Ranger Mary
Click the player above to listen to the episode. Read on below for additional references to what Ranger Mary discusses on the episode.
Types of hemlock
Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis
Stone Mountain State Park, J. Mickey
Carolina hemlock, Tsuga caroliniana
Hanging Rock State Park, D. Cook
Hemlock range
Note that one of the overlaps on the maps is the same small dot on the north-central part of North Carolina. This dot is Hanging Rock State Park.
Hanging Rock is separate from the Blue Ridge Mountains but manages to sustain these two mountain species. Carolina hemlocks tend to grow on dry slopes and rocky ridges and slopes. Eastern hemlocks are usually found in moist, cool valleys, as well as rock outcrops and bluffs. Hanging Rock has plenty of rocky outcrops and moist valleys, which leads to our population of both species.
Eastern hemlock range
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Carolina hemlock range
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Invasive species: hemlock woolly adelgid
Note where the adelgids get the "woolly" description in their name. The egg sacs contain anywhere from 50 to 300 eggs, which leads to exponential growth when a population of adelgids is established. The adelgid feeds on sap at the base of the tree's needles, which disrupts the nutrient flow within the hemlock. Needles then fall off and the hemlock slowly starves to death. Other opportune insects or disease can kill or further weaken the hemlock trees while under attack from adelgids.
High magnification of the aphid-like body of an adult hemlock woolly adelgid after removal of the wool.
Photo by Michael Montgomery, USDA Forest Service (Source)
Individuals of hemlock woolly adelgid covered with white wool; see crawler emerging indicated by arrow.
Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Forestry Archive (Source)
Eggs of hemlock woolly adelgid, with the wool pulled aside for viewing.
Photo by Lorraine Graney, Bartlett Tree Experts (Source)
Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, on hemlock.
Photo by Michael Montgomery, USDA Forest Service (Source)
Hemlock woolly adelgid adult and eggs exposed inside a woolly ovisac.
Photo courtesy of New York Invasive Species Information (Source)
Battling the adelgids: Predator beetles
The predatory beetles that have been released at Hanging Rock include Sasajiscymnus tsugae or the sasi beetle. In addition to chemical treatments, the biological control from these beetles are helping staff protect hemlock trees and ensure their existence for years to come.
Sasi beetle, Sasajiscymnus tsugae
Hanging Rock State Park, M. Griffin
About the Ask a Ranger Podcast
Ranger Crystal and Ranger Jess host the North Carolina State Parks Ask a Ranger Podcast series. Their guest this episode is Ranger Mary Griffin from Hanging Rock State Park.
Email them at askaranger@ncparks.gov.
For a full list of episodes, visit our BuzzSprout page.
Click here to subscribe to the podcast with Apple iTunes.
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Park Maps and Brochures:
