Lower Ghost Town
Area Rep: Shannon Millsaps: smillsaps@carolinaclimbers.org
Donate: Ghost Town Fund.
About Ghost Town: The Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) and the Access Fund are thrilled to announce the purchase of the Lower Ghost Town cliffs of Round Top Mountain in Chimney Rock, NC. This conservation project represents a multi decade goal for Access Fund and CCC, where years of perseverance and local partnerships have created an avenue for land acquisition to a portion of North Carolina’s most sought after cliffs. The CCC has purchased this property with the assistance of an Access Fund Conservation loan and funding from the Great Trails State Grant.
Access Details: Public access climbing is not open yet, but we are working on it! We hope to have the first areas open to full public access by March-April 2026, but perhaps even sooner with your help. This belated full blown public access is due to our need to assess property lines, build and plan trail infrastructure, assess and inventory route needs, and work with emergency response teams. Please note CCC land is not ‘open’ fully until we have this completed, but once you have gotten a land orientation after one of our trail days, you may climb on your own and at your own risk. The planned public access trail used to access all the climbing on the property will be roughly 1.5 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain to access the entirety of the new CCC property. The First Wall will be less than a one mile hike from the parking lot. Important note: North Carolina State Parks also owns a portion of the Ghost Town cliffs. Climbing areas on State Park property will remain inaccessible for now. The boundaries are not obvious. Do not access State Park land. Stay tuned for work days at carolinaclimbers.org/events.
Parking: Park at the Chimney Rock Village Boulders trailhead (432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC 28746). Village Boulders Trail is the trail. It currently is under construction. Come help!
What to Expect: If you like Rumbling Bald, you will love Ghost Town! Wonderful orange streaked gneiss, cracks everywhere you look, flakes and corners, steep faces, slabby warm ups, and three of the state's hardest climbs all exist within the CCC property. The positioning over Hickory Nut Gorge is dramatic and awe inspiring.
Climbing Beta: We are gathering beta. If you are familiar with routes at Lower Ghost Town, please reach out us to share that knowledge. We have a google doc of maps and route info started that is included in your receipt when you make a donation to the Ghost Town Fund, or when you register for a volunteer day. CCC staff and board can share it with you as well when you come out to work or climb.
Climbing Waiver: This document is not ready, but when it is, fill it out here.
Work Days: We would love for you to come climb and help build trail at Ghost Town! Stay tuned for larger organized work days at carolinaclimbers.org/events. Our C4 trail team will also be working Tues-Thursday out there nearly every week and occasionally on weekends from Nov-April. MOST of these days are not publicized but you are absolutely welcome to come help. Reach out to the C4 Team at dvanbrocklin@carolinaclimbers.org, dcanter@carolinaclimbers.org, felicity.sekela@yahoo.com, and sophiastouse@me.com to see where and when they are working, and how you can help. For any other climbing related questions, please review the Climbing Management Plan below and email mreardon@carolinaclimbers.org with any questions.
Climbing Management Plan: Reference the Climbing Management Plan at the bottom of this page.
and finally, please donate to the Ghost Town Fund.
The Ghost Town cliffs of Round Top Mountain sit adjacent to Chimney Rock State Park at the southeastern end of Hickory Nut Gorge. This is the most dramatic end of the gorge, with views of sheer cliffs in all directions, most of which are illegal to climb. Rumbling Bald is located just a few miles down the road, and Ghost Town will be Rumbling Bald’s complement to open climbing in the heart of Hickory Nut Gorge.
Photo: David Sharratt on The Ugly Project. If this were red-pointed, it could become the state’s most difficult climb.
Climbers began visiting the Ghost Town in the mid-1970s when a mock western amusement park called Silver City opened in the meadow just under the cliffs, coupled with a gondola ride from Main St in Chimney Rock. Climbers in the ’70s were known to ride the gondola, explore splitter cracks by day, and camp out in the amusement park’s faux jail at night. After the amusement park closed its doors, a developer made plans to construct 40 house sites on the property, which failed in the early 2000s. The allure and mystique of Ghost Town began catching on via word of mouth and climbers in the 1990s to early 2000s discovered 400’ immaculate faces, NC’s largest collection of cracks, unrivaled positioning over Hickory Nut Gorge, and black and orange streaked rock with severe overhangs. Ghost Town offered a collection of atypical geologic formations all in a prominent setting over the gorge that allured moderate and elite climbers alike. Three of North Carolina’s hardest climbs were established during this time, including The Good (13d trad), The Bad (14b sport), and the still unsent The Ugly (project). Property sales in the early 2000s and the growth of climbing brought on ‘no trespassing’ warrants, causing climbing in the area to fizzle, but climbers have not forgotten Ghost Town’s relevance.
“For over 20 years, Ghost Town has been our highest access priority among closed areas. Conserving this property was truly a team effort over decades of concentration with a diverse set of stakeholders.” said Mike Reardon, Executive Director of the CCC. “The major players of that team include various CCC members, the Access Fund, the Village of Chimney Rock, Rutherford County TDA, NC State Trails Program, Conserving Carolina, CR Glamping, and the Great Trails State Coalition. Each of these organizations contributed so much over the years to make this once ‘lofty’ dream a reality.”
When the state of North Carolina passed legislation for the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail in 2017, mapping a connected hypothetical ~100-mile public access trail through Hickory Nut Gorge, the CCC and Access Fund immediately noticed the trail’s relevance to Ghost Town. The heart of the planned State Trail was proposed through the Ghost Town cliffs, and trail connectivity to the Village of Chimney Rock could be a win for climbers, hikers, and businesses, all while bolstering the state’s conservation plans. The NC Trails Program released a public input survey seeking feedback on where and how the newly proposed State Trail should serve the community. The most common responses were “Climbing,” “Ghost Town,” and “Round Top” — which climbers knew all referred to the same place. Identifying this potential with the State Trail, the CCC began to work with the Village of Chimney Rock in 2020 to build the ½ mile Village Boulders Trail, leaving from Main St of Chimney Rock. Following construction of the trail by CCC’s C4 trail team, it was officially designated as a leg of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. Completion of this trail meant that if the Ghost Town access property were to become available, hikers and climbers would have legal access directly from the heart of Chimney Rock Village. When Chimney Rock Glamping purchased the lower Ghost Town property in 2023, the CCC and Access Fund promptly began working with the new property owners on climbing access, including plans to divide the parcel for conservation and public access.
“The Ghost Town property is a critical link for completing the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and offers the best route to connect Chimney Rock Village to Chimney Rock State Park” says Kristin Cozza, Trails and Greenways Manager for Conserving Carolina, the state-designated organization leading the trail’s completion. “We’ve partnered with the CCC on other great trails in the Gorge, and we’re excited to work together again to build this new trail.”
Then came Hurricane Helene on Sept 27, 2024, essentially leveling the Village of Chimney Rock and devastating the entire region. Helene was one of Nation’s worst natural disasters in recorded history, and the storm smacked the Hickory Nut Gorge region as badly as anywhere. People lost lives, homes, and businesses. Roads are still inaccessible one year later. The Village went from 30+ booming businesses to zero overnight. The landscape changed, as this was a geologic event, not just a storm. But not all was lost. The community has since come together to begin rebuilding. With that rebuild and unwanted ‘fresh slate’, a reimagining of the Hickory Nut Gorge region is emerging, and a focus on sustainable outdoor recreation complements that new vision and rebuilding of the area.
“The Chimney Rock Village TASK Force has created an impressive master plan for rebuilding the Village,” says Mayor Peter O’Leary. “This climbing area will be a wonderful asset in that plan for the Village and the Gorge. We love to work with partners like the CCC who understand the importance of this area for recreation and outdoor activities. This will certainly add to the lure of Hickory Nut Gorge for tourists as well as outdoor enthusiasts.”
The purchase of the Lower Ghost Town secures 16.5 acres, critical access point, and approximately 25% of the total climbing at Ghost Town. The remaining 75% of the climbing areas lie on State Park property with a yet to be determined access future. The CCC hopes to extend the Village Boulders Trail 1.5 miles onto the new Lower Ghost Town property, with the intention of having this new trail designated as a segment of the Hickory Nut Gorge Trail. For climbers, the CCC property includes soon to be classic climbs like Wide Earp- a 5.10+ wide lie back flake, The Ugly project- once freed will be NC’s hardest climb, Solar Slab- a series of diagonal cracks to a beautiful face, and Lumberjack Crack- a 125’ 5.10a crack corner. The CCC land contains approximately 50 established routes with more to go and dozens of unknown boulders. Long time NC climber Tim Fisher explains “This acquisition could eventually double the amount of south facing climbs in Hickory Nut Gorge.”
“North Carolina’s investment in outdoor recreation and trail infrastructure is an investment in our people, our communities, and our future.” says Palmer McIntyre, Director at the Great Trails State Coalition (GTSC). GTSC is a group of 130+ nonprofits, local governments, and industry partners working together to advocate for increased state investment in all types of trails in North Carolina. The work of this coalition led to the creation of the Great Trails State Program in 2023, which directs millions of dollars toward key trail projects in North Carolina. The CCC was awarded a Great Trails State grant in 2025 to support a portion of the land acquisition and some trail construction costs for this project. “When public agencies, nonprofits, and local leaders come together around shared goals, we build more than trails — we build connections that strengthen our economy, promote health and well-being, and showcase the natural beauty that makes North Carolina such a special place to live and visit.” says McIntyre. Protecting this property is more than just protecting 17 acres; this is a keystone land holding to the connectivity of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and a prime example of the benefits of merging recreation and conservation with economic improvement.
Climbing Management Plan:
Updated 2025
Climbing Management Plan Goals:
1. Preserve the natural resources found at Ghost Town while providing for recreational climbing and hiking activities.
2. Present a clearly defined set of regulations for climbing at Ghost Town that will encourage continued climbing activity.
3. Provide a set of written regulations to educate climbers visiting Ghost Town.
4. Outline enforcement policies to ensure goals of management are preserved.
Hazardous conditions exist throughout this property. All persons entering this property do so at their own risk and by entering the property agree that they are solely responsible for their own safety. No one inspects this property or undertakes any duty to warn against hazardous conditions, structures, uses or activities on this property.
Climber Safety
Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport. Responsibility for safe climbing rests solely with the individual climber. All climbers are strongly encouraged to be self-sufficient and possess the appropriate first aid, partner and self rescue skills. Climbers are encouraged to carry equipment necessary for self-rescue, proper clothing, water and food in case of emergency. The CCC and author of this CMP assume no responsibility for any injuries incurred by anyone engaging in any climbing activity at Ghost Town. The CCC does not provide supervision or instruction, and is not responsible for the conditions of the terrain or acts of persons who may be on CCC property. Cell phones are encouraged for emergencies. Seek professional help for rescues only in extreme cases where self rescue is simply not an option.
Ghost Town Introduction:
Ghost Town cliff is located in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, directly above town. The Ghost Town property is accessed via the public parking lot. At 432 Main St. Chimney Rock, NC 28720. The property owned by the Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) includes .62 miles of Henderson Gneiss cliffs and boulders. The climbing is a mixture of exquisite crack climbing, face climbing and large roofs. The majority of routes accept traditional gear with the occasional sport route mixed in. Grades range from 5.7 to 5.14.
Some important points of information about Ghost Town:
Most routes require traditional gear and fixed gear should be considered suspect given that most were installed 20 or more years ago. The CCC offers no guarantees to the reliability of bolts or fixed anchors installed on the property. Rock quality is generally excellent, but can be variable. Inspect all bolts prior to trusting your safety to them.
Contents:
1.0 Access
1.1 Access History
1.2 Driving
1.3 Parking and Permits
1.4 Waiver
1.5 Private Property
1.6 State Park Property
1.7 Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail
2.0 Fixed Equipment
2.1 Fixed Anchors
2.2 Fixed belay stations
2.3 Bolt Replacement
3.0 Route Development
3.1 Hardware Standards
3.2 Mindful Routes
3.3 Limited Bolting
3.4 Documentation
4.0 Rappelling and Top Roping
5.0 Trails and Climbing Base
5.1 Trail Maintenance
5.2 Leave No Trace
5.3 Stay on Trails
5.4 Human Waste
6.0 Rock and Vegetation Removal
6.1 Trundling
6.2 Chipping
6.3 Vegetation
6.4 Rock removal
7.0 Pets
8.0 Fires
9.0 Camping
10.0 Commercial Guiding
10.1 Certification Needed
10.2 WFA
10.3 Liability
10.4 Proof of eligibility
10.5 5:1 Ratio
10.6 Group Limits
11.0 Rescue Plan
1.1 Access History:
The Ghost Town cliffs had been closed to access for 20 or more years due to private land owners that blocked access. After several decades of the cliffs being off limits to climbing, the CCC with the help of the Access Fund was able to purchase a 16.5 acre portion of the cliffs that will now be open to recreational climbing and hiking. Access will be enhanced through the creation of a sustainably built trail system beginning in November of 2025.
1.2 Driving:
The parking lot is in the heart of Chimney Rock Village and across the street from Chimney Rock State Park. Following the effects of Hurricane Helene, some of the roads may be closed or brought down to a single lane. Use GPS. Do not try to park or drive up Silver City Rd. This is strictly enforced. Parking on Silver City Rd, or anyone from the public driving up that private road without permission, will cause access issues and private property issues. Do not do it.
1.3 Parking:
Follow GPS to 432 Main Street, Chimney Rock, NC to a large public parking lot. The parking lot is owned by the Village of Chimney Rock and costs $5 for all day parking. The trail head is located in the northwest corner of the parking lot. The trail is called “Chimney Rock Village Boulders Trail”, which is a designated segment of the larger Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. If this 100+ car parking lot is full, there is other street parking in the Village. Do not park on private roads uphill of Main St.
1.4 Waiver: Fill out a Ghost Town waiver at this link: https://www.carolinaclimbers.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=250 …;
1.5 Private Property: Climbers and hikers may not venture onto private property. The most relevant private property is currently owned by Chimney Rock Glamping and includes the large meadow. Visitors do not have access to this private property UNLESS they are a client of Chimney Rock Glamping, LLC. Please do not enter this property.
1.6 State Park Property: Climbers and hikers may not venture onto State Park property. CCC is working with the State Park for hopeful future access, but in the meantime please stay off of their property. Where feasible and practical, the CCC will install “No Entry Past this Sign” signs at the property borders.
1.7 Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail: The access trail to Lower Ghost Town is called “Chimney Rock Village Boulders Trail”, which is a designated segment of the larger Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. The CCC built the first ½ mile in 2020 and it is designated as a segment of the 100+ mile planned Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. This trail will be equally used by hikers and climbers.
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2.0 Fixed Equipment:
Definition: Fixed equipment (or gear) is any hardware or soft goods including webbing or rope, that is used to aid ascent or descent, or as protection, and is left on the route by a climbing party following completion of the climb.
2.1 Fixed Anchors:
Definition: Fixed anchors, particularly bolts require drilling into the rock for their placement and are left in the rock by a climbing party after completion of the climb. The CCC offers no guarantees to the reliability of bolts or fixed anchors installed on the property. The CCC does not inspect or maintain this gear on a regular basis and the use and inspection of fixed anchors are the responsibility of the climber that intends to use them.
2.1.1 All anchors and hangers shall be stainless steel.
2.1.2 Minimum anchor standards shall be a 3” x 3/8” wedge anchor. Please note that glue-ins may be necessary for softer rock.
2.1.3 All rappel stations shall have non-degradable stainless hardware. Fixe ring anchors® or Mussy Hooks are preferred. The installation of home-made hangers, webbing nests, cold shuts, or other non stainless metals as fixed anchors are prohibited at Ghost Town. If using chain or quick links, 5/16th stainless steel is the minimum width.
2.1.4 The placement of new fixed anchors (i.e. bolting) is not allowed when the ability to place removable protection is available. This includes new routes. The exception will be at the top of a route where a two bolt anchor may be needed to facilitate a rappel or top rope.
2.1.5 Fixed anchors should never be placed or added on an established route (i.e. retro bolting). An exception would be acquired consent from both the first ascent party and the CCC. An exception is made here for top anchors, where CCC discourages the use of trees in hopes of minimizing vegetation damage.
2.2 Fixed Belay/ Rappel Station Installations:
Definition: A fixed belay/rappel station is any arrangement of fixed anchors placed at the top of a pitch for the purpose of belaying or placed for the sole intent of rappelling.
2.2.1 Webbing used when gear is fixed for the purpose of retreating from a climb, when the climbing party has no intention of returning to the climb (“bail gear”), should be of a natural color similar to the rock color. The color of webbing should not be a deciding factor when retreating due to an emergency or the inability to climb the route.
2.2.2 Bolt placement for the purpose of fixed belay/rappel stations will not exceed two (2) bolts.
2.3 Bolt Replacement:
The Carolina Climbers Coalition has acquired replacement hardware for updating aging hardware on existing routes. Volunteers can replace bolts with the following considerations:
2.3.1 All new hardware must meet requirements outlined in 2.1
2.3.2 When replacing fixed anchors identified to be unsafe, replacement shall be 1 for 1, respecting the original nature of the climb.
2.3.3 When replacing fixed anchors identified to be unsafe, recommended hardware will be used whenever possible, a reasonable effort to remove the existing hardware will be made and existing drill holes will be used in the installation of replacement fixed anchors whenever possible. Drill holes will be patched with EZCrete, Rectorseal® epoxy putty, or similar moldable epoxy putty product if deemed unusable.
2.3.4 Replaced bolts need to be documented via writing or email to the CCC. This documentation helps the CCC in potentially achieving grants for more replacement hardware.
2.3.5 Fixed hardware replacement should follow the CCC’s bolting policy, which can be found on our website:
http://carolinaclimbers.org/about-ccc/boltingpolicy.html
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3.0 Route Development:
New routes are allowed without prior approval. Climbers creating new routes must follow the standards and considerations below:
3.1 Hardware Standards:
All new fixed anchors (i.e. bolts) must comply with standards listed under 2.1.
3.2 Mindful Routes:
New routes should not negatively impact, or change the nature of surrounding existing routes
3.3 Bolting:
When removable protection (trad gear) is available to prevent a potentially injurious fall, bolts should not be placed. Bolts are a necessary tool in the climber tool belt. However, they put a maintenance burden on future generations of climbers and they inherently ‘leave a trace’. If removable protection is not available, bolt installers must camouflage bolts to limit visual impact.
3.4 Documentation:
Report completed routes to the CCC within 30 days of completion via info@carolinaclimbers.org
3.5 Signage: Some routes begin on CCC property but end at the property border with the park. In this instance a “no climbing beyond this anchor” tag must be installed at the anchor.
3.6 Two bolt anchors are standard for the tops of routes. Trees should not be used as a long term anchor solution.
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4.0 Rappelling and Top Rope Access
CCC encourages climbers to lead climbs from the ground up. This practice keeps climbers on the most sustainable path, and encourages skills-based climbing. Top roping and sport rappelling is likely to happen anywhere there is climbing. Cliff-top access is possible at many crags on the CCC property. Please note, cliff-top access can lead to sensitive vegetation trampling and presents dangers for climbers above and below. Rappelling for the sake of rappelling (i.e. sport rappelling) should take into account climbers and hikers below and is generally discouraged on this property. If you are setting up a top rope at a crag and accessing the top, climbers must be mindful of climbers below as well as the sensitive vegetation on the cliff top.
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5.0 Trails/ Leave no Trace:
5.1 The CCC will maintain and upgrade trails as needed to make them passable and eliminate any unnecessary trails. The CCC will schedule periodic workdays to conduct any needed trail maintenance. The general public is permitted to conduct trail maintenance only under permission of the CCC.
5.2 Climbers will use Leave No Trace practices and take every precaution to ensure that the area remains in a natural condition.
5.3 Stay on existing trails. The intentional development of approach trails is prohibited, unless granted permission by the CCC.
5.4 All human waste should be buried at least 100 feet from climbing or bouldering areas in a 12 inch deep hole. Please try to use other bathroom facilities.
5.5 Where feasible and practical, the CCC will install “No Entry Past this Sign” signs at the property borders.
5.6 CCC-lead trail building will not occur during the summer months. This is to limit habitat impacts to federally protected roosting bat species as well as limit impacts to the Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander.
5.7 Users should be aware that this area has high usage of bears, bob cats, venomous snakes, poison ivy, and a multitude of biting insects during the summer. ______________________________________________________________
6.0 Rock and Vegetation Removal:
6.1 The removal of rock from its natural position will be allowed only when the rock to be removed poses a significant risk to the climbing party or a future climbing party (i.e.trundling).
6.2 Chipping of holds is strictly prohibited.
6.3 Climbers should do whatever they can to minimize their impact when developing routes that require the removal of vegetation.
6.4 Climbers should not remove rocks from the CCC property.
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7.0 Pets:
Pets must be on a leash. Due to the tight nature of the landscape with steep and exposed cliffs, dogs are highly discouraged for climbers on the property.
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8.0 Fires:
Fires are not permitted on CCC property.
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9.0 Camping:
There is no camping at the cliff, in the parking lot or on land owned by the CCC.
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10.0 Commercial Guiding and Climbing Instruction:
Eligibility - All organizations and individuals engaging in instruction or guiding activities are responsible for the safety of their students and clients and are required to meet the following eligibility requirements:
10.1 AMGA Single Pitch Instructor or PCGI Single Pitch Instructor or higher level certification
10.2 Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), or higher levels of certification.
10.3 Liability Insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 per incident and $2,000,000.00 aggregate applicable to the instruction and guiding of rock climbing and a Workers Compensation policy 15% of salary per guide. This policy must also cover the Carolina Climbers Coalition as additionally insured, that is CCC officers are held harmless from any and all claims, suits, actions, damages, and costs of every nature and description which may result in connection with technical rock climbing.
10.4 All instructors and guides wishing to use Ghost Town for their services are required to file documents in proof of eligibility with the CCC one month prior to the use of Ghost Town for such purposes, and are responsible for keeping these documents current and filed with the CCC. Documentation can be sent to: Carolina Climbers Coalition 13 Goldview Dr, Asheville, NC 28804 or submitted online to info@carolinaclimbers.org.
10.5 The guide or instructor will be permitted to serve no more than five (5) clients at one time.
10.6 Groups of more than 10 individuals total (including guides) are not permitted.
10.7 For profit guiding organizations are encouraged to support the CCC
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11.0 Rescue Plan:
In the event of an emergency where self rescue is absolutely not an option, call 911. The Chimney Rock Village Fire Department is located adjacent to the trail head. Emergency access points for Ghost Town include the meadow at the end of Silver City Road and the new road leaving from the meadow heading west. Chimney Rock Village Fire Department Chief phone number is 828-625-4456. Additionally the Fire Department has asked that each trail marker be marked with a number starting at 1 in the Village. In the event of an emergency, locate the nearest trail marker and report that number to your dispatch.