The park’s magnificent rock formations had many names including “Vulcan’s Forge” and “Cyclopean Towers” before settling on the common name Natural Chimneys. Here seven chimneys tower 65 to 120 feet above the valley.
Formations
Shenandoah Valley was once the floor of a great inland sea. The Natural Chimneys are remnants of a former fissure cave system. These limestone towers were carved by wind and the North River. At times, the North River lapped against the pillars as high as 80 feet above ground.
Hiking
There are five hiking trails at Natural Chimneys. I hiked them as one large loop through the park.
I started with the Chimneys Overlook Trail. This moderate 0.13-mile trail climbs up the ridgeline behind the chimneys to an overlook. It has white circle blazes.
From there I jumped on the 0.6-mile Chimneys Trail. It connects the Overlook and Cedar Ridge Trails. White square blazes guide the way.
Cedar Ridge Trail is a moderate 0.2-mile path. White diamond blazes follow the trail down to the main grounds. There was one strenuous descent where I had to use the provided rope support to keep my balance on the fall leaves, tree roots, and loose dirt.
Next was the River’s Edge Trail. The 0.84-mile trail is the longest in the park. It is an easier walk along North River. It has white cross blazes. This trail was my favorite – in the autumn the colorful leaves formed a stunning tunnel.
The final new trail was the 0.44-mile Ridge Top Trail. It was a strenuous climb up and then a moderate, narrow path. Despite the name, the trail is about midway up the ridge rather than at the top. White triangle blazes mark the route. As it had no real views, I would recommend skipping this trail unless you are trying to get more steps.
To complete the loop and return to my car, I hopped back on the Chimneys Trail. Here it climbed up a gravel road on a gradual incline before wandering back into the woods.
Wildlife
While in the park I spied dozens of birds including American robins, blue jays, Cape May warblers, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, chipping sparrows, eastern phoebes, northern cardinals, red-bellied woodpeckers, and white-breasted nuthatches.
In addition to birds, I saw tons of squirrels.
Park Facilities
For those looking for additional activities, the park offers a campground, pool, playground, joust track, and stage.