This Land, Your Land

Trails leading to the highest peaks of Chimney Rock State Park will close December 5 until next spring for upgrades, the Asheville Citizen-Times says.

The Outcroppings Trail, which leads from the parking lot to the top of the iconic Chimney Rock; and the Skyline Trail, which leads from the Chimney level to the Opera Box, Devil’s Head and Exclamation Point will close so stairs can be replaced.

The elevator to the top of the chimney and the Sky Lounge deli at the top of the elevator have been closed and renovated since last April and will remain closed until spring.

The rest of the park remains open.

State Parks spokesman Charlie Peek told the newspaper that the work has cut into visitation at the park resulting in a fall from 215,000 visitors in 2010 to 158,600 in 2011 through the first three weeks of November.

The work is part of a $4 million capital improvement project in the park that began last winter.