Service Road 1264

Pisgah National Forest Service Road 1264 houses some of the most amazing 360-degree views accessible for all people and pets alike. The Chimneys, Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain are all must sees. If you LOVE hiking or even if you don't, I still give these 3 places a 10/10 rating and highly recommend to all in the area to give these hikes a try. I'd rate all 3 as moderate because the distance isn't too far however the incline can be steep and the rockiness can make it challenging

We started our backpacking adventure at The Chimneys (which is just on the opposite side of the Table Rock parking lot). Although there is not a steep incline, the trail is narrow and HIGH above everything else (would not recommend for someone with a fear of heights) and has a total length of 1.7 miles. However, you would be able to view immaculate sunsets/sunrises from this trail. But this trail is EXTREMELY busy because it is such a popular climbing site. If you plan to camp overnight you will need to get there EARLY (permits needed weekends May-October). By the time we arrived and started our hike, the camp sites were filled both "backcountry" and primitive so we moved on in hopes of finding something at Table Rock.

Table Rock is a 1 mile trail to the summit offering spectacular views at the top. The parking lot includes a picnic area as well as bathrooms. The trail isn't marked extremely well but as long as you're going UP you'll make it to the top. We backpacked up the mountain and decided to set up camp, the ground is rocky, uneven, and the options are very limited, as there is a rarity in large trees, hammock camping may also be a challenge. But, the sunset and sunrise made the awkward sleeping situation 110% worth it! The morning was so peaceful, we had the whole place to ourselves and Sarge loved the extra freedom that came with it.

Our last hike of the trip was Hawksbill Mountain trail, the trail was PACKED on a saturday midmorning hike. This trail is the longest of the 3 coming in at just a little over 2 miles long. When entering the road, you will come to this trail before you hit Table Rock. The views at the top are incredible as you can see Table Rock from the top. Its a great place to have a quick snack before heading back down. There are places with tree coverage to set up tents or hang hammocks but again be sure to show up EARLY if you plan to stay the night.