Dec 6 Hanging Rock & Sheeprock Ridges

Approaching Hanging Rock State Park from the north, as most folks do, the profile of Hanging Rock dominates. I'm referring to the namesake bluff which overlooks the visitor center. A 1930's era map referred to it as "Hanging Bluff". Hiking up the trail, you reach a point at which you are directly below a piece of the bluff jutting out. This "hanging rock" or "bluff" if you prefer, is quite impressive. The trail to the top navigates along and up the south slope of the ridge. From here you approach the top off "hanging rock" along a spine, from the east. At the point you reverse direction to head out to the west onto Hanging Rock, look to the right for a faint trail in the opposite direction. The trail is distinct here but dissipates quickly once you run into a rock outcropping. After that point there are faint manways here and there but much of the time you are simply looking for the easiest route. Follow the very top of the spine for the best route. You can find expansive views to the South and to the North along here. The Hanging Rock Ridge continues until the ridge drops off in a long gently sloping manner to a gap and then heads back up to the westernmost of the Three Sisters.

This is the highest sister. From here the gap to the middle sister is an easy stroll in open forest. It is here I spotted the bear scat above. Middle Sister is best approached from the highest point in the gap, straight up. From here the going gets tougher. The walk down to the next gap is longer and steeper but again, follow the highest point of the ridge. This easternmost sister has a long gentle slope to the east ending at Sheep Rock. There are some nice rock outcropping here with views East and South. All along the ridge you have nice views of Flat Shoals Mountain and some of the homes along Mountain Road in the valley between the two ridges (Hanging Rock and Flat Shoals).