Climb the granite to big views over Alexander County
Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area near Hiddenite, North Carolina, is built around a bare granite dome about 1,800 feet high, roughly 600 feet above the farmland around it. The park has about 6 miles of trail on 318 acres. The Hollow Rock Trail is the main route to the summit views, 2.5 miles round trip and rated moderate to strenuous.
We went on a sunny March day and brought our pup along. The trail climbs straight up the open rock, and from the top you look out across the farms to the mountains.
🥾 More trails
- Buzzard Loop: 0.8 mile round trip, easy to moderate, up to the quarry overlook.
- Vertical Mile Challenge: a 2.2-mile strenuous loop.
- Grindstone and Prison Camp trails: about 1 mile one way each.
🥾 Trail facts
- Trail: Hollow Rock Trail, 2.5 miles round trip (park site)
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
- Summit: About 1,800 ft
- Managed by: Alexander County Parks and Recreation
Trail facts checked October 2026. Sources: Rocky Face Park: hiking, Rocky Face trail map. Trails and roads change, so check with the park before you go.
