You don’t need to call yourself an official spelunker to enjoy a day of exploring the cave and nearby waterfall in North Carolina at Hanging Rock State Park. But what a combination for adventure!

Tory's Den is a cave found along a short, 0.5-mile round-trip hike within the state park.
Google/Anand Krishnan
Endless fun abounds at this North Carolina State Park, but you'd be remiss not to take a leisurely hour to explore this cave and waterfall that are only steps apart.
AllTrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
Historically significant as a Loyalist hideout during the American Revolution, the cave is reportedly 80 feet deep, but much of the back of the cave is too low for passage.
Google/Sandoval Delgadillo
And at the opening it's enormous!
AllTrails/Amanda Distasio

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Literally only a few steps away from the cave you'll have a great view of Tory's Falls.
AllTrails/Angela B
Full foliage during warmer seasons makes it difficult to see the entire 100-foot waterfall. And a dry spell could reduce the flow to a trickle. But with a waterfall this tall, even a partial view is awesome.
AllTrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
Getting to the two attractions can be a bit challenging. The trail is only a little over two-tenths of a mile each way (or approximately 300 feet) but the elevation change makes that an uphill battle on the way in.
AllTrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
After checking out this waterfall, go ahead and check out other trails in the park, too. Hanging Rock trail leads to the summit of the park's namesake. And the Lower Cascades trail leads you to a rock staircase that winds down to the foot of another spectacular waterfall - this one with a wading pool for cooling off on a hot summer day.
Speaking of cooling off: check out the swim beach at Hanging Rock State Park, too. It's open during the summer season only and there's a diving platform. Note that a small fee is charged for using the swim beach.
Google/A J
Hanging Rock State Park is located in the Sauratown Mountains of North Carolina. This is one of the easternmost mountain ranges in the state. The mountains here are comprised of a series of monadnocks and the views from the peaks are like none other in the Tar Heel State.
Google/郭洋

Make a day of exploring the whole park but especially this cave and waterfall in North Carolina. Hanging Rock State Park is admission free. Several different access points are listed on the website. The access to reach the trail for the cave and waterfall featured here is located at 1185 Charlie Young Road, Westfield, NC 27053.

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Featured Addresses
Hanging Rock State Park, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Rd, Danbury, NC 27016, USA