Walnut Cove in Stokes County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Rock of Ages

Hanging Rock State Park

Photographed By Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

1. Rock of Ages Marker

Inscription. In the past, the lower ridge you see before you without rock outcrops was a continuation of Hanging Rock ridge, which lies to your left. This ridge was once capped with the same quartzite rock outcrops that form Hanging Rock itself. The ridge gives us a preview of what Hanging Rock will look like in the distant future. Between 250 and 500 million years ago, this land was pushed up as the continents moved towards each other. The older, harder rocks were sometimes pushed up and over younger, softer rocks.

Weathering and erosion have given the ridge its distinctive shape. As the softer rocks crode away from underneath the quartzite cap, large rocks of quartzite fall to the base …as the geologic processes continue.

The Hanging Rock we view today is approximately 2150 feet above sea level with the rock outcrop itself rising 175 feet from the base where large quartzite boulders are found.

Erected by North Carolina State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 36° 23.664′ N, 80° 15.936′ W. Marker is in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, in Stokes County. Marker can be reached from Hanging Rock Park Road, 2 miles south of Moores Spring Road (County

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Route 1001), on the left when traveling south. The marker is located on the east side of the Hanging Rock State Park Visitor Center parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Walnut Cove NC 27052, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mountains Away From The Mountains (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hanging Rock's High Flyers (about 400 feet away); Summertime and Life Goes On (about 400 feet away); Lewis David von Schweinitz (approx. 2½ miles away); Moody Tavern (approx. 3½ miles away); Stokes County Troops C.S.A (approx. 3½ miles away); Stokes County World War I Monument (approx. 3½ miles away); Stoneman’s Raid (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Cove.

Photographed By Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

2. Rock of Ages Marker

Rock of Ages-Hanging Rock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

3. Rock of Ages-Hanging Rock

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 346 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.