Sunset Rock (also known as "Sunset Rocks") is a large outcropping
that, at 4,200 ft. elevation, overlooks the town of Highlands from
the southeast. It is a popular place to enjoy a picnic, especially
in the evening when the sun sets over the mountains to the west of
the town, providing picturesque vistas (and hence the rock's name!)
After locating the cache be sure to take the time to enjoy the
view.
You are looking for a medium lock-n-lock container, big enough
for small items or trackables. After locating, please replace the
cache exactly as you found it.
Enjoying Sunset Rock is a long-standing Highlands tradition,
made possible in large part by the generosity of the Ravenel
family. Capt. Ravenel, his wife Margaretta, and their children
Prioleau Jr., Marguerite, Claire, and Elise contributed enormously
to the development of Highlands, including funding the building of
many early access roads and telephone lines and donating (or
selling at bargain prices) many valuable parcels of land (including
that which upon now stands the Biological Center and the Highlands
Presbyterian Church.) Their contributions are too numerous to
detail here, but collectively they, more than any other family,
helped make Highlands what it is today. In 1914 the Ravenel
children donated the land surrounding Sunset Rock to the town of
Highlands in memory of their parents. A stone marker nearby
memorializes this gift. (Thanks to, and for more information see,
Randolph P. Shaffner's "Heart of the Blue Ridge - Highlands, North
Carolina", Faraway Publishing, 2001.)
From the downtown, head east on Main St (which becomes Horse
Cove Road) for a minute or two until you see the Highlands
Biological Center on the left; directly across the street is a
gravel parking area and a sign that directs you to the left towards
the Sunset Rock trail. The trail is really just a short (less than
half mile) narrow gravel road that leads up to another smaller
(approximately 6-8 spaces) parking area near the rocks. You can
park at either location (the cache is located much closer to the
upper location, and the rating is based on parking there) but if
you choose to drive-up the trail please use caution, look for
pedestrians, and be aware that if you meet a car someone is going
to have to back-up. Once at the upper parking area, Sunset Rock is
down the short trail on the right.
The cache is not located in a dangerous area, but children
should be supervised on Sunset Rock, as the surface is somewhat
uneven and, if you went too far, a fall is possible.
FTF honors
go to craziekid, Z11, and family !