Grandfather Mountain

Towering almost 6,000 feet above Northwest North Carolina, this massive mountain presents visitors with opportunities for rejuvenation, excitement and family memories in a natural haven that will endure forever. Known for the 360-degree views from its Mile High Swinging Bridge, Grandfather is a sanctuary where guests can come eye-to-eye with bears, cougars, otters, eagles and deer in natural habitats, learn about the natural world from entertaining guides, stroll gentle nature paths or hike craggy alpine trails. Rugged or civilized, youll find the mountain adventure that suits your personal comfort level in a place where wonders never cease.The Grandfather Mountain travel attraction borders on Grandfather Mountain State Park. Guests at the attraction may access the State Park trail system from the Swinging Bridge, but free admission to the State Park trails is also available from locations outside of the tourist attraction.

Grandfather Mountain State Park encompasses 2,600 acres of the undeveloped backcountry of Grandfather Mountain. Located adjacent to the 50-year-old tourist attraction on 5,946-foot Grandfather Mountain, the park offers hikers free access to the peaks via a 12-mile network of alpine trails. Campsites and fire rings are available to campers who backpack in.There are two entry points to the hiking trails in Grandfather Mountain State Park which do not require paying admission to the adjoining travel attraction.West side: From NC 105 near its intersection with NC 184 in Banner Elk, the trailhead for the Profile Trail offers parking. Near the ridge area, the Profile Trail connects to other trails in the system.East Side - From the Blue Ridge Parkway area, there are two points of access. Most hikers use the Boone Fork Parking Area at mile 299.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The second is the Parkway's Asutsi Trail, which begins across from Serenity Farm on US 221 (the only winter access when the Parkway is closed). From either of these points, hikers can follow the Parkway's Tanawha Trail south to reach Grandfather's Nuwati/Daniel Boone Scout Trailhead.

US Highway 221 two miles north of Linville and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 305