Description
Grandfather Mountain State Park features Grandfather Mountain with hiking trails, backcountry camping, and birdwatching. The Grandfather Mountain hiking trails are known for scrambling along cliffs, gripping cables, and climbing up ladders.
Grandfather Mountain State Park sits between privately owned Grandfather Mountain attraction (which charges admission) and Blue Ridge Parkway trails managed by the National Park Service.
Need to Know
Many park trails are steep and not recommended for pets.
Grandfather Mountain State Park is separate from privately owned Grandfather Mountain attraction, which charges admission fees. The Grandfather Mountain private attraction is known for their Mile High Swinging Bridge.
Recreation
Grandfather Mountain State Park features Grandfather Mountain with hiking trails (13 miles), backcountry camping, and birdwatching. The Grandfather Mountain hiking trails are known for scrambling along cliffs, gripping cables, and climbing up ladders.
Free permits are required for hiking and must be filled out at the trailhead prior to hiking.
Fees and Passes
There are no fees required to access Grandfather Mountain State Park for day use. Fees are charged for camping and certain event permits. The Grandfather Mountain private attraction (with the Mile High Swinging Bridge) is the closest parking area to a few trails and charges entrance fees.
Geography
Grandfather Mountain is named because the mountain looks like the profile of an old man, according to early-colonizers to the area.
The original Cherokee name for Grandfather Mountain was “Tanawha,” which means “a fabulous hawk or eagle.”
