After attending the Highland Games near Grandfather Mountain, my sister and I decided to go to the scenic travel section of Grandfather Mountain. If you’re planning to visit the scenic travel section of the mountain or just want to know more about that section, then be sure to read on as I share some information and helpful tips about the area.
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First off, let me tell you a bit about the Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain is a stunning place in the northwestern section of North Carolina. Located right outside the town of Linville, North Carolina, this magnificent mountain stands tall at 5,946 feet. One third of Grandfather Mountain is a scenic travel attraction that is operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Inc. The other two thirds is owned by the state of North Carolina and is undeveloped.
The scenic travel section of the mountain is where most visitors go. It’s where my sister and I went and the tips and information I’m sharing with you will be for that area of the mountain as well.
Here are the 8 things you need to know about Grandfather Mountain before visiting.
1. The Price.
I found the admission price into Grandfather Mountain a little expensive but I’ve since learned that the proceeds go back into the park to protect and preserve it. Plus, your entrance fee includes admission to the other attractions on the mountain as well as a CD. The CD tells you about Grandfather Mountain and is meant to be listened to on your drive up the mountain.
Here’s a quick look at the pricing.
- For adults, it’s $22.
- The Fee for Senior Citizens (age 60+) is $20.
- For Children (ages 4-12), it’s $9.
There are some discounts available such as military and AAA members.
2. There is a Wildlife Habitat on the Mountain!
I had no idea there was a wildlife habitat on the mountain the first time I visited. As you make your way to the top of Grandfather Mountain, there is a parking area to stop at and the wildlife habitat is located nearby. There are signs to direct visitors. The wildlife habitat is very small and it can be seen in just a few minutes. However, I encourage you to take your time while there and learn about the animals. Most of them are rescues, which made me respect the wildlife habitat and the work of the park even more.
The animals that are there live in environmental habitats. This means that their enclosures consist of the animal’s natural and native habitat and it hasn’t been recreated. There are elk, river otters, cougars, eagles, and black bears within the different habitats, all of which you can get a close up look at. The ones that I enjoyed seeing the most were the cougars, river otters, and black bears. The bears were definitely the most entertaining and funny to watch!
3. You Should Cross the Swinging Bridge!
Another popular attraction at Grandfather Mountain is the mile high swinging bridge. Okay, so technically it’s not a mile off the ground but it is one mile high in elevation. It’s also the highest suspension footbridge in America! It can be seen from way down below as you’re traveling to the mountain. To me, it looked intimidating and scary seeing it that far up and I didn’t think I could cross it!
Once we made it to the top of Grandfather Mountain, I saw the swinging bridge up close. Again, I didn’t think I could cross it but I also didn’t want to miss out on such an unforgettable opportunity! So I ultimately talked myself into crossing the mile high swinging bridge.
It was terrifying!
I can’t sit here and tell you that it was a breeze to walk across and it wasn’t scary. When I crossed that bridge, I believe I was shaking a little! I could barely look out over the railing because I was so scared. However, at the same time, I was so thrilled that I had done it! I had faced my fears and crossed the swinging bridge. Then I had to cross it again to get back to the other side! Again, I was terrified but I did it!
Now, that was just my experience with the swinging bridge. Other people there were crossing it like it was nothing and stopping to take in the views. There was no pausing to take in the views. I couldn’t even make myself go to either side of it, ha! Right in the middle of the bridge was where I stayed while crossing it.
Although it was scary, it was also thrilling and I would encourage you to cross the bridge. The views really are incredible and you feel like you’re on top of the world.
Honestly, I would do it again.
4. There’s Hiking.
My trip to Grandfather Mountain was unplanned so I didn’t bring anything for hiking. I really just wanted to see the main attractions of the park anyways. However, there are lots of hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain and if you like to hike, I’d recommend going there to get some hiking time in.
Since the mountain is so tall, resulting in a big change in elevation, you can immerse yourself in a diverse and everchanging landscape. I saw the changes just riding up the mountain on the road. I can only imagine what can be seen on the hiking trails!
5. Grandfather Mountain has Picnic Areas.
Grandfather Mountain has some of the most fabulous picnic areas. I saw a few on the drive to the top of the mountain and wished that I had brought a lunch to eat on the mountain. We ended up stopping at a few pull-offs and picnic areas just to check out the views. They were spectacular!
I’ve lived in the mountains of Virginia for most of my life but these North Carolina mountain views just left me speechless. So if you decide to check out Grandfather Mountain, pack a lunch and eat it while overlooking some of the most gorgeous views in North Carolina.
6. Changes in Temperature on Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain is sort of like its own world. If you pay attention on the drive up, you can see the environment change. The trees, the bushes, the rocks, they all slowly transform. The air changes too. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll notice a difference in temperature. The temperature on top of Grandfather Mountain is cooler than the rest of the world, down below.
When I reached the top of the mountain, I had to put on a sweatshirt. The air was much cooler and the wind was blowing uncontrollably. And this was in July…in North Carolina. My advice to you is to bring a sweater, hoodie, or coat, just something warm, if you decide to make your way to the top of Grandfather Mountain, no matter what time of year you visit.
7. Wear the Right Shoes.
I would recommend wearing some comfortable walking shoes. If you’re going to be hiking or like to wear hiking shoes in general, then this is a great option for any part of the Mountain. I wore slip on, leather sandals, which was a fine option for most of the main attractions on the mountain.
However, when I crossed the mile high swinging bridge, I didn’t feel comfortable going all the way out on the rock ledge that’s there on the other side. If I had had on comfortable shoes, like sneakers or hiking shoes, then I could’ve seen even more of the incredible views that can be seen from the top of Grandfather Mountain.
8. Bring a Camera When You Visit Grandfather Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain is an absolutely stunning area. The mountain itself is breathtaking to look at and once you reach the top, the views from it are just as amazing. You’ll want to capture the views you take in so do yourself a favor and bring a camera.
I just brought my iPhone (it’s an older one) to take pictures with and that’s usually enough for me. Sometimes though, I wish I carried my DSLR camera with me more. I would have loved to capture the amazing views I saw with it. Regardless of what device you use, just be sure to take some pictures! I can’t explain enough how incredibly beautiful this mountain is!
Well, there you have it!
Those are the 8 tips and bits of information I believe you need to know about Grandfather Mountain.
If you want to read more about Grandfather Mountain, purchase tickets, etc., be sure to check out their website!
I hope this blog post has been helpful and can be of use to you when you plan your trip to the mountains of North Carolina! I would just go ahead put it on your bucket list, travel list, whatever you have and go visit soon!
Have you ever been to Grandfather Mountain? If not, are you planning to go now, after reading this blog post? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
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This was very helpful. I am planning to go next week. It looks beautiful.
I’m so happy to hear that and am happy to help! I’d love to know what you think of the area! Oh, and The Tartan restaurant there in Linville is pretty good, if you want to eat near there.
This was very helpful Briana. Thanks for sharing this information. My family will be visiting this location in the fall.
Glad I could help! Enjoy your trip there!