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    Grandfather Mountain

    4.3 (257 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Grandfather Mountain Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Grandfather Mountain

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    Melanie B.

    We visited during peak season, so admission came to $69.38, which is definitely on the pricey side -- but honestly, we felt it was worth it. This isn't like going to a random unmanned park. The property is very well maintained and staffed. There are bathrooms, gift shops, restaurants, and plenty of staff around if you need help or directions, which made the experience feel more organized and comfortable. There are a few different trails to choose from -- we did two of them and had a great time. The views are absolutely beautiful and make the hiking well worth the effort. They also have a small wildlife "zoo" area on site. We didn't go through that portion because it isn't pet-friendly -- but the rest of the mountain and trails are pet friendly, which is a huge plus for us when traveling with Luna. Overall, yes -- it's a splurge, especially in peak season -- but between the views, trail options, amenities, and overall experience, we'd definitely go back.

    You won't believe what I standing on to get this shot
    Dave O.

    If you're anywhere close to Grandfather Mountain and have never visited this area it's definitely worth your time. We arrived mid morning the skies were clear and the temperatures were absolutely perfect for some moderate hiking to the top. The views are spectacular and fortunately there weren't very many people here during our visiting which made access to the mile high swinging bridge that much better. I was a little surprised by the amount of access available after crossing the foot bridge, the improved path ended and although the hiking became a little riskier they allow you to climb the rock shelves which a maze of fairly steep boulders that you can transverse at your own risk - there are no steps or handrails and it can be a little intimidating to some but if you're up for it, it's well worth the effort. We were given a flash drive to plug into our radio at the entrance for the audio tour up the mountain which allows you explore everything at your own pace stopping and starting the audio tour as needed. This is really a well put together attraction and definitely worth the price of admission there's something interesting around every curve with plenty of places to pull over and get out of your vehicle to take it all in. The facilities and ammenties are well taken care of and the staff is amazing and work hard to ensure you enjoy the experience. I'm sure I only saw a glimpse of what's available in the few hours we were here so it's a place I'd return to again and again...

    Cute!
    Andrea A.

    Definitely a must visit when you're in Boone! It's ~$30 for a day pass, but it's worth it. We drove to the very top and walked to the overlook, which has some beautiful views; there's also a gift shop there. Then, we drove down to the animal conservatory, where there were bears, eagles, elk, and otters. There were also keeper talks at regular intervals with fun tidbits about all the animals. Lots of things to do with family and friends! Amazing ambiance, service not applicable. Lots of free parking everywhere. 10/10 would recommend!

    . Mildred the bear and her cubs, originally here around 1963. This is inside the Wilson Center.
    Max M.

    First off, it is a wonderful nature area, yet with a new gathering place, a building with a gift shop, large cafe, and many nature displays in two large rooms. There is the Mile High Bridge which is not a mile from the top of the ground below to the bridge, but the mile is the elevation. Lots of time and space to explore nature, to look around the natural enclosures for elk, a bear, and even the majestic bald eagle. Even after all that, I took one (1) star off due to the cost, which was $30 per person for seniors. NOTE that it is best to pay in advance online and go through the entrance gates in less than a minute if there are no vehicles in front of you. NOTE ALSO this is Grandfather Mountain itself where it overlooks the meadow way below where the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are held each year.

    GiGi G.

    This was a beautiful, scenic, place. It was kid friendly and easy to navigate. It's worth hiking over the mile high swinging bridge. There is an entrance fee which seems a little pricey and detracts a star.

    Bridge
    Anna

    We love grandfather mountain! 4 stars because it is expensive at $28/person and only offers a veterans discount of $3 off - and veterans discount tickets must be purchased online. Other than that, the swinging bridge is incredible, getting to walk out onto open cliff face is super cool, and we loved taking my parents here to see views they would not otherwise have access to. The gift shop is super cute and reasonably priced. The hiking trails are really great, and we really enjoyed the challenge of the ladders. We love visiting the zoo - the bears, elk, otters and eagles are really unique and captivating to see. Overall we will continue to visit, but wish the entry prices would come down a bit, at least for locals, and particularly while the profile trail remains closed.

    Kelly G.

    Grandfather Mountain can be a cool stop but be ready to pay a premium price tag . Knocking a star off for the steep pricing of a natural wonder. It's best to purchase tickets online because you have to reserve a time and you can apply discounts online only. An adult single ticket ranges from $20 - $30 depending on how busy the park is . As of September 2024 , they categorize the pricing by : Peak Day - Adult Admission = $30.00 Mid-Level Day - Adult Admission = $25.00 Base Day - Adult Admission = $20.00 You also have to reserve a time so the park can better manage crowds. If you buy online you can apply discounts like AAA , senior and military . Your admission includes a CD or usb drive that you can listen to as you drive through the park . Once inside the park you have access to the swinging bridge and gift shop , wilson center for nature discovery ( museum ), the wildlife habitats and hiking trails . If you are Mobility challenged there is an elevator available to take you to the top of the mountain to access the swinging bridge (it's inside the gift shop). If you are a pressed penny collector , there's a machine inside both the gift shop at the swinging bridge and the Wilson center for nature discovery . If you are a passport stamp collector , sadly the park NO LONGER offers the stamp for the NC State Parks Passport which is asinine IMHO . The ladies in the gift shop stated they used to have a stamp but no longer do . The reason they explained is the touristy parts of grandfather mountain are privately owned and not within the state park . The hiking trails and less touristy parts are within the state park . Does not make sense not to offer the stamp at the gift shop or discovery center since these spots are the most logical place to store it as hubs for visitors . Knocking a star off for this . One more critique : inside the discovery center is a theatre . The park totally missed the mark on this as they show a literal promotional video / ad to visitors who obviously have already paid to visit ! This makes no sense . We were hoping it would be an educational video of the history of the park . They could even offer a video on the best hiking trails , what not to miss , highlight the animals etc . Visitors don't want to watch a video that just features random people saying " I am grandfather mountain " it's weird and doesn't add to the visitor experience . The highlight of the visit was the wildlife habitats . The habitats are home to bears , elk , otters , eagles and cougars . DO make sure to find out the time of the ranger talks . Through the ranger talks , not only do you get to learn about the individual wildlife living here but you get to watch enrichment and see the furbabies engage . Watching an adult cougar attack a roll of toilet paper will be something you'll never forget ! Too cute ! For food : there are snacks inside the gift shop at the swinging bridge and there is a very casual restaurant called Mildred's Grill inside the Wilson center for nature discovery . To really make the most of your visit I recommend planning to spend most of the day here between the bridge , ranger talks , discovery center and hiking trails. And go on a weekday so it is less crowded .

    John B.

    This is a paid private park just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. So the question at hand is whether it's worth paying for. Not really, in my estimation. For one thing, when I actually went online and bought a ticket, I never received the ticket in email. And when I got there, they had a database and my name wasn't in it. Thankfully, I saved the confirmation page and they let me in. My card was definitely charged. Ultimately, I received confirmation of my ticket purchase four days later. Given how they emphasize that they want you to prepurchase timed tickets online to manage capacity and speed entry, I would expect the system to actually work. So what does paying the robust entry fee get you? The suspended bridge is cool if you can handle heights. There's a couple of modestly sized museums. There's a bit of an outdoor zoo, but unfortunately most of the animals, while they seemed well taken care of, did not seem to be interested in presenting themselves for photography. I stopped in for the movie which was playing in their museum, but it was basically a tourism ad with little content of interest, which was bizarre in the sense that there is no need to advertise to people who are already there. A ranger talk I caught was quite brief, only fifteen minutes or so. There were some substantial trails; depending on how far you want to hike, you could theoretically enter the state park for free and walk up this way. Don't get me wrong, the sights are grand. Spectacular, really. Thing is, the sights are also fantastic from any number of other spots along the parkway that do not charge anything. Paying to get in here gets some amenities that didn't add a ton in my book, as well as a lot of crowded spots with dubious touristy behavior. I would recommend heading to the national park land on the parkway or numerous state parks in the vicinity.

    Melissa B.

    Sunday, Tony Vanoy and I went to Grandfather Mountain Mile High Bridge and Animal Habitate. It cost $25 per adult. It is advised to buy your tickets only, but you can buy at the entrance gate. I was able to drive over 5,000 feet up the winding road. It took my breathe because there is no guard rails. In fact, once I went to leave the upper parking lot, I hesitated at the top. It was like being in the front seat of a Rollercoaster. It was a little overwhelming for a second, but I took a deep breathe and here we go!!! I wish I video taped that!! We climbed the stairs to the upper deck to walk out to the Aluminum Metal material Mile High Bridge & the large climbing rocks..it was extremely exhilarating!! There is a Gift shop and restroom in the building I highly recommend you go here, definitely a new buckey list trip off my list!

    Bridge!
    Natasha M.

    The drive to Grandfather Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful scenic drives I've ever experienced. I enjoyed taking it a step further by driving into the Grandfather Mountain park and hiking over the mile-high swinging bridge for the majestic views and seeing the small zoo on-site. A good pit stop for families as there is a restaurant, bathrooms and a small kid-friendly exhibit inside. Lots of tourists from all over. The drive to the top is kind of nerve-wracking so just use a low gear and take your time. Going down felt easier. Entrance fee is about $30, which I think is a lot for this 1-2 hour visit.

    Vincent L.

    2nd highest mountain in NC I think. Because of the swing bridge, it is very popular spot for tourists. Summer time is very crowded but once weather is colder and wind speed pick up, there are much less people. I wish there are snow and ice at 5000ft. But NC haven't been snowing much last 2 years that the winter view is missing some white. Swing bridge is fun, when it is windy it does move and sway a little bit. Plenty of spots for pictures. Visitor center, gift shop and bathroom is in Wilson center in the middle of the mountain road. There is nothing at the peak so be ready

    Mister Uno the River Otter
    Erik T.

    Love this place. We got to see bears, an Eagle, a pair of Cougars, a River Otter and an Elk. Definitely worth visiting if you are in North Carolina.

    This place was amazing has a little hike but if you dont want to hike you can also drive! They also have a mini zoo!

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    Grandfather Glows was a rip off. Saw 4 fireflies and sat in pitch black for 3 hours. Paid a hundred for 2 tickets for absolutely nothing.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Grandfather Mountain

    Is the mile high swinging bridge handicaps accessible?

    Yes There is an elevator in the back of the gift shop and it's a pretty smooth path up to the swinging Bridge.… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Grandfather Mountain

    I bought a couple more souvenirs at the Top Shop and crossed the Mile High Swinging Bridge (quickly!).

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

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    Tanawha trail - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Tanawha trail

    4.3(3 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    We did the portion of this trail that goes to Rough Ridge Overlook. This hike is very crowded, but…read morethe views are definitely worth it. I recommend waking up early and getting there for sunrise. We got there around 7:45am and the parking lot was already full. We were able to park on the side of the road though. It got way more crowded later in the day. It's only about a 2.5 mile hike round trip from the parking area. We tried to hike further on the trail, but ended up taking a wrong turn that brought us back to where we started. It was recommended to start at Linn Cove Visitor Center and hike the back way there for less crowds. We wanted to do this, but the parking lot was closed so we couldn't. This is a great hike in the fall for gorgeous fall colors. It's hard to beat the views.

    My sister and I were researching a new hike in the area that would be easy to medium difficulty and…read morehad a nice view. We wanted something under 3 miles round-trip due to the coming thunderstorms. This trail was easy to spot off the road with a very nice visitors center with lots of fun items and some cute dogs to pet but that's where to good stuff ends. The trailhead marker behind the center took us the wrong direction on the trail that we wanted to head. There was not sufficient signage to indicate which way it was leading. After hiking over 1 mile we realized our mistake and turned back. There was some interesting things to see but not enough for me to ever return. The rain was holding off so we took the trail the correct way which is located on the opposite end of the parking lot from the visitor center. While this part of the trail was more interesting the view point under the bridge was very underwhelming and we would not do it again.

    Photos
    Tanawha trail - Rough Ridge outcropping

    Rough Ridge outcropping

    Tanawha trail - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Tanawha trail

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    Waterfalls Park - Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Waterfalls Park

    4.8(8 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    I almost passed this spot entirely, and missing it would have been a real loss. Tucked across from…read morethe Ingles Market, a modest parking area and an understated sign conceal a striking series of cascading waterfalls. The path leading up the slope was carved out by volunteer firefighters, and while it is steep in places, it offers a rewarding climb with views that unfold as you ascend. It's medium difficulty. The park features a few picnic tables scattered near the base, inviting visitors to linger and enjoy the sound of rushing water. The falls themselves are double-tiered, flowing over rugged stone, and a natural rock bridge allows you to cross to the other side with reasonable footing. I had the place entirely to myself today, and despite the questionable wisdom of climbing solo, I made it up and back without incident. The experience was peaceful and memorable, and I left with a handful of beautiful photos and a sense of quiet satisfaction. Locally, the site is also known as Bobby McLean Memorial Park, named in tribute to a respected community figure whose legacy lives on in this serene corner of Newland. [Review 1222 of 2025 - 4407 in North Carolina - 24774 overall]

    So pretty! A lovely little stop. Just a short climb...:and for anyone you can't climb, you can see…read moremost of it from the rocks at the bottom.

    Photos
    Waterfalls Park - Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Waterfalls Park - Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Waterfalls Park - Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

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    Waterfalls Park aka Bobby McLean Memorial Park, Newland

    Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining - Fish shack

    Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining

    4.2(36 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    I have been going to this place since the mid 1980's as a young boy and we've brought the kids here…read moreseveral times over the past few years. They have both a Gem mine and the trout fishing and in the old days had a mini golf course but that is long gone now. The main guy who operates it, Heath, is super nice and helpful. He got us setup and helped my kids learn to cast the poles and get the hook out once the fish were caught. They charge by the pound and the trout are pretty big so plan a big meal ahead. There's a little extra for cleaning the fish but that's worth it. If you are looking for a fun kid activity this is also a kid friendly place as long as they can hold the pole and reel with your help. The poles, bait, and buckets are supplied so you don't have to bring anything with you. They'll pack it in ice for you also when you leave so you'll be able to keep your fresh catch cold. ----TL;DR----- PROS: plenty of parking, friendly folks, usually it's pretty easy to catch a fish, family run, family oriented and kids will likely enjoy it CONS: none, it's lots of fun BOTTOM LINE: if you like fishing and want to spend a fun few hours, check them out. We've been many times and still love to go back!

    They supply everything. Three ponds. The man who works there was very friendly and informative…read more Very nice guy. You don't pay if you don't catch. They even have collapsible chairs. Clean spot. Great time!

    Photos
    Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining - Hours of operation (as of April 2023)

    Hours of operation (as of April 2023)

    Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining - Trout farm building gem mining station and one pond.

    Trout farm building gem mining station and one pond.

    Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining - Wide open space

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    Wide open space

    Grandfather Mountain - parks - Updated June 2026

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