Grandfather Mountain North Carolina: Family Guide

Growing up my family would always take our summer vacation in North Carolina. We are continuing this tradition with our children. One of the must-see attractions for families is Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.

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Welcome Building for Grandfather Mountain

Welcome Booth

We began our day at Grandfather Mountain by stopping at the Welcome booth. This is where you will pay for your tickets. At the time of our visit, adults were $22 and children were $9. We had a coupon that we had picked up at Linville Caverns that saved us $5 so keep an eye out for those! Even with the coupon, I was a little surprised at the price. However, after spending the day at the park I realized it was a fantastic deal for a vacation spot in North Carolina. In addition to all the park has to offer your family, your ticket purchase also benefits the nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. The Foundation protects and preserves the park for future generations. You can learn more about the Foundation in the nature center.

CD Audio Tour

At the welcome booth you will also receive a cd audio tour. I thought this was a fantastic resource to have while visiting Grandfather Mountain North Carolina. There is a little sign just beyond the welcome booth that tells you when to begin the audio tour. The audio tour guides you as you drive up the mountain. It points out the history behind certain features of the park and plays beautiful bluegrass music in the background.

Audio Guide Given To You At Welcome Center

Programs Included With Admission

There are several activities that your family can participate in that are included with your admission ticket.

Junior Ranger Program

This 20-minute program allows kids to participate in hands-on activities to learn about Grandfather Mountain’s wondrous ecosystem. The program is geared toward children ages 5-12. The class meets at the butterfly garden which is located just outside the fudge shop. If you are visiting in 2019 the class is offered daily at 11:30 am May 27th through August 18th. It is offered only on the weekends of August 19th through September 30th.

Animal Encounters

Picture of Otter

Otters, eagles, and bears, oh my! My children really enjoyed visiting the animal exhibits located in the park. Held April 1 through October 31 the animal encounters provide you an opportunity to experience the North Carolina native animals up close. It also provides you an opportunity to ask questions from the staff. We found the staff to be very kind and willing to answer our questions. All of the animals are included in these encounters throughout the day. Check the brochure you receive at the welcome center for the times the encounters will occur.

There are also Keeper Talks where you can learn about some of the off-display animals and ask questions. These talks are available at 2 p.m. on weekends, April 1 to October 31st.

Peaks and Profiles At The Bridge

This experience provides you the opportunity to join Grandfather Mountain’s naturalist to explore the mountain’s unique weather, climate, flora, and fauna. This program meets at the Mile Hile Swinging Bridge. It is offered on weekends from April 1 to May 27th at 1 & 3 pm. It is offered daily from April 1 to September 30th at 1 & 3 pm.

Additional Cost Experiences

The tours presented below require a reservation so be sure to call (828) 733-8715 or inquire at the Nature Museum Gift Shop to save your spot.

Behind-The-Scenes Habitat Tour

What better way to learn about the North Carolina native animals than experiencing them up close? In this experience, you will take a 90-minute tour to see the resident animals. You can participate in this tour on weekends (12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m) April 1 through October 31st.

Meet The Cougars: VIP Tour

Maybe you are a big fan of cougars. In this 30-minute tour you will get the opportunity to meet the mountain’s resident cougars. This presentation is offered at 11:30 a.m. to noon on weekends, April 1 to October 31.

Keeper For A Day Habitat Program

This experience sounds like a blast. You will learn what it takes to be a Grandfather Mountain habitat keeper. This presentation is offered Tuesdays, April 1 through October 31.

Forrest Gump Curve

As you climb the turns of Grandfather Mountain be sure to keep an eye out for Forrest Gump Curve. The portion of the movie when people start running behind Forrest was filmed on this curve. Be sure to listen in to your audio guide for the fun surprise that happened during filming!

Picnic Time

Picture of picnic tables at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

One thing you want to remember when you come to Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina is your picnic lunch. We got a late start to our day so we ended up stopping at another picnic spot before arriving at the park. Boy were we disappointed when we realized what beautiful picnic spots were available at Grandfather Mountain. As you meander up the mountain your first stop with picnic tables is the Woods Walk picnic area. In addition to the picnic tables at Woods Walk, you can find a nice .4 of a mile walk through nature.

Cliffside picnic area at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Cliffside Picnic Area At Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

Cliffside-the picnic spot pictured above is the next stop on your journey up the mountain. The Cliffside picnic area is absolutely stunning. This was originally where the road ended before the swinging bridge was built in 1952. With views of Mount Mitchell to the Southwest and views of Grandmother Mountain, the panoramic views at Cliffside are not to be missed. When we go back next time this will definitely be where we stop to eat! If you happen to forget a picnic, Mildred’s Grill located at the Nature Center will pack you a picnic lunch. As you travel up the mountain keep a lookout for the picnic areas. It’s not hard to identify all the wonderful spots you can have a picnic with your family at Grandfather Mountain.

Sphinx and Split Rocks

Located just beyond the Woods Walk Picnic area you will come upon the Spinx and Split Rocks. Weighing in at 2 million pounds these rocks are an impressive sight. Our children enjoyed parking and seeing the rocks up close. Not only did they see the rocks but they went over, under, and through the rocks which was fun.

Grandfather Mountain Nature Center

In front of nature center
In front of the Nature Center at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.

The Grandfather Mountain Nature Center was definitely one of our favorite stops. As mentioned above there are picnic shelters located at the nature center. So if you are looking for a shady picnic or escape from the elements these are the picnic tables for you.

As you enter the Nature Center you will find a natural history museum. This museum is full of natural history featuring North Carolina artifacts and native plants and animals. You will first see a beautiful display of North Carolina gems & minerals. There is also a display of the native birds and plants/flowers in North Carolina. The exhibit also pays homage to the early explorers at Grandfather Mountain. You will also find a weather exhibit with interactive touch screens.

Picture of wildflower exhibit

At the Nature Center there is also an auditorium which shows free films. The featured selection plays on a loop throughout the day. You will also find clean restrooms at this stop. As mentioned before, Mildred’s Grill is located inside the Nature Center. At Mildred’s Grill you can take a break to rest your feet and you can grab a hot delicious meal at an affordable price. For prices view the menu here.

Finally, what is visiting one of these places with kids without visiting the gift shop? 😉 You will find that the location of the gift shop is nice because you can avoid it if you want to. We wanted to grab some postcards so we took a quick stop to get a couple.

Animal Habitats

Picture of bear, cougar, otter, elk, and eagle

Just outside the Nature Center you will find the animal habitats. This was definitely one of the favorites for our kids. In this section of the park you can see otters, bears, elk, cougars, and bald eagles. As mentioned above there are times throughout the day where you can hear talks from the keepers. They will also feed the animals which will bring them closer to the fences for you to see. When we were there you could not see the bears until the keeper came and fed them.

Fudge Shop

Picture of fudge shop & fudge

I shall not tell a lie 🙂 The fudge shop was the favorite stop for mama. With several flavors to choose from you have to take a minute to go in the fudge shop. Even if you don’t want to buy any, do yourself a favor and go inside and grab some samples. They are very generous with the samples and they will let you taste as many as you like. I’m pretty sure if you have any flavors we tried you won’t want to pass it up. We bought two squares-peach and snickers and seriously they were the best fudge I’ve ever had.

Hiking

picture of a sign showing bridge trail and the distance

Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina has both Backcountry Hiking and Attraction Side Trails. You can find detailed information regarding the trails here. Since we were hiking with children we didn’t strap on our boots to partake in the backcountry hiking. The trail we decided to take is called the Bridge Trail. As you head up the mountain from the Nature Center keep an eye out for signs. You will park on the right side of the road and walk across the street to access the trail.

picture of child climbing bridge trail

While only 0.4 miles, the bridge trail will get your heart pumping. It is a winding trail made mostly of rocks but a great way to get up to the mile-high bridge. Our 6 and 8-year-old children were able to do it with no problems. The three-year-old was able to make it most of the way but had to be carried in a child carrier similar to this one part of the way. We also have a Kelty that we love to use when we are out hiking-especially for a toddler but we forgot that one at home 🙁

Grandfather Mountain closes at 7 p.m. but you must be back to your car by 6. Be sure to plan plenty of time to hike both to and from the top of the mountain and have time to enjoy the swinging bridge and museum at the top. We hit the trail at 4:30 and it was just enough time. Be sure to also bring your hiking with kids essentials of a first aid kit, water bottles, and bug spray with picaridin to name a few.

The Mile High Bridge

Dad pointing to mountains with son on mile high bridge
The views are stunning on the swinging bridge!

Standing 5,280 feet above sea level and 80 feet above the canyon below, the swinging bridge is likely one of the main reasons you chose to visit Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. It is definitely a sight to see. It has changed some since it’s inception in 1952. The original bridge had wooden floorboards. I remember coming as a child and being so scared to cross the swinging bridge-because it really did swing back then! However, in 1999 the bridge was rebuilt with galvanized steel. Some people now call it the singing bridge instead of the swinging bridge.

Picture from below the swinging bridge

My kids had no fear when it came to crossing the bridge. However, once you reach the other side it does become a lot more dangerous. There is a little area to stand once you get to the other side. However, if you have the daredevil gene you can walk out further to a boulder with spectacular views. (this area has no guardrails though). I decided to stay where my feet were firm and my husband took turns taking my middle child and youngest child out to see the view. My oldest was just fine to hang with mom.

In addition to the Mile High Bridge, you will find the Top Shop. The Top Shop has restrooms and a gift shop. It also has a small museum with pictures showing Grandfather Mountain through the years. The Top Shop also has an elevator making the bridge accessible to people with disabilities.

Whew! You made it. We hope this guide inspires your family to take a trip out to Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. Be sure to check out our things to do with kids in Boone NC for more family-friendly attractions near Grandfather Mountain. If you are wondering how you can afford your next vacation be sure to check out my post on how to save money on your next vacation. In the meantime- Stay Peachy!

Signature Peachy Keene

50 thoughts on “Grandfather Mountain North Carolina: Family Guide”

  1. I”m so excited to be back in the Carolinas fulltime. This is on my list of weekend trips for sure. Great information for when we go! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Kate,
      That is so great that you will be in the Carolinas full time. I’m happy to hear Grandfather Mountain is on your to-do list. I’m also happy that the article had helpful information for your upcoming visit. I hope you have a fabulous time-give yourself a full day, there is so much to do!

      Reply
  2. Wow, this looks like so much fun! Thanks for the great tips. I’ve never heard of this park before but will definitely look into it.

    Reply
    • Beth,
      Thank you! I’m happy it intrigued you for a future visit. I hope you will be able to make it and that you will have a wonderful time! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Happy travels! Stay Peachy!

      Reply
  3. I remember a childhood friend talking about going to Grandfather Mountain when we were growing up. She had a wonderful time and brought back a little rock that I was SO jealous of! 🙂
    We used to live in NC and I don’t know why we never made it over to explore. It looks like a lot of fun for all ages. And the fudge would be a great treat!
    Thanks for sharing such a detailed post!

    Reply
    • I love that this brought back a childhood memory for you. So funny what we remember from our childhood 🙂 I’m happy you enjoyed the post. Even though you no longer live in North Carolina I hope you will still be able to make it over to Grandfather Mountain!

      Reply
    • Lori,
      It is a great place to hike! I hope you can make it to across the swinging bridge sometime. It really is an adventure!

      Reply
  4. This park is beautiful! My family would love it. I would want to have a picnic with that view–gorgeous! My daughter would really love the nature center. We need to add Grandfather Mountain to our list of places to visit. We haven’t spent a lot of time in North Carolina, but we need to!

    Reply
    • Stacey,
      Thank you for your thoughtful comment. The picnic stop with the view really is amazing-I was pretty bummed that we ate before we arrived. I’m happy to hear that it inspired you to travel to North Carolina to visit someday. Happy travels and Stay Peachy!

      Reply
  5. Grandfather mountain is a great visit. Boone was one of our favorite places to visit on a road trip one summer. Thank you for bringing up good memories.

    Reply
  6. That price would have been a concern of mine too, but once you highlighted how much there is to see and do, it makes a lot more sense!

    Reply
    • Pam,
      Yes, there is so much to do there. I was disappointed that we didn’t make it when it first opened. You could spend a whole day on the trails alone. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

      Reply
    • Yes! I would love to do some of that myself but we haven’t gotten brave enough to hike that far with kids. The most we’ve done is 4 miles 🙂 Hope your hip is 100% soon 🙂

      Reply
    • Jennifer,
      You should definitely try to get out there. It is such a beautiful place. Thanks for stopping by. Stay peachy!

      Reply
    • Amanda,
      Yes, you definitely should go. I think your family would really enjoy it! Happy travels & stay peachy!

      Reply
    • Kelli,
      Thanks so much! I’m happy you enjoyed it and that it inspired you to visit again 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful trip when you make it! Stay Peachy!

      Reply
  7. Looks like an awesome place to visit. We will be heading up to the area in a few months and this was on my list of must visits. I had never heard of it before until I started watching the Outlander series, apparently the mountain where they settle is said to be Grandfather Mountain area. We don’t have any little ones going with us but it sure looked like there was plenty for them to do and enjoy!

    Reply
    • Nikki,
      You definitely should check out Grandfather Mountain if you are going to be in the area. It is such a beautiful place to visit. Without little ones with you there is some great hiking to be done there 🙂 That’s so fun that you saw it on the Outlander series. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Stay Peachy!

      Reply
    • We really enjoyed the audio tour as well. They did not have that perk when I came as a child but I felt like it really added to the experience. It was like you had a tour guide right there in the car with you 🙂 Thanks for your comment-stay peachy!

      Reply
  8. I love the animal encounter. This looks like a lot of fun. We are in North Carolina this week for vacation. I will have to see how far away we are from this.

    Reply
    • Clara,
      I didn’t realize about Forrest Gump either until we visited 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Stay Peachy!

      Reply
  9. I’m pretty sure we went here when I was a kid. It brought so many vague memories back as I looked at your pics. My son would love the animal habitats.

    Reply
    • Trish,
      I’m happy to hear that my post brought back fond memories for you. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Happy travels!

      Reply

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