Grandfather Mountain State Park is located near Linville, North Carolina. At 5,946 feet (1,812 m), it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes by the south side of the mountain and also passes over the nearby Grandmother Gap. It is located at the meeting point of Avery, Caldwell (highest point), and Watauga (highest point) counties.
Wilderness Map of Linville Gorge North in the Grandfahter Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Wilderness Map of Linville Gorge South in the Grandfahter Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Wilderness Map of Lost Cove of Linville Gorge Wilderness in the Grandfahter Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Wilderness Map of Harper Creek of Linville Gorge Wilderness in the Grandfahter Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Overview Map of Linville Gorge Wilderness in the Grandfahter Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Official Visitor Map of Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (NHT) in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the Appalachian Ranger District in Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the Grandfather Ranger District in Pisgah National Forest (NF) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Guide to North Carolina State Parks. Published by North Carolina State Parks.
Grandfather Mountain SP
https://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_Mountain
Grandfather Mountain State Park is located near Linville, North Carolina. At 5,946 feet (1,812 m), it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes by the south side of the mountain and also passes over the nearby Grandmother Gap. It is located at the meeting point of Avery, Caldwell (highest point), and Watauga (highest point) counties.
Grandfather Mountain STATE PARK
Activities
Experience the Park!
Peregrine falcons
and ravens nest
among the many
rocky cliffs.
GPS: 36.1112, -81.8114
Grandfather Mountain State Park
9872 Hwy 105 S, Ste. 6
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-963-9522
grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov
Grandfather Mountain is home to the
highest concentration of Bent Avens,
a rare and protected plant.
Grandfather Mountain is the
highest peak in the Blue Ridge
range at 5,946 feet.
Fun Facts
Over
13 miles of
hiking trails
■■ Grandfather Mountain State Park was established
in 2009.
■■ Grandfather Mountain and the surrounding area
was once proposed to become a national park.
■■ In the early 1900s, most of the forested sections of
the park were heavily logged to the point of nearly
being clearcut.
■■ A narrow gauge railroad was used to haul timber to
nearby sawmills.
The area is
known for
some of the
South’s most
severe weather.
The mountain is named
for Profile Rock, which
looks like an old man’s
bearded face.
■■ Grandfather Mountain is a unique geological
formation known as “The Grandfather Window.”
■■ Two species of salamanders were first recorded
at Grandfather Mountain: the Wellers and the
Yonahlossee.
There are more than
a dozen different
ecological zones that can
be found in the park.
■■ The swinging bridge, zoo and MacRae Meadows are
all part of the privately owned attraction. There is an
entrance fee to access those areas.
■■ Grandfather Mountain is considered one of the
East’s most significant peaks and is also a unit of
the United Nations’ Southern Appalachian Man and
Biosphere Reserve.
The Grandfather Trail is one of the most
challenging trails in the southeast and
has 18 ladders to aid hikers in climbing
the many cliffs and crags.
■■ Over 70 species of rare, threatened or endangered
species can be found in the park.
■■ The spruce-fir moss spider, a tiny tarantula, can be
found at the highest elevations in the park.
ncparks.gov
MNQPV
Pettigrew State Park
South Mountains State Park – 2018 Park of the Year
Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages more
than 234,000 acres of iconic landscape across our state in our
parks, recreation areas and natural areas with a mission dedicated
to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system
welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2017.
Discover More with a Ranger
Across North Carolina, state park rangers are proud of our parks
and eager to welcome you and your family. Come to our parks
to marvel at our state’s most beautiful natural resources, enjoy
your favorite outdoor activities and learn about the rich science,
culture and history that make our parks great.
Fun facts about North Carolina State Parks
■■ There are 41 places to visit, including 34 parks, four
recreation areas and three staffed state natural areas.
■■ The Division manages four state rivers, seven state lakes
and six state trails.
■■ There are about 581 miles of trail to explore in our parks.
■■ The
first state park created was Mount Mitchell State Park
on March 3, 1915. Fort Macon State Park was the second.
■■ The Division celebrated 100 years of being Naturally
Wonderful in 2016.
■■ Parks that welcome over 1 million visitors annually include:
Jockey’s Ridge, Fort Macon and William B. Umstead state
parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state
recreation areas.
■■ The Division employs over 1,000 people across the state.
■■ Some
www.ncparks.gov
M N P Q
Roy Cooper
Governor
unique activities you can do in our parks include:
wind surfing and hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge State Park,
cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Elk Knob State
Park, driving on the four-wheel-drive beach at Fort Fisher
State Recreation Area and rock climbing at Chimney Rock,
Crowders Mountain, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and
Stone Mountain state parks.
Susi H. Hamilton
Secretary
75,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $10,707.92 or $0.14 each. 03/18
Did you know that many plants atop Mount Mitchell are rare
in North Carolina but common in Quebec? That the giant
sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge are constantly moving? Do you
know how to safely hold a crayfish? From fishing lessons to
astronomy programs and tree identification hikes to guided
paddles, parks offer programs for all ages. Visit our website for a
list of upcoming programs at each park.
Junior Rangers
The Junior Ranger program offers educational and skill-based
activities to encourage children to explore the outdoors. Children
can complete activity guides, geared for ages 6-12, and attend
ranger programs to earn a junior ranger patch unique to each
park. Ask about the program at a park office or download the
guide at: www.ncparks.gov/junior-rangers.
Environmental Education Learning Experiences
Parks have their own curriculum guides that are correlated to
the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Competency goals
in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language
arts are available. Each program includes pre-visit, on-site and
post-visit student activities that have measurable objectives,
background information, vocabulary, references and step-bystep activity instructions.
Passport Program
How many state parks can you visit? Use your passport as a guide
and collect stamps, earn prizes and make “Naturally Wonderful”
memories! Pick up your passport at a state park near you.
North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge
Can you hike, bike or paddle 100 miles in
a year? Join the N.C. State Parks’ 100-Mile
Challenge and log your miles online to earn
digital badges and redeem prizes as you reach
various milestones! This is a great way to get
outside, get moving and keep track of your
activity. Visit www.nc100miles.org to sign up.
■■ Several parks have educational trails, called TRACK trails, that
include activities for children to complete along the way.
William B. Umstead State Park
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Friends Of State Parks
Join the Friends of State Parks to help support, promote
and advocate for the parks system as a whole, or join the
friends group of your favorite park. The group helps provide
funding for Junior Ranger and Youth in Parks – Environmental
Education programs, as well as grants for state parks projects.
You can also make a donation to help keep our parks around
for future generations. Learn more at www.ncfsp.org or
www.ncparks.gov/support-your-parks.
Merchandise
Want to show your N.C. State Parks pride? Visit the online
webstore and purchase products such as coffee mugs, prints,
t-shirts, pins, patches and Christmas ornaments. This exclusive
merchandise makes a great gift for special state parks fans,
including yourself. www.ncparkstore.com
N.C. State Parks License Plate
Show your support for state parks every time you drive your
vehicle! Purchase an N.C. State Parks license plate through the
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicl