Grandfather Mountain

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