Fair disclaimer- Grandfather Mountain is awesome- the pictures in this post might be slightly lacking into really helping in the seeing is believe department-blame a faulty memory card. My bad. Virtual wrist slap.
The Appalachian chain has some amazing mountains, and right at the tiptop of the list of awesomeness for us is Grandfather Mountain. Situated right in the heart of the Appalachians- this is a vast, wild mountain, as old as time. Wander up to its summit- on a clear day you can see for miles and miles.
Thick fog high on the mountain.
One Mountain, Two Different Worlds
One Mountain, Two Different Worlds
Fair disclaimer! Grandfather Mountain is awesome. However, the pictures in this post might be slightly lacking. Blame a faulty memory card for that in the “seeing is believing” department. My bad! Please give me a virtual wrist slap.
The Appalachian chain has some amazing mountains. Right at the tiptop of the list of awesomeness for us is Grandfather Mountain. Situated right in the heart of the Appalachians, this is a vast, wild mountain. It is as old as time itself! Wander up to its summit on a clear day and you can see for miles and miles.
The mountain itself has a relatively unique history. In recent years, it has figuratively split into two. Half of the mountain is privately maintained, while the other half remains a State Park. Both halves are amazing! Dedicate some time to explore both halves of the mountain.
Today, we are chatting about the privately maintained half. This side of the mountain is user-friendly for all visitors. It is perfect whether you are a hardcore hiker or just showed up for the epic views!
The downside is that it costs money because it is privately maintained. The good news is that the majority of these funds go back into the foundation. They maintain and protect this precious resource. We are not big splurgers, but to me, this one is worth it!
The standard cost is around $25 to $35 per person. Always ask about discounts! Grandfather offers lots of them for students, military, and AAA members. They will save you a bundle!
What Your Grandfather Mountain Tickets Get You
So, what do you get for all those dollar bills? An awful lot!
To start with, included in your admission is a free CD. Pop it in when you get it! The narrator gives you a guided tour as you drive up the road. It is even accompanied by sweet bluegrass tunes to set the mood. Stops along the road to the summit include several amazing overlooks, a museum, a restaurant, and native species habitats.
You will also find a fudge shop! Finally, the pinnacle of your adventure is the mile-high swinging bridge. It is suspended across two massive peaks.
In addition to all of that, this side also features three hiking trails. Hikers can easily connect these together to create a loop. This is great for a day hike! You can also continue along and connect to the trails on the State Park side. Just be prepared for a night in the backcountry!
Rule of the Mountain: Navigating the Wild Weather
The most important thing to remember about any trip to Grandfather is that this is a rugged mountain. Remember that mile-high swinging bridge? Mile-high means 5,000 feet! For the East Coast, that is quite a high elevation.
Because of this, the rule of mountains applies here. The further up you go, the more the weather changes. Weather at the base of the mountain can be gorgeous. As you climb up the mountain, you become more exposed to winds. Higher elevations mean fewer trees!
Sometimes what you see at the bottom is not what you get at the top. To escape a storm, we took a mini ‘hurrication.’ Our drive brought us all the way to the top only to be greeted by a summit socked in with fog. Hurricane-force winds whipped past us, trying to knock us right off our feet! Not to mention, it was freaking cold.
Embracing the Foggy Days
To us, that is okay. It is all part of the adventure! I have stood on the summit in perfect weather. I have also stood there when I could not see my hand in front of my face! Both experiences were incredible.
If you are set on seeing clear views, call ahead or take a peek at the summit as you approach. Generally, if the peak looks clear from the road, it will be clear when you get there too!
But if you are up for an adventure, just go. Embrace whatever weather you get. Even as a seasoned climber, I can tell you that bridge can be pretty gnarly in a good strong headwind! Not to mention, enough wind makes the bridge sing like a harmonica. Yep, it actually sings! Have I sold you on the foggy weather days yet? They are pretty amazing.
The center of the mile high swing bridge, reminds you exactly how high up you are!
For more info visit Grandfather Mountain online, here– worth a click even if its just to check out their awesome list of annual events, Highland Games anyone? Interested in exploring the State Park side of the mountain? Click here.
Been to Grandfather? Have a story to tell about YOUR favorite mountain. Drop us a line in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
Grandfather Mountain – Just The Basics:
Address: US 221 & The Blue Ridge Parkway
Linville, NC 28646
Cost: $20 per person (AAA, Senior, Student & Military Discounts Available)
Things To Do: Hiking, Wildlife Watching, Museum, Scenic Overlooks, Nature Photography
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