All hikes will be slow paced on natural surface trails, cover less than three miles and last two to three hours. All participants must wear masks or face coverings, come wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the conditions and please leave pets at home. This is appropriate for all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Please RSVP for hikes by phone 828-963-9522 or at grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. Participation is limited.
COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 3/26/2021)
Posted on: Friday, March 26, 2021 - 1:54pm |
Events and Programs
Status of park facilities
Trails and restrooms are open. Restroom facilities are closed periodically throughout the day, so that staff can adhere to cleaning protocols. Please be patient with the staff during this time.
The park office is open from Wednesday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both your nose and mouth, is required to enter the office.
Backcountry campsites, including group campsites, are open. All campers must reserve a campsite online or by calling Aspira at 1-877-722-6762. You have until 9:00pm the day of your arrival to reserve the site; however, we recommend making your reservation before you go to the park, as cellular service is not reliable and Aspira's phone lines have recently had long wait times.
Visitors are expected to wear masks while in the park and adhere to the social distancing standards while on the trails and in the parking lot area. Entry to the park will be restricted if the park reaches max capacity or if social distancing standards are not being adhered to.
Please note: the Grandfather Mountain attraction (Mile-High Swinging Bridge) is managed by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. Please visit their website for their current operating status.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. As of October 3, we are following modified Phase 3.
Last updated on: Monday, October 5, 2020
Contact the park
828-963-9522
grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Park office
9872 N.C. 105 S.
Suite 6
Banner Elk, NC 28604
GPS: 36.1549, -81.7872
Profile Trail parking area
4198 N.C. 105 N.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
GPS: 36.1197, -81.8350
Mailing address
P.O. Box 9
Linville, NC 28646
Other accesses
Boone Fork parking area
Mile marker: 299.9
Blue Ridge Parkway
Banner Elk, NC 28604
GPS: 36.1200, -81.7813
(managed by NPS)
Asutsi Trail parking area
Blowing Rock Highway
(U.S. 221)
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
GPS: 36.1163, -81.7773
(managed by NPS)
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
2050 Blowing Rock Highway
Linville, NC 28646
GPS: 36.0851, -81.8462
(fee charged)
Hours
►
- To accommodate early hikes, park gates are not closed on a daily basis. However, they may close due to weather conditions.
- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to May:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- June to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- Open Monday to Friday:
8:00am to 4:30pm
- You may contact our office during business hours or after hours; leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
- Closed Christmas Day
Scheduled events
Grandfather Mountain State Park offers a variety of learning opportunities for all ages. Typically led by park rangers, these interpretive programs allow the public to gain perspective into what makes North Carolina state parks naturally wonderful.
Most of the events are free, though some require pre-registration. All give park visitors deeper insight into the natural world. Call the park office for more information.
Date of Event:
Thu, 04/22/2021 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Start Location:
Bear Paw State Natural Area at the end of Dutch Creek Road; go to 3511 Dutch Creek Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 then continue to the dead end to the small gravel parking area
All hikes will be slow paced on natural surface trails, cover less than three miles and last two to three hours. All participants must wear masks or face coverings, come wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the conditions and please leave pets at home. This is appropriate for all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Please RSVP for hikes by phone 828-963-9522 or at grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. Participation is limited.
Date of Event:
Mon, 04/26/2021 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Start Location:
Profile Trail parking area of Grandfather Mountain State Park; 4198 NC Hwy 105 N, Banner Elk, NC 28604
All hikes will be slow paced on natural surface trails, cover less than three miles and last two to three hours. All participants must wear masks or face coverings, come wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the conditions and please leave pets at home. This is appropriate for all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Please RSVP for hikes by phone 828-963-9522 or at grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. Participation is limited.
More likely to come in May.
Date of Event:
Thu, 04/29/2021 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Start Location:
Boone Fork parking area of Blue Ridge Parkway MP 299.9 (Tanawha and Nuwati Trails)
Park Maps and Brochures:
