COVID-19 information for parks under phase 3
Posted on: Monday, October 5, 2020 - 2:12pm |
WARNING: There is ice located on several parts of the Grandfather Trail, especially around the north side of McRae Peak. Please use extreme caution when hiking at high elevations on Grandfather Mountain State Park Trails.
Last updated on: Sunday, October 18, 2020Trails 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, 2020Weekend delays: Due to increased visitation, Grandfather Mountain State Park reaches parking space capacity by 10 a.m. on good weather weekend days. The Profile Trail parking area has been reaching capacity on some weekends, and we expect this to continue as we move into the fall leaf season. Please visit the park during the week when possible; plan to arrive early morning or late afternoon on weekends; and/or have a backup plan in case the parking area is full when you arrive.
Last updated on: Wednesday, September 30, 2020
9872 N.C. 105 S.
Suite 6
Banner Elk, NC 28604
4198 N.C. 105 N.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
P.O. Box 9
Linville, NC 28646
Mile marker: 299.9
Blue Ridge Parkway
Banner Elk, NC 28604
Blowing Rock Highway
(U.S. 221)
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
2050 Blowing Rock Highway
Linville, NC 28646
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Each of North Carolina’s state parks has special events during the year and news about facilities, trails, staff and park supporters. And, visitors are frequently finding new ways to explore a park’s unique cultural and natural resources. Check these pages to keep abreast of the news at your favorite parks.
Hello Park Lovers!
This is a reminder that dogs must be kept on a 6-foot leash when visiting the park. We have this policy in place to protect the natural resources from trampling and for the safety of all visitors, both human and canine. There seems to be a lot of resistance to this rule, so we want to offer some further clarification as to why this rule is so critically important and, consequently, why we will be enforcing it more strictly going forward.
On September 18, 2019, major trail renovations will begin on the Profile Trail and will last through the following year. The trail WILL remain open during this time unless otherwise stated. To ensure the safety of contractors and other hikers, please be situationally aware and follow trail workers’ guidance for safe passage.
The Third Annual Grand-further Mountain Run will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2019, with a rain date of August 25, 2019. The race begins at 8:00am at the Lowe’s parking lot and all race participants are required to be off the mountain by 2:00 p.m. The race follows the Profile Trail up to the Grandfather Trail, continues up and over Calloway Peak, down the Daniel Boone Scout Trail to Boone Fork, and back the same route. All 150 participants must practice good trail etiquette and must be off the mountain by 3:00 p.m.
Camping is allowed with a permit at 13 backpack camping sites along the trail system, including the Hi-Balsam Shelter. Currently, the Daniel Boone Campsite (group site for 7 - 12 campers) is reservable in advance, with a fee, and all other sites are available without a fee on a first come, first served basis. Starting June 1, 2019, all 13 campsites will be reservable in advance for a fee by calling 1.877.722.6772 or going to www.reserveamerica.com.
Last spring, Grandfather Mountain State Park experienced heavy, prolonged rains that severely damaged and eroded park trails, making some areas impassable. Damage to the Nuwati and Cragway trails was so extensive that repairs will require contracting outside work. The wet weather continued as Grandfather Mountain experienced 10 feet of precipitation in 2018, compounding the damage to all our trails. Park staff are working to get contracts underway while repairing what we are able to on the other trails.
Park Maps and Brochures:
