COVID-19 information for parks under phase 3
Posted on: Monday, October 5, 2020 - 2:12pm |
Profile Trail
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, 2020Park Maps and Brochures:
Profile Trail
Ascending about 1,775 feet over 3.6 miles, this trail begins at the Profile Trail parking area at 4198 NC Hwy 105 N and ends at the Grandfather Trail at Calloway Gap. Beginning as a scenic, rolling pathway through seasonal wildflowers, this trail crosses the Watauga River and travels under a hardwood canopy for much of its length. Upper sections, beginning around Foscoe View, get steeper. Shanty Spring, at 3.2 miles, marks a transition into a strenuous pathway of tumble-down rock that joins the Grandfather Trail after a climb of 0.4 mile. It makes the transition out of the hardwoods and into the Canadian fir zone of the crest area. The upper section is steep and rocky and calls for careful footwork; this section is not recommended for pets. Use extreme caution on stream crossings — do not attempt in high water.
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
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- 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
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- 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