Grandfather Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grandfather Mountain |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,946 ft (1,812 m) |
| Prominence | 2,444 ft (745 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Avery / Caldwell / Watauga counties, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Grandfather Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Grandfather Mountain is a famous mountain in North Carolina, USA. It's not just a mountain; it's also a fun place to visit and a North Carolina state park. Standing tall at 5,946 feet (1,812 meters), it's the highest point on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains are a big part of the Appalachian Mountains chain.
You can find Grandfather Mountain where three counties meet: Avery, Caldwell, and Watauga. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway even goes right by the mountain.
Contents
A Mountain with a History
For many years, until 2008, Grandfather Mountain was owned by a private family. They ran it as a special nature area and a place for tourists to visit. It became super famous for its "Mile-High Swinging Bridge." This bridge was built in 1952 by Hugh Morton. It's the highest swinging bridge in America!
The bridge connects two rocky peaks of the mountain. It's called "swinging" because it can sway when the wind blows hard. Hugh Morton inherited the mountain from his grandfather and added all the cool attractions. After he passed away in 2006, he gave all his amazing photographs, including many of Grandfather Mountain, to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Becoming a State Park
In 2008, the state of North Carolina bought a big part of Grandfather Mountain, about 2,600 acres (10.5 square kilometers). This undeveloped area became the 34th North Carolina State Park. The Morton family, who used to own the mountain, then created a special non-profit group called the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. This foundation now runs the tourist attraction part of the mountain.
This setup means that the "backcountry" (the wilder parts) is now a state park. State park rangers patrol this area to keep it safe. The "attraction side" (with the bridge and museum) is still managed by the foundation. This way, the fun activities that might not fit state park rules can still happen.
In 2011, the Grandfather Mountain State Park opened its first office area.
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a special non-profit group. It was started by the Morton family in 2009. Their job is to manage the popular Grandfather Mountain attraction.
This foundation looks after about 720 acres of the mountain. This includes the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, the Nature Museum, and the Animal Habitats. All the money they make from tickets and souvenirs goes right back into protecting Grandfather Mountain. It also helps them teach visitors about nature and how important it is to take care of our Earth.
Their main goal, set in 2014, is to "Inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain." A board of directors guides the foundation, and they hire the staff who work at the attraction.
Amazing Physical Features
Grandfather Mountain is 5,964 feet (1,818 meters) above sea level. Because it's so high, it has 16 different types of natural environments, each with its own plants and animals! The mountain is known for its rough and rugged look, with many hidden caves and tall cliffs.
People have reported some of the strongest winds ever recorded on Grandfather Mountain. The mountain has even updated its wind equipment to get better measurements.
The main ridge of the mountain runs from north to south. It has four named peaks:
- Calloway Peak (5,964 feet)
- Attic Window Peak (5,949 feet)
- MacRae Peak (5,844 feet)
- Linville Peak (5,295 feet)
Even though MacRae Peak isn't the highest, it's very challenging to reach because of its steep and exposed paths.
Two rivers start on Grandfather Mountain: the Linville River, which flows east, and the Watauga River, which flows west. Many smaller streams also begin on the mountain's slopes.
High up on Grandfather Mountain, like on many peaks above 5,000 feet in North Carolina, you can find a special "island" of spruce-fir trees. Sadly, many of these trees were damaged by tiny insects called balsam woolly adelgids. But a part of this unique forest still remains. Many of the fir trees here are permanently bent by the strong winds that often blow from the west. These mountaintop forests are very important homes for many different plants and animals that are suited to living at high elevations.
How to Visit Grandfather Mountain
You can get to the attraction side of the mountain, where the Mile High Swinging Bridge is, by driving up the Grandfather Mountain Entrance Road. You'll need to pay a fee at the main gate. Sometimes, parts of the attraction might close if the weather is bad, especially in late fall, winter, and spring.
If you want to hike or camp in the "backcountry" state park area, it's free! You just need to get a permit at the trailheads. But if you enter or leave the park through the attraction side, you still have to pay the entrance fee. Park rangers patrol the trails to make sure everyone follows the rules. Fires are not allowed at many of the higher campsites because of strong winds.
Grandfather Mountain has 11 trails, ranging from easy walks to some of the toughest hikes in the Eastern U.S.
- East Side Trails: You can start these trails from the Boone Fork parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A popular route to Calloway Peak is the Daniel Boone Scout trail, which has two large ladders to help you climb over rocks.
- West Side Trails: These trails are accessed from NC 105. The Profile trail climbs steadily and passes a famous rock feature that looks like a human face.
- The Grandfather Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long and connects Calloway Peak to the Swinging Bridge. It goes over Attic Window and MacRae Peaks. This trail is very difficult and technical. It has steep climbs, strong winds, cliffs, and requires using fixed ladders and cables. It takes much longer to hike this trail than a normal trail of the same length. In bad weather, like winter, it's only for very experienced hikers because of ice, snow, and cold winds.
Fun Things to Do
One of the biggest Highland Games in North America happens here every year! The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games bring visitors from all over the world. They celebrate the Scottish heritage of many people who settled in the area. You can see traditional Scottish games and listen to Scottish music. Many people say these are the best Highland Games in the United States because the mountain scenery reminds them of Scotland. It's also known as the largest "gathering of clans" because so many different family groups come together.
A paved road leads to one of the mountain's peaks, Linville Peak. Here, you'll find a museum, the famous "mile-high swinging bridge," and amazing views. On a clear day, you might even see the city skyline of Charlotte, which is about 100 miles away! You can also see the Grandfather Mountain Golf and Country Club below.
As you drive up the mountain, you'll see special wildlife habitats and picnic areas. Grandfather Mountain is home to six different animal habitats where you can see black bears, river otters, cougars, bald eagles, and elk.
Mildred the Bear was a famous black bear who lived at Grandfather Mountain. She came from the Atlanta Zoo in 1968 and lived in a special 2-acre habitat built for her. Mildred passed away in 1993.
Did you know that a scene from the 1994 movie Forrest Gump, where the main character runs on a winding mountain road, was filmed here?
Climate on the Mountain
Grandfather Mountain has a humid continental climate, which means it's cooler than most other parts of North Carolina. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are mild. The mountain gets a lot of rain throughout the year, especially in June and September. The most snow usually falls in February.
The earliest snow ever recorded was on September 10, 1964, and the latest was on May 27, 1967.
Photo gallery
-
Mile-High Swinging Bridge.
-
View of Linville Peak from visitor's center upper parking lot.
-
View from Grandfather Golf & Country Club entrance.
-
View from Beacon Heights.
-
View from Half Moon Overlook.
-
Hairpin turns on the mountain.
-
One of several "Grandfather" profiles on the mountain.
-
View from near Attic Window Peak summit.
.jpg)
Nearby State Parks and Forests
Here are some state parks close to Grandfather Mountain State Park (within 30 miles):
- Elk Knob State Park
- Lake James State Park
- Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
- New River State Park
Other parks a bit further away (about 110 miles):
- DuPont State Forest
- Brevard (a city near trails in Pisgah National Forest)
Images for kids
-
Facing North from the Mile-High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain.
-
Two river otters swimming underwater in the wildlife exhibit at Grandfather Mountain State Park, North Carolina.
