Grandfather Mountain Reviews

We booked our times online and paid the $28 per person fee,I thought this was very high but did it anyway. I tried to use my TripAdvisor cash but TripAdvisor did not give me a code. There was a line of cars going in , but it went quick and I had our tickets saved to apple wallet . We started our ascent up the mountain and our first pull off was at sphinx rock and split rock. According to signs the rock is over 640 million years old .
Our next stop was at the main visitor center , they have lots of knowledge in there to learn about nature and the mountains and wildlife, they had a store and a place to buy food. Just saying though , a half pound of fudge was $12 , glad I was just there to enjoy the views and hike . They have an animal attraction area that was fun and all the animals were out. They have a new one coming for Hellbenders. They had bears, mountain lions, elk, bald eagle, and otters .
I went to through all we did but the swinging bridge was awesome and the views are untouchable . We hiked to there and then did the Black Rock hike. The money goes to good use in my opinion and they have a lot of staff around there helping out , answering questions and such . I would definitely do this again
By the way Grandfather Mountain State park is still closed

By far the best part of the place is the easy access it provides to the fabulous hike along the ridge to Calloway peak. The hike itself is essentially all in the State Park, but the only access to the ridge from the State Park involves a long hike in with a lot of altitude gain. So essentially you wind up paying a very high parking and access fee to come in via this facility. The swinging bridge is hokey relative to the views you get from the rocky pinnacles on the trail, and the animal exhibits are not much more than a glorified zoo with quite large enclosures. But the ridge trail itself is great. It is not for the timid or unprepared, and progress is very slow - expect to go no more than 1 mile per hour due to the steep rocky scrambles, ladders and cables involved. So arrive early and plan to be out for the bulk of the day, with clothing to cope with all conditions. The price is worth paying, although it sticks in the craw to pay so much for convenient access to public property. The private owners are clearly making a ton of money, and you wonder about their non-profit status.

Loved the colors of fall today, 10-15-22. The bridge is a must see/do. The views are worth the trip. Was disappointed that the animals were no where to be seen except for the Elk. Told the staff and was told they come out at feeding times but park was sold out and viewing would have been mad house. I'll go to a zoo. Got vegetable beef soup small 1 piece beef. That sucked.

Grandfather Mountain is always on the top of our list when we have guests visiting in North Carolina. The views are spectacular, the Swinging Bridge challenging for some but always fun, and the wildlife habitats always entertaining. I recommend going either early morning or late afternoon to avoid the ever growing summer crowds.

Great first time trip to Grandfather mountain. Crossed the mile high bridge, enjoyed the animals and the ranger talks, and lunch at Mildred's. The park was nice and clean.

One of the must do's if your in the area. When you go through the gates they will give you a CD be sure to play it as it guides you on your way up the mountain. The views are incredible. The animal enclosures are awesome with local (or what used to be local) wildlife. and the peak of the trip is the walk across the swinging bridge. Wish we had more time to hike some of the trails, that will have to be next time. This should be your number 1 or 2 thing to do if your in the area.

We were hesitant to go because of the cost but in the end decided to do it because it had been recommended to us by several people and we felt that at least the money was going to a good cause. We are so glad we did! The park is very well maintained. There are knowledgeable guides all over the park to answer your question and impart tidbits of knowledge. My little kids (7-9) loved the Junior Naturalist Program and were so excited to earn their badge. Be sure and get the booklet at the start of your visit because a lot of the question pertain to things you see in discovery center or animal habitats. The swinging bridge was a neat experience although it was so crowded we enjoyed the more private overlooks on the Black Rock Trail. Be aware though that to access those overlooks you have to climb up large rocks via a ladder and/or cable. We also did the Grandfather Trail Loop which consists of the Bridge Trail, Grandfather Trail, & Grandfather Extension Trail. All the trails were well marked, nicely shaded, and had beautiful scenery. Be aware, that all of the trails we went on were almost exclusively over rocks & roots. For that reason, I wouldn't classify any of them as easy or recommend them for anyone not sure of foot. We looked forward to the Wildlife Habitats however when we arrived at 9 AM most of the habitats were closed for cleaning. It would have been nice to know that although they claimed to be "Open" they didn't really open till later in the day. We also took the time to have lunch at Mildred's Grill. Prices were reasonable and the food was excellent. We all agreed their fries were the best we've ever had.

Went here with family today on a spur of the moment trip. We were riding by from tweetsie and decided last minute when we saw the bridge from below. My family is glad we did and my oldest son said it was a trip he will always remember. There was a wind advisory at the top and it made it very exciting. Do the hike up from the first parking lot and wear good hiking shoes. One hiker while we were there sprained her ankle but was ok. A must do in Linville or Boone area.

Although covered in fog, we still had a great time. The bridge was shorter than I thought. The scenic drive up was very twisty so be careful!

Great place to see gorgeous views of the mountains and the mile high bridge. It is much cooler up at the top so dress appropriately. Area to see some local wild life for the kids. Would highly recommend for the views alone. Must purchase tickets ahead of time- check website and plan ahead.

Grandfather Mountain was a destination we planned to visit on our way from the Illinois to Florida. This is a little more remote as you have many miles driving on winding roads, but it's very scenic. There are sevaral aspects to enjoy at this location. There is an animal sanctuary (we did not have time to visit), the Mile High Bridge, and the Trails. The Mile-High bridge is something neat to do when you first arrive at the visitor center. If you decide to go hiking, be cautious and come prepared for a strenous hike. Wheather you go the route with the ladders and ropes, or the course we did with the ladders bypass route. The bypass route's trail involves mulitple locations where you are scurrying over large rocks and boulders, as well as uneven surfaces. These rocks/boulders are part of the trail marked with Blue and Yellow paint. Despite the hiking obstacles, we had a lot of fun and would look to go back in the future and take the Ladders/ropes route. Keep in mind the hike does take several hours to go a mile, so start early.

I was hesitant about spending so much money for a tourist attraction and a view I can get elsewhere. However, the pristine beauty of this mountain is incredible. You receive a CD to play in your car that explains what you are seeing as you drive up the mountain. This really adds to the experience. We stopped at the first Visitors Center where they have some history of the mountain and walking trails to visit the animals which consists of bears, pumas, elk and river otters. They have several picnic areas along the road as well. They have scheduled times to feed the animals so you can get a closer look at them during these times. At the top of the mountain is the infamous "swinging bridge" which no longer swings, thank goodness! I was able to walk 1/3 way out on the bridge to capture the magnificent, clear view of the mountains and valley below. There are Nature Guides that talk about the habitat on the mountain which is very interesting. We enjoyed this very much and I'm glad we did it. I think this is a great place for a family to go also.

My family spent the day at Grandfather Mountain which made the price more than reasonable! They give you a CD as you drive up the mountain which was nice - there’s a AAA discount too. We started at the top with the Mile High Bridge and worked out way down. We loved the nature center and saw the animals. They had enrichment times that brought the animals up close for either a toy or treat. We brought a picnic lunch and ate at the Cliff Edge overlook. Very nice views. We explored the Black Rock Trail (reported as an easy hike but had lots of rocks to step around/on since most of the trail seemed it was a dry creek bed until it rains-so wear good shoes!) it was worth it because after one ladder and cable up the rock we had extraordinary views of Grandmother mountain and beyond. Visiting Grandfather Mountain is “must see” when you’re in the area.

The view was incredible, went on a non peak day - didn't have to experience what others have noted on peak days. Parking lot at top is not large.Biggest complaint - only would honor discounts if booked previously online, it was only a couple dollars but felt like the gate keeper was rude. Saw the animals - one of the otters seemed in distress biting it's tail over and over - passed on to one of the staff - didn't seem to care. The staff on top were friendly and informative. Overpriced, I know it goes towards upkeep.

After driving the beautiful Blue Ridge Pkwy., we went to Grandfather Mt! We parked in the Black Rock parking area and hiked the rock trail to the Mile High Swinging Bridge at the top! What a breathtaking and spectacular view! This is a must do adventure if you are vacationing in the area!

This is our 3rd time here over the years. We drove up and stopped to see the animals but our timing wasn't good for when they fed them. We proceeded to the top. Once there we crossed the mile high swinging bridge. On the other side, I became aware of my old fear of heights and had to sit down and temprorarily grow roots. There was a group of bord watchers up there getiing very close to the edge, making me real nervous. There is a lot of history to the place and is very much worth going to experience.

What an amazing time we had here!! It was totally worth a visit. Even though the actual bridge was closed (and the final leg to the top) because of high winds, we enjoyed the views and the nature center and so much more! We enjoyed the homemade vegetable beef soup for lunch at the little restaurant as well. We got a rain check to come back within a year from our visit because of the bridge being closed. Nice touch from the owners.

My daughter and I were in Boone to visit Appalachian State University. When we were finished with the campus visit we decided to tour the areas around Boone. Grandfather Mountain was a pleasant surprise from their animal exhibits in the natural setting to their very knowledgeable employees to the manageable hike that was recommended for novice hikers. We had a great afternoon.

We have hiked up the mountain via Daniel Boone trail and had such an amazing time! So we took friends for a shorter version by going through the Park entrance which cost $$$. While waiting for the guys to return from Attic Window we went across the swinging bridge. It was packed with people and their terrified dogs. Several got into fights and were fortunately pulled apart by owners. I’m not afraid of heights but all those dogs and people not controlling them was certainly a concern. At the end of the bridge is a rock overlook that we were very much wanting to stand on but there were SOOOOO many dogs up there we didn’t feel safe. Didn’t want to get bite or bumped and fall over the edge. Yes, there were that many dogs. Other people were complaining about all the dogs too. Perhaps it was Bring Your Pup to the Park Day? Not worth the time and $$$. Check out the Daniel Boone side. Didn’t see dogs and it’s FREE.

I did enjoy the time there - But for the price I would not go back. I am sure little kids loved climbing on the rocks and seeing the animals. There was one bus there that day - the adults of the group allowed the kids to all sit in a pile at the end of the bridge making it almost impossible to pass. The kids appeared to be teenagers who could have cared less about their surroundings - as they were on their phones oblivious to the folks who could not pass. We were told when we arrived that the view was horrible or almost non existent because of the fog - and the elevator was not functioning. I am not a fan. But I am 65 - seen a lot of things and we just went because we were camping close by.

There is a $22.00 entry fee (per person) to enter Grandfather Mountain park but there is plenty to do when there so think this is good value for money. There are picnic areas, stunning vistas, hiking trails, wildlife habitats with multiple animals, and the Swinging Bridge so more than enough to keep you entertained for most of the day! We stopped first at the wildlife habitat and while I do have a problem with animals being kept in enclosures I understand the reasons for doing it and it was great to see bears and eagles in close proximity. The staff do talks at various points during the day and they were really friendly and informative so its worth timing your visit to make the most of each of the talks. At the top of the mountain is the amazing swinging bridge which is accessible for everyone as there are some steps but there is also a lift for the less able and the views from the bridge are fantastic. There are also numerous hiking trails (which we didn't have time to explore) but all in all this is a great value experience!

Our little group had two adults and three children 7 and younger, and found that, although Grandfather Mountain is a lovely place and very well tended, there was not a whole lot to do for a family with small children.

We took the short walk across the "mile-high bridge," which is a mile above sea level. The bridge overlooks the valley and condos. The mountain view includes, unfortunately, a ridge-top condo.

I'm sure the view from the rocks beyond the bridge is more expansive. However, there is no trail, and the walk is across bare rock, impossible with young children.

The children enjoyed the animals: otters, a bear, eagle, elk and cougar. Staff members provide programs on each throughout the day. We listened to one about an eagle; the staff member was well-informed and enthusiastic, but, for the youngsters, one talk was enough.

A friendly staff member directed us to an age-appropriate trail about a mile long. The mountain laurel was in full bloom and the boys enjoyed climbing over the rocks.

We also visited the nature center, which contains a lot of geodes. After a picnic, we were finished.

The 2.5-hour visit was pleasant, but at $65 for two adults and three children, not worth the price.

The property has challenging trails for those with the ability and time for hiking, but these were not appropriate for us.

I suggest you try, instead, Moses Cone Park, which is about 10 miles from Grandfather Mountain. The Cone family of textile mill fame donated this summer home to the state. The park contains thousands of acres, including several trails with scenic views and the Cone mansion, which houses a crafts center.

It's free.

Had some really good views and a cool bridge that crossed to a large are of rock views I felt it was a little over priced but was a decent excursion.

Grandfather Mountain is worth the visit. There isn't a trail after you cross the mile high bridge. You will be climbing over bare rock, so I would advise to wear good shoes. I always wear Birkenstocks, and for get to wear other shoes when I go to the mountain. Make sure to check out the times for activities in the animal habitat. Also, if you are into minerals, they have a wonderful collection in the nature museum. They have the largest amethyst found in North America at 160 lbs!

We arrived Friday Sept 23 at 0900 and the parking lot was near empty! Prime parking and what a treat with no screaming school kids or massive crowds. Easy walking across the suspension bridge and plenty of photo ops without heads in the way. We will always come early in the a.m. again. Why only 3 stars??? The animal exhibits were not impressive at all. Very little activity at about 1100 this date and the weather was cool and sunny (no bears seen). We actually felt sad for the confined male elk that was bugling. Not enough room and it's almost best if they were put down instead of being rescued and put in this environment. We heard one of the guides saying how mad the male elk always are. No kidding! Trapped and no females. Nice.... Just visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park a few hours away and see all the free roaming elk you desire.

We arrived early on Thursday with fog and cloud cover. After visiting the zoo, we climbed the steps to the Mile High Bridge. The fog cover provided a mystic experience as we could see it roll in and move. We were staying in the area and returned later in the day to find magnificent views. The park is well maintained and clean. I hope to return with the grandkids soon.

Not something I need to do everytime I go to the area, but certainly something you need to do at least once. The walk across the bridge and the views from the top are amazing. The hiking around the bridge is pretty difficult to traverse for a family. The animal exhibits are small and can be seen in about 15 minutes.

We have visited Grandfather Mountain many times, but we wanted to experience the behind the scene tour of caring for the animals. Our guide was Susanna and she was fantastic and so knowledgeable about the animals and the care that goes into feeding them and keeping them healthy, happy and engaged. As we visited each animal enclosure, Susanna made sure that we got to spend as much time as we wanted and answered all our questions about the animals and their care. What a wonderful, informative afternoon to learn about the animals being cared for at Grandfather Mountain. For anyone wanting to experience more than just seeing the animals, we highly recommend this tour we took on August 31st.

It's been 9 years since we last visited Grandfather Mountain. Our grandson was only a 1 yr. old and today with him (10 yrs.) and his sister (8 yrs.) we were anxious to see their excitement on visiting this historic mountain and its "Mile High Swinging Bridge." Our passes included a CD which shares information of sights to see along the road to the top plus historical facts about Grandfather Mountain. Avoiding crowds on a Saturday morning, we arrived at the top before 10:30AM. (Note with Covid - tickets must be purchased in advance on-line there are no tickets for sell at the Gate. Also, due to Covid Masks are required while crossing or waiting to cross the bridge. Traffic going over and back on the bridge is carefully controlled. There are 6 foot spaced squares for waiting in line to keep proper distance. ) On a recommendation, we parked at the Black Rock Parking and hiked the .4 mile uphill Bridge Trail to the Parking Lot by the Mile High Swinging Bridge. It is a great way to get to experience hiking on Grandfather Mountain. When the trail passes under the Mile High Bridge - it is fun to see the bridge from below. Luckily it was short line to go across the bridge, stare down at the gorge below and scramble along the outcroppings on the other side. It was an overcast day but on the Bridge we still had great views toward Sugar Mountain and cloudy views toward Charlotte. Before we left the line for the Bridge was out into the parking lot. On this trip we enjoyed a picnic at Forest Gump Picnic Grounds, saw several animals in the Animal Habitats, had tasty fudge at the Fudge Shop, and just overall enjoyed our time at Grandfather Mountain. There are other activities and stops that many will want to take advantage of on a visit to Grandfather Mountain.

What a place! The animal habitat was really great, talks about each animal every 30 minutes. There are staff members walking around to answer any questions at any time. Great for kids. The cd you get with admission guides you through the area. This was really well done. Mile High Swinging bridge was awesome. Do not miss the museum on the second floor of the Top Shop. .

Fantastic views. Great for older kids. May be a little nerve racking for parents of smaller children who's listening skills are not quite developed yet. Plenty of places to hike, and cliffs to explore. The suspension bridge isn't as big as I originally thought, but still worth the visit. There is a gift shop right below it, so you can take the stairs or an elevator up to the bridge. They had park employees stationed on the cliffs on the end of the bridge, and will let you know if you wonder to far. There's also plenty of picnic tables scattered through out for a picnic. Don't forget to stop at the nature center where you will see live animals such as a bear, elk, cougar, and a bald eagle. They had an encounter for otter, but they didn't have them out when we visited.

During our road trip from Florida to New Jersey we decided to make Grandfather Mountain one of our stops and areas to explore. The whole area is beautiful and we were very excited. Due to road closure supposedly due to weather we did not get all the way to Grandfather Mountain. So unless it is late spring or summer always check with Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center or possibly on line otherwise -there may be sad disappointment.
BUT this unfortunate circumstance makes us only more so interested in going back to Grandfather Mountain. And it will not be in March... We know better now.

It was painfully windy at the top the day we went, making actually walking out on the bridge impossible. I would have appreciated some kind of weather/wind condition advisory being posted somewhere before purchasing the $22/person tickets. Literally no one was able to spend any amount of time outside at the top. Smaller cars were being gently lifted in the gusts. The elevator was broken. And the nature musuem/center was closed for renovations - which to be fair was posted on the website - but we didn't realize constituted most of what there is to do.

So all we had left was drive the 2 miles of curves and listen to the USB stick guided tour, which was interesting, but not worth $22.

Go only in nice weather and check status of exhibits/habitats.

This was my second time visiting Grandfather Mountain and it was just as beautiful the second time around! There is a lot to do here, perfect for a day trip. There are trails, picnic areas, stunning views, a museum, wildlife, and the mile high swinging bridge. All of it is simply stunning! Be sure and bundle up though. It is much colder on the top of the mountain and the winds blows very strongly!

Swinging bridge was the draw that brought my wife & I. However, there were more unexpected memorable moments: (1) the view of the surrounding countryside,(2) the outstanding picnic locations, (3) carryout food from onsite restaurant, inexpensive and good tasting, (4) the complimentary audio CD that narrated the drive up the mountain, (5) the bear, elk, bald eagle encounters in the zoo, (6) the fall foliage colors, (7)hiking trails for every skill level

Good hike to the top! Be prepared for not a lot of crowd space at the top. The ladders look intimidating but they're not as bad as they look! GORGEOUS in the leaf peeper season

This was a great experience for my family and I. We rented a cabin for a long weekend. We especially enjoyed Grandfather Mountain! You could hike, see some of their wildlife exhibits, and walk on the swinging bridge! Great experience!

Depending on when you visit, the ticket prices vary. We visited on Easter Sunday and it cost $30/person. It wasn't that busy and it was a gorgeous day to visit. I would recommend buying your ticket in advance. Also, going to the Macrae peak. It is a strenuous hike ( lots of rock climbing, ladders and using ropes). It took my friend and I to hike it about 2 hours total and that included taking breaks in between. Wear comfortable shoes that have traction. Beautiful view

Great place to visit! You are provided with a recorded tour to listen in your car as you are driving up the mountain. There are stops along the way and the top has the swinging bridge. Pretty awesome.

We went just for the experience of walking the suspension bridge but discovered so much more! We only had a couple of hours but could have spent a day here. The bridge was more amazing with views unparalleled in the area. The wind was ridiculous up by the bridge and gift shop so be prepared. Very nice gift shop as well. We also walked through the animal sanctuary, ate at the restaurant and bought yummy fudge at the sweet shop. The food at the restaurant was pretty amazing...which surprised all of us. The fudge flavors are unique and fabulous too.

Spectacular views in every direction. Plenty of animals to see in their nature area. You even drive through the curve that Forrest Gump ran in the movie!
The mile high swinging bridge is an awesome experience. It was windy while we were there which caused some movement and the wind blowing through it sounded like a harmonica. Make sure to go to the rocky area on the other side of the bridge for the best views.

We attended the Highland games on a VERY rainy day but we made the best of it. The next day we visited the science center, animals and mile high bridge. If we didnt need to get back to our dog, we wouldve stayed much longer.

Great views! Very cold and windy! Wind so strong they were considering closing the bridge. It's worth the trip.

We loved having the CD in our car playing as we drove up the mountain. Loved having it describe all of the sites we were seeing. The fudge at the shoppe by the animals was delicious. The entire family enjoyed hiking up to the top of the mountain and crossing the mile high bridge. Breathtaking views! We were there later in the afternoon and were not able to hike too far on the trails, but we had a great time the distance we were able to hike.

We saw online that we could buy tickets ahead and use a special gate. Called at 8:30 in the morning and were told they didn't anticipate being busy and only the main gate would be open. The "Main Gate" can only accomodate 2 cars at a time and took nearly 45 minutes to get in. Once in we headed to the restaurant which we knew would be theme park type food. Waited almost 20 minutes to order and were given a buzzer. We ordered a grilled cheese, grilled ham and cheese, and 2 chicken tenders. After waiting another 30 minutes we went and asked and found that they had lost our order. After another 15 minutes we were handed and ice cold grilled cheese. When they were asked to remake it, the cashier ran off crying. We were very nice, but had heard there had been other things going on that day. Probably not enough staff since they had not anticipated a crowd. The grilled cheese turned out to be toast that they laid cheese on and microwaved. The park website said open till 5, but everything starts closing at 4. All of the trails and animal areas. Feel like they wasted so much of our time. Yes, the views are great, but could have seen just as good views from almost anywhere on the parkway without paying $22 per person and just taken a picnic lunch.

Grandfather Glows was a ripoff. Saw 4 fireflies and sat in pitch black for 3 hours. Would not recommend. Spent 100 on 2 tickets for absolutely nothing.

Great views at the top. The swinging bridge is cool too. Though it doesn’t swing as much as it used to since they refurbished it. 😀 The animal habitats are neat to watch too.

summer and winter experience. when I was younger I spent all my summers in Linville. My family is from there. We would go up on the mountain a few times a week. it's beautiful. We call it gods country. At that time the swinging bridge would swing when it was windy. At that time there was only a small gift shop. so now you know how long ago it was. My uncle Bill Hanna was security at night for the mountian and would take me up there. and we would walk the grounds. Most of my family is gone now but my Mother would tell me to stop telling everyone about this place because the residents want to keep it for themselves, I didn't blame them. but look at us now. It is the most beautiful place. those people are very brave for being up there in a wind storm! God bless everyone who gets to visit or who lives there. With love for Grandfather, Denice xoxo

We ( my husband and myself-both in our 60s and our youngest son and his wife-a 30s couple) came to the Linville area for the Scottish Highlands Festival. After a long day at the festival, we went to visit the mountain itself. Entrance fees seemed high but after the three hours on the CD audio tour ( disc and descriptive material are part of the fee), it is admirable to see how well the park and it's attractions are presented and maintained.

The winding road has many stops to take in the beautiful scenery. A small visitor center is a lovely respite... And is filled with professional displays. The Mile High bridge has a beautiful view but was not on my "to do" list.

Great afternoon.

So worth the ride! GORGEOUS and lots to do! GO! There is something for everyone! The animal habitat has a lot to offer and the views are spectacular!

I feel that it is a bit over priced but it was a very interesting and neat venue. The road up and the views are amazing. The mile high bridge is cool. Wear a jacket. It's windy.

we had to book online the day before to limit entry.

THe park was easy to find right along the Blue RIdge Parkway

Yes, there are a lot of "free" parks and such in the area, but i really felt this park was worth the money.

They give you a CD or Jump drive with a little commentary about sites on the way to the summit.

There is a pleasant but quite steep and winding road up to the top.

We hiked a short trail up to the summit area. From there you can walk across the mile high swinging bridge which crosses to the actual summit. The bridge really doesnt swing all that much, but it does move a bit. The short trail to the true summit is fun. it is a bit tricky and may not be appropriate for kids or those needing assistance.

The views from the summit are really great.

They have a nice gift shop.

The park also has a restaurant and a small zoo of sorts. they have habitats for otters, elk, eagles, bears, and cougars. They had very interesting animal encounters every half hour. We kept extending our stay to hear each encounter.

I would recommend this park.

plan to spend at least 2-3 hours here.

The day I set out to see Grandfather Mountain, I also spent time at Linville Falls and Blowing Rock. My agenda was to cross the suspension bridge, take some pictures and continue on. There were high winds the day I went (January 19th) and the Park rangers had the upper portion closed off. This included the suspension bridge. They reduced the price to I think $13 (don’t quote me) and they did notify at the entrance. The rangers in the visitor center did advise calling ahead to prevent the same issue in the future. As stated, I went here on a whim since it was not far from Linville falls and Blowing Rock. If you are in the area, I would call the park because the winds are much higher here than neighboring towns Boone and Blowing Rock. I plan to be back and experience the bridge.

Really enjoyed the trails - very easy to follow, and puntuated with ropes & ladders to keep you entertained. Pleanty of views from the trails.

This is a private owned attraction. You pay $22 a person without online reservations. A short 2 mile drive to the top. If it’s busy you have to wait to get a parking space at the top and you are stopped on a switchback. A little frightening. Parking is tight but to be expected. It was very windy and cold. Again to be expected. Once parked at the top it is a few steps to the swinging bridge. What a joke. So many people we couldn’t get near it. There was no crowd control just payed employees standing around. Very disappointing to come all this way and not get to the bridge safely. We turned around to get away & some guy with canes stumbled and almost took us down. I cannot recommend especially with no crowd control. I felt very unsafe.
Yes lots of picnic areas but again very crowded.

I have stopped at Grandfather Mountain several times in my life only to see the admission price, then turn around and leave. I took my family this past week and I wish that I would have came years ago. There is a lot more here than you think. I hope to come back again some day.

There is a fee, but you get a CD with the history, wild curving roadway, swinging bridge, museums, unbelievable vistas!

The view and majesty of the Blueridge Mountains from the swinging bridge is a must. Drive to Black Rock parking area if you enjoy a moderately strenuous hike .4 miles to swinging bridge. Amazing boulders and view under bridge. Not a hiker then drive to the top swinging bridge parking area. You can walk the steps to bridge or take an ADA friendly elevator to the bridge. Nice facilities and staff. Reservation booked online and easy scan of code on my phone at gate. Spent 2.5 hours one afternoon at the park. Enjoyed very much. Went solo and felt very safe.

Lots to see & do. You get an audio guide to listen to as you drive through the park. You do need to purchase tickets ahead and pick an entry time. They have a few enclosures where you can see black bears, bald eagles, elk, otters, mountain lions. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park. There is a small food service area in the museum area, limited choices with a high mark up. I'd recommend bringing snacks or lunch if staying a while. You may have to wait to drive up to the top on a busy day, but it wasn't a long wait for us. The views are spectacular. The mile high swinging bridge is definitely a must do. We saw a very sweet guide escort a lady across who wasn't quite sure she could do it on her own. Don't miss the pictures in the small gallery showing some of the construction. Lots of trails to use. You could easily spend a day here or a few hours depending on what you want to do.

We arrived at Grandfather Mountain at 4 pm yesterday (Friday, February 7, 2025) at 4 pm. We really wanted to see the mile high bridge. The gate was closed and a sign said it was closed for the day. The website clearly says that they are open until 5:01 pm. There was a young lady employee at the gate area. I basically begged her to let us in to just go look at the mile high bridge. We offered to pay her. She would not let us enter. We were very disappointed. We probably won't be back in the area again. She said that they allow the last entry at 3:30 pm. That needs to be added to info on Google Maps and Website.

Great time; breezy but great views. Parking can be tricky if crowded but truly an amazing experience.

Yes, you have to pay the $30 admission fee to get on the bridge, but having access to the mountain (without having to hike in from outside) is so worth it! FYI - you need to make a reservation (buy tickets online). I highly recommend getting there earlybecause it gets really, really busy later on. When we got there at 8:30 am, there was maybe 10-15 people there which allowed us to get nice views & pics of the mountain from the bridge. We got to enjoy the scenery and watch the clouds move in and out (completely covering the bridge and mountain to having a clear view of everything). The real reason for getting there early is so you can hike to MacRae's peak without interruption (lots of areas where it's 1 way, narrow trail or ladders, cables where you have to yield or wait for others to pass). If you decide to do the hike, use the Grandfather trail to go up. Beware there are 7 ladders (almost straight vertical to get up some big rocks) and a couple of cables. Others have mentioned bypassing the ladders by using Underwood trail BUT you will miss some AWESOME views and rock formations so if you can handle the vertical challenge, DO Grandfather trail on the way UP (if you're afraid of heights you definitely don't want to take this trail down i.e. looking down a vertical ladder is going to be a lot togher) then go DOWN using the Underwood trail (only 2 ladders). We've done a lot of hiking & MacRae's peak & Grandfather trail was an entirely different experience and well worth the work (3.5 hrs. round trip but we stopped to take a lot of pics).

Our day at Grandfather Mountain was filled with beautiful views. The bridge offered an amazing view. If you plan to make a visit pack a picnic and enjoy the beauty of nature!

Great view and nice place to picnic. Drive to the top not too bad. Go early as could be very busy with traffic

This is a must do while visiting the area. It is a bit pricey but the views from the bridge and the mountain are amazing! Pack a picnic as there are plenty of places to eat!

Stunning Views. Very nice place. Kind people.
Unfortunately went on a day that had 40+ mile gusts of wind, so was to afraid to walk across the bridge.
Fully enjoyed the animals down below.
Fun facts about a famous movie.
Go you won't be disappointed.

My family which included my parents, sister, brother in law, and two nephews (12,and 9). Really enjoyed our trip to Grandfather Mountain. We actually went two times. The first time was after a rainy and windy morning. They had actually just reopened the bridge so my older nephew and brother in law crossed it and had amazing views while the rest of the family did the animal exhibits. The next time it was a very foggy morning and we crossed the bridge in the fog. Which was nice for me since I am scared of heights. We also conquered the bridge trail. The staff are some of the nicest I have ever met. While Grandfather mountain wasn't on our plan orginally I am glad we went.

When I decided to go I wondered if this might be a tacky tourist trap. It certainly was anything but that - it was a very clean and well maintained park with many good displays and programs. Everyone was friendly and informative and we enjoyed 4+ hours of taking in the views, hiking, and viewing displays. The mile high swinging bridge was just awesome. Definitely worth the price of admission

We made Grandfather Mountain one of our stops while taking a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was neat to see the wildlife area and listen to the Ranger talk about the animals. We then proceeded up the mountain to the summit where the suspension bridge is. It is accessible by all without hiking. There is also a gift shop. We didn’t do any of the hiking trails but know some others that did and said there are variety of options.

Shaking in my shoes the whole way but I was determined! The bridge in the picture appears to be a whole lot longer than the one that's actually there! We went straight to the top and worked our way down which was probably not the smartest plan for these over 60 people as my husband started getting dizzy 3/4 of the way to the top. We had to stop and enjoy the vista for a bit as we believe it was the quick altitude change. The CD was enjoyable, explaining the history as you go. Loved the animals and the thousands of hummingbirds we saw on the back porch of the dining area! A liitle pricey but the monies goes back into preserving Grandfather Mountain ... which makes it totally worth the price!

Beautiful views.Nice trail up the mountains. Had bears and other animals there but they were only out at certain times

We have visited many parks around the smokey mountains. This was our first time in this neck of the woods
While we first thought the 22 a person was pretty steep we decided to visit Grandfather mountain anyway.
This park included a zoo, many hiking and picnic areas and the grounds were well cared for. There are many rangers/workers and they were one of the nicest rangers I've met. I would definitely recommend visiting Grandfather mountain at least once.

YOU MUST BUY TICKETS ONLINE!!! We showed up and were turned away. Got on the phone and bought tickets for 2 hrs later. So, went to Linville Falls to kill time, and that worked out fine. Came back. This place is a must do! Wow- the scenery is just awe inspiring. It is truly magnificent. Did the bridge and started the hike to the peaks. Of course, only made it a little past the patio, not close to the ladders at all because we ran out of time. It's crazy that they still sell tickets for 5:30 when the park closes at 7. Anyway, we bought more tickets and came during the week- we made it to MacRae and Attic Window. We've done plenty of hikes and this is the best of the best. Tons of pictures, some videos, one face-time call. Memories that are ingrained- this place is amazing. We would like to come back each year and make this hike. And we still have to make it to Calloway Peak and check out the Profile and Daniel Boone trail. Oh, we saw the bear and cougar too in the animal encounter. That was nice because it took their natural habitat and just enclosed it. Weekday at 10:30AM was good because we went directly to the parking lot. Sunday at 4:30, we were in the car for at least 30mins in a line of cars, a guy with a traffic sign on the last curve, directing a single flow of cars.

We were on a long summer trip and did only a minor amount of research before visiting Grandfather Mountain. Therefore, we thought we were visiting a state park or other public park, not a private tourist attraction. The ladder can range from somewhat cheesy to downright terrible, but this was not the case at all. The mountain has a long proud heritage of private ownership, and they have done a good job to accentuate the views and nature at every opportunity. they give you an audio guide for the drive up the mountain which is informative, and let you know that there is a LOT there. We only spent a few hours, but this could easily be a full day destination. There is a nature center and also abundant hikes and sights on the way up, before you get to the main attraction. At the top, there is a good gift shop before you get to the Mile High Bridge and those incredible views. Alone, those are worth your time and money. Shortly after our walk around the top, they started herding people off the mountain because a storm was coming and lightning strikes are a big deal there. I was impressed that they had seasoned meteorologist at the top, and they were hyper sensitive to safety. lastly we toured they’re a little museum on the second floor, which had tons of info and great pictures on the history of the mountain over the decades. On our way down, we got to see a great lightning storm in a monsoon.

For an attraction that only allows on line bookings you would have thought they would only let in enough cars for the amount of parking available. Not so. We queued for 49 minutes to get into the Black Rock car park- the lower one. The queue for the top car park would be at least double that. Not acceptable.

I visited the grandfather mountains during the labor day weekend with my husband and my kid. He is 2 and a half years old and therefore we were skeptic about taking him to the top. There is a fee to enter the park but you can see lot of scenic beauties onside the park, have picnics do hiking. There are many overlook points and if you are driving to the grandfather mountains there are a very few hairpin bends. If possible try to be early to avoid traffic. They have stairs and elevators too to go to the top of the grandfather mountain. We were at the picnic area for some time as we carried our lunch and our toddler played around there and then we were headed to grandfather mountains. The Mile High swinging bridge was worth to watch. Once you go there the entire surrounding with the lake can be seen. The bridge swings as the wind blows but the view from there is breath taking. After we crossed the bridge we didnt take our toddler to the other side of the mountain because the surface was not flat and was risky. We took turns and went to the other side. It was worth of a visit.
AFter that we went to the museum saw the bear, eagle,elk-our toddler was excited and had fun. Inside the museum they had food options too.This place is kids friendly and can spent the entire day here.

There are several places to stop along the way up the mountain to take in different sights and breathtaking views. I loved walking across Mile High Bridge

This is a “must see” if you are in the area. It was $22 per person to get in. Due to COVID you needed a reservation. But since it was a weekday we were able to get right in.

We drove up to the gift shop and restaurant. Nice little area. We saw some of the animals there (otter, bear, bald eagle).

Then we drove to the very top to walk across the mile high bridge. Once across the bridge we walked out to the very edge and had an amazing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Grandfather is worth visiting and it is a little expensive but it does include the animal habitat, nature museum and a CD they give you when entering the park. The walk across the mile high bridge was fun but we did not go beyond the end of the bridge. There is only bare rock and we didn't have the proper shoes to make it safe for climbing out to the edge. It was a beautiful, blue sky day so we had excellent visibility and saw some awesome views.

Impressive views from the bridge. Make a reservation beforehand. Great safety measures due to COVID-19.

We enjoyed our visit to Grandfther Mountain, including the Swinging Bridge (which doesn’t swing too much anymore.). Views were a bit reduced due to a nearby forest fire. The CD is a bit hokey.

Be advised that the mountain is NOT the State Park, but the park is visible from the top. On a clear day it may be worth the $28 per person admission fee. This DOES include walking across the "Swinging" bridge. There are many hairpin curves to get there. The walk to the top from a parking lot says it's 1/4 mile. It is hardly a trail, more like an obstacle course. Don't attempt without hiking sticks. We started up and after a 100 feet realized we would never make it without falling so carefully worked our way back down.

Walking across the Swinging Bridge is a must. Since renovation it doesn't swing as much so no worries!! We were there at 9AM to avoid the crowds. Spent time upstairs at the Top Shop with Don who filled us in on the history of the mountain, animals and Mildred the Bear. Thanks Don!!
A walk around the Animal Habitats allowed us to see otters, bears, bald eagles, cougars and deer.
Don't miss Forrest Gump's Curve.

We made reservations before we went and had such a fun time there. We decided to park at the parking lot and walk the .4 the rest of the way to the bridge, steep climb with lots of rocks, but enjoyed it. The bridge has a beautiful view and an employee stood at the beginning of the bridge checking to see if you wore masks or handing out disposable ones. Well worth the stop, we stopped on our 17th anniversary trip.

Wife and I checked this out September 1, 2020. Our last visit here was 1986(!). Due to Covid-19, you must order tickets in advance, online. That's easy enough. We ordered ours a few weeks in advance. The day of our reservations, it was raining, so I emailed them in the morning, wanting to change my reservations to the next day. In just a few minutes, they called my cell phone and sent me new tickets for the following day. That's good service. The visit itself was very nice too. At the gate they give you a CD which narrates the stuff you see on the way up - a picnic area, a boulder, stuff like that. Pretty well done. We did the animal habitat, some of the museum, and the bridge. We didn't do any of the trails (we're old). The weather was cloudy, so one minute you have a wonderful view, then you're surrounded by a cloud, then it moves off. That was kind of fun. If you did the trails, or brought a picnic, it's easily an all-day affair.

Grandfather mountain is a beautiful place to see I would go back again I had six head to pay for and it was kind of expensive I do wish they offered some kind of group discount they would not even honor my first responder discount because I was not local

Wow, what a fantastic day at Grandfather Mountain. My sister and I took our great nephew to Grandfather Mountain for the day and had a wonderful time. Going through the entry gate we were given a USB Flash Drive which when plugged into the car guided us through the wonderful aspects of the mountain. We hiked the Black Rock Trail and loved identifying the many plants, trees and birds. We climbed onto the higher rocks using ladders and looked into the natural cave areas. Ater the hike we followed the information guide further into the park and then went to Mildred's Grill for a late lunch. More hikes after lunch and onto the swinging bridge. It was so cool and fresh feeling on the mountain. Every employee we encountered was pleasant and helpful. I have been to Grandfather Mountain before but the addition of the USB Flash Drive on this visit made this experience so much more informative and enjoyable. There can never be enough thanks to Hugh Morton for preserving this phenomenal area and sharing it with the rest of the world. Rest in peace sir. You did good!!!!

Do to COVID be sure to purchase tickets on line before traveling. When you hand in your tickets your given a very comprehensive package including a CD that informs you of everything you'll see traveling up the switch back road, The views are incredible and there are a number of stops on the way up. Just a great place to visit!

This is one of those sites that every North Carolinian should visit at least once. We purchased our tickets online, with a AAA discount, for a specific entry time to help with social distancing. I was a little concerned I wouldn't be able to retrieve our barcodes on my phone (not knowing what cell phone coverage would be like) but I just told them our names at the entrance and they let us in. We enjoyed two hiking trails, the swinging bridge, the summit, and the drive up with the provided CD giving background info. Even though it was a cloudy day, it was a thrill to be on the mountain. Too bad the nature center was closed due to water issues, and some of the outdoor animal exhibits seem to be under repair (no otters!). We still enjoyed ourselves and would recommend this attraction to others.

Grandfather Mountain was worth every penny to visit. I can see why others were frustrated with the crowds. I recommend going early. I got there right at opening and had the swinging bridge to myself and was the first person on it. You have to have a reserved time to enter and 8:00 is a good time to go. Grandfather offers an animal habitat, places to picnic and a variety of trails with Grandfather trails being the toughest by far. You have to climb ladders and ropes to get there. Great views and workout but not for those who are afraid of heights or not experienced hikers. However, there are easier trails there. Before you start your hike, you have to register. At the entrance of the trails there are boxes for you to fill out. Put the white paper in the box and the yellow paper is your copy. I had enjoyed my time there and looking forward to going back one day.

Wow ! What a VIEW. Absolutely gorgeous on that mountain. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Beautiful place!
It is USD 22 per adult , there are lots of trails but since it was so cold they were closed. But you can go by car until the top and them walk the stars up to the bridge. Also there are lot of stops to appreciate the views! Also other nice thing is the audio cd that you receive when you enter the park!!!

The entire experience was amazing! We did this on a whim with barely any research and we're glad we did. The drive alone up towards the entrance of the mountain was great. They give you a CD once you arrive and you start your drive up. The CD was great to listen to, you learn a lot about the mountain, it's history and about all of the wildlife. There are restrooms at the picnic area which is one of the first stops the CD will mention. I'd stop there if you need to, we're glad we did. There are a few photo ops that were absolutely stunning. They have a small outdoor zoo on one of those stops where you can grab hot cocoa and some amazing fudge. Once you get all the way the mountain the drive is slower and with more turns turns. At the top, the view is breath taking!!!! Very windy!!!! The swinging cable bridge is a must do!!! It was a great trip at Grandfather mountain!

This place is amazing but you must reserve a time in advance sometimes days. Be prepared to reserve,

This experience was incredible. Theres an option to hike up a small portion of the mountain if you park in the lower parking lot. After that a few stairs to the peak and an optional rocky climb at the top. We did it all with a one year old in the baby carrier and he LOVED it! Oh and theres a cool swinging bridge at the top

The views are great and the experience walking the bridge in very fun! They have a few zoo exhibits that certainly add to the overall visit (we saw one bear take a dip, the bald eagles, elk and two river otters). It is worth the admission but two warnings; try to go when it is not too busy, parking lots fill up fast when they let in too many visitors & try to go when the weather is clear.

This was a great spot and well worth the price of admission. The views are spectacular and I wish we were there on a warmer less breezy day as we would have done more of a hike toward the peak. Overall a great experience, well maintained and clean throughout.
We were a bit bummed that the swinging bridge was closed but was otherwise great

Due to the requirement that you have to be back in your car by 6pm (trails close!!), to sell the timed tickets at $22 per person anytime after 3pm is highway ROBBERY. We had 4:30pm tickets (They sell them up to 5:30pm which is even more ridiculous considering you have to be back in your car by 6pm), ONLY did the mile high bridge (we made zero stops on the way up), and barely had enough time to get back to our vehicle in time for the cut off time. Ridiculous!!

It is a nice place to go. There is lots of beautiful things. There is a museum there and there are bears to see there.

Family friendly and dog friendly. We all enjoyed climbing around and taking several photos of the amazing views. Lunch at Mildred’s Cafe, a visit to see the animals and driving on the hairpin curves to the top. Well worth the time and admission.

This place was a nice stop. The Mile High Swinging Bridge provided an awesome view. The whole drive up the mountain was breathtaking. The fee was modest. The food was fair (good BLT).

We really enjoyed our visit and particularly the bear keeper’s talk by Ali. Wry informative and entertaining. I’m terrified of heights but did walk across the swinging bridge. So windy at the top and wore jackets as it was kinda cold. Very nice park, well worth the drive when visiting Asheville.

This is a really unique place to visit. They have wildlife that you can view. You receive a map and thumb drive/CD describing the drive up, when you enter the gate. May sure to listen to it as you drive. Very informative. At the top you can walk out a one mile high bridge to Grandfather Mtn. The wind is strong so don't wear a hat, you'll lose it. The view is awesome so get your nerve up to walk out and take the view. You'll be proud of yourself when you return.

My sister and I went camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains for the first time this past weekend and hiking Grandfather Mountain was easily the best part of our trip. The entry fees are kind of high ($22 per adult), but the park has some nice amenities that justify the cost; audio CD guide to listen to while you drive up, bathrooms, picnic areas, and nature museum. The biggest reason to go though is for the hike and views of course. The hike itself is not TOO challenging, but you will work up a sweat and probably be a little sore the next day. It's not even a mile hike, but the elevation makes for more of a challenge than you might think. For those not wanting to do the full hike, you can actually just drive further up the mountain to get to the swing bridge. The trails are also dog-friendly. I would definitely do this hike again!

Excellent views and access. Wonderful setting for a small zoo. This was a highlight of our blue ridge parkway tour. Loved the CD tour. Glad we were early and didn’t have any parking issues at the top.

The drive up to the swinging bridge is an adventure in it own right. The bridge was a bit of a disappointment, it's not very long, but the views are amazing. They have a museum showing the many gems of North Carolina and there is a small zoo with a black bear, bald eagles, otters, a cougar & and area with elk. They have a restaurant onsite. Definitely worth a visit.

Make a reservation and you can drive your car to the summit or park a short distance away and hike on a trail the last 1/4 mile or so. The suspended bridge is transparent and not for the faint of heart! There is also a live animal zoo that is well worth exploring!

The views from this park are absolutely breathtaking. There are things to do and explore such as the animal area the split rock and of course grandfather mountain itself. The drive from ashville is beautiful. The staff thru out the park were excellent very knowledgeable

I was not expecting the experience that I got. This is simply amazing. The views can not be captured in pictures. You must see it in person. The history museum upstairs in the shop provides a very interesting walk through time and the history of the Mountain. I had no idea that just driving up a mountain could be so awe inspiring. It is pretty expensive but I am glad I went for sure. Seeing the bears and the eagle and otters was also nice.

Pricey to enter but it's beautiful and a challenging drive so be prepared for the twists and turns. It was cool to see Forrest Gumps location where he ran. The views at the bridge were real pretty. The parking lot traffickers work real well at the top of the mountain. You just have to wait til others leave to park but it was moving faster than I'd think it would after being there. The store had tons of stuff and nice restrooms that were flushing toilets. If we had more time we would have explored more. Make sure your gas tank is full. Fog started rolling in and was a little scary.

We pulled up and waited on the street for over 40 minutes just to get to the mountain. Parking was a bit tight so we hiked up to the top. It was SO crowded and everyone was trying to get a great photo that i felt it could be unsafe. It was $22 per person to go. It was pretty but I think there are better hiking areas just off the Blueridge Parkway that are free

For the last 5 years we have been visiting family that rent for a month in Blowing Rock. For the first time that I can recall, last week when we were in town did they mention Grandfather Mountain. Our drive from Blowing Rock to the mountain was about 1/2 hour passing many scenic spots. At the entrance we paid $40 for me and my wife and were given the guided tour CD. However, since we own a 2019 car there is no CD player in many 2019 cars and we couldn't enjoy the CD. We did visit the animal habitats and were fortunate to listen to staff talks for the bear and elk encounters. It was an overcast sky and the rains soon came. We took cover inside the nature museum where we saw a fascinating gem and mineral collection including the largest amethyst ever found in North America. The rain paused, because it did resume later, allowing us to drive up to where the mile high bridge was. We walked among the clouds as we approached and crossed the bridge. Views were amazing.
We spent a little more than 2 hours on the mountain and would have spent longer if not for the weather. A very enjoyable, worthwhile visit.

It's nice, the view is great. I have been many times. However with the new pricing and policies I will never go back at the current cost. At almost $100 for a family of four there is no way to justify the costs. Maybe with a free t-shirt possibly. I would rather go visit some other free or much less costly places. I was going to go again until I got sticker shot at the costs...they should rethink their pricing structure.

I really had my doubts about this “privately owned” attraction that seemed overpriced. I was wrong because this place is a “not to be missed,” top-of-the-world experience. The view from the top is breath-taking...spectacular is the best description and the mile-high walking bridge is one of a kind. Admission gets you an audio narrative for your car to guide you up the mountain. Picnic tables are available and admission includes a museum, photo gallery, gift shop and a walk through a habitat for black bears, elk, otter, eagles and cougars. Worth every cent!!

My teen granddaughters and I went to this mountain and walked over the suspension bridge. The ride up to the mountain top is somewhat difficult but so worth it! The wind was very strong today and at one point thry closed the bridge so check your weather report before going, we stayed and they opened it up so we walked over the bridge which is a mile above sea level. The views are fantastic and you can see why the mountains are called blue ridge, we also got to see a bald eagle, sea otters, a mountain lion but the bears were in hibernation. We will deffinately go back in summer so worth it adnd not exspensive at all. Make sure the low gear works on your car before going as you will need it on return trip.

Maryland family vacationing thoroughly enjoyed this, even on a rainy, overcast day! Just know due to COVID you MUST make reservations online. It was nice that the crowd size is limited, becasue you had plenty of time to visit everything without being pushed away by other people. Our family favs were the bridge, the animals, the fudge shop, the gift shop at the animal exhibit, and the majestic views.

This is billed as North Carolina's top tourist location - and for good reason. At its one mile elevation the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are simply breathtaking. And there is a suspension pedestrian bridge on top of the mountain that is thrilling to walk across. Do not let the admission fee ($22 adults/$20 seniors) deter you as a lot of those fees go toward conservation and research. If you get to the NC Mountains, don't miss it!

This may be deleted, but I hope not, as this is very important:

Handicapped or visitors in a wheelchair be aware - this is not, I repeat, it is not an easy park to visit. Also, the elevator up to the bridge is broken (for about 2 weeks now).

NO WARNING on the website, only a very small sign at the ticket booth. Almost missed it, many did. And if I would not have asked for it, my husband (who is in the wheelchair) would have been charged full admission, which I think is not right. The lady at the entrance about snarled at me.
Very disappointing as it is “supposed” to be accessible, that was the main reason we actually drove there. Many other visitors, 3 others in wheelchairs and a few elderly people with back and leg problems, had no idea about it until they go up there. Call before you go if you want to go on the bridge, make sure it is repaired.

Also, the surface at the animal habitats is very steep and uneven. My husband has a very good wheelchair and about tipped over twice. Once you are in the habitat area you have to just go with it. So, be aware and prepared.

And the price of $22.00 per adult in general is rather overpriced for the experience, even when you are healthy.

However, the park and view are beautiful, we made the best of it. But improvements for handicapped visitors, especially in wheelchairs, are seriously needed. But we will not go back again.

Thank you for (hopefully) not deleting this.

Note to military visitors:
They WILL NOT give you a military discount if you show up and try to pay at the gate! You can only get that discount if you book online. What BS!

Ok, it’s 20 bucks to get in, later in the day in can get crowded, and yes some times they shut down due to weather. Big deal, 20 bucks pays to keep the park in pristine condition, animals kept up, and people to help with questions and answers. Get there early, do the bridge first, then exhibits, do a picnic lunch and find a hiking trails to explore. Check the website for closings but hope that God smiles down on you that day and blessed y’all with a beautiful day. Don’t fight the bad weather day, it just sometimes happens. We loved the park and will definitely return for another season!

Considering the ease of access I cannot imagine a better natural venue east of the Mississippi. Spectacular 360 degree views. Not to be missed if you are in the area.

This was a nice place to visit and there's lot's of different things to see and do (besides the Swinging Bridge). This is a nice place for people of all ages. BUT, I was very disappointed about the lack of social distancing and mask mandates. The store at the Swinging Bridge was overcrowded. Although I thought I had read the facility was going to enforce social distancing and possibly limit the crowds, it was clear they were more about the money than the guests. You could have gotten a Five!!

The views were absolutely breathtaking !! This has been on my bucket list for awhile !! So happy I got to check it off . Wonderful place to visit and bring the family.

We went here, as this is a must see for the area.

PROS:
-We hiked up half way to the bridge. They have a parking lot just for this, so you can hike the .4 miles to the top. We had fun and the kids had no problem with it (10 year old twins and a 7 year old). If you are not mobile, you can drive all the way to the top. They have elevators once you arrive to the top
-The bridge was awesome and the mountain was as beautiful as I remember from 30 years ago
-We also visited the animal center. It was great seeing the bears and elk. We even got to hold an elk antler. Crazy that this animal walks around with those on their head. They have otters, but we saw none

CONS:
-The mountain can be unsafe to climb, if you’re an idiot. Unlike places like Stone Mountain in Georgia, there aren’t fences preventing you from rolling off the mountain
-If you’re driving a manual transmission or underpowered car, driving up to the bridge will be the opposite of fun
-The entrance fee was like $20 a person. Kind of steep with a family of 5, and they don’t offer military discount in person

This is a must see. It’s beautiful, and if you are able bodied, hike the .4 mile to the top.

If you love the mountains, you will love this place. It is a MUST GO TO if you come to this part of North Carolina.
Visiting here isn’t free. It will cost you $22 a head for adults to access the mountain.later in the day. The view on the ride up the mountain is amazing. There are several spots to stop and take pictures along the way. There is even a “Forest Gump” picnic area near the curve on the mountain where one of his running scenes were filmed (bears, running across the country). Novel but fun nonetheless less. You can access the mile high bridge at the top of the mountain if weather permits. High winds will shut it down. The gift shop is your normal touristy fare and drinks and snacks are available but they are very expensive. Bring a cooler and keep drinks and snacks in your car.
The view is incredible and with a relatively clear day, you can see all the way to Tennessee. Mid-way on the mountain is an animal habitat, nature/wildlife museum, gift shop and snack bar. I recommend saving your money and spending it here. The museum and animal habitats are free admission which makes the $12 price tag to access the mountain more palatable. The gift shop has more souvenirs selections than the top of the mountain. The snack bar serves an array of hot food cooked to order as well as fresh-baked desserts. The food here is good for what it is.
Come and experience a unique part of North Carolina. Your family will have a wonderful time.

Was skeptical about paying to drive into a park but it was so worth it. I went straight to the bridge to do that first.

FYI the road was very steep, curvy & thin lanes. I was not ready for that and it was a bit unnerving. Ok it freaked me out.

It was absolutely beautiful at the top. The view was spectacular. Walked across the bridge which was fun. I loved that you could go on it as many times as you wanted and at your own pace.

The one thing I wish I would have known before I went was that I could have parked at the top trail area and walked the rest of the way to the bridge. That last part of the drive was the worst and I could have avoided it.

Also did the animal sanctuary. It was a nice end to the day but nothing great. The inside was under construction. Walked about 30 minutes on 1 trail across from the bridge.

Overall well worth it, had a great time.

I’ve been to grandfather Mountain in the past and remember it being $20-$25 per carload which was really reasonable. Now it’s $22 per person for adult tickets. The views are amazing and if you’ve never been it’s worth experiencing, but at that price, I feel it is too pricey to visit regularly. Love the bridge as always. When you get to the viewing area with the rocks, it’s unsafe for children. The museum is very interesting and there are a few animals in the preserve. It’s a fun visit.

This is a must visit when in the area. Great views. Learn the history at the visitors center within. View the animal habitats. Check out the gift shops and suspension bridge. It’s a must cross. Gotta be able to say you did it. Worth it. Great experience

Grandfather Mountain is awesome. It is quite a hike to get up to the peak if you are not used to hiking or if you have young kids. It's well worth it. We did take our time, and I'm glad we brought waters.

It is very cool crossing the Suspension Bridge. The views of both sides are incredible. "The 228 foot suspension bridge constructed at an elevation of 5,280 (one mile) above sea level allows visitors to access Grandfather's Linville Peak." It is a little unnerving, but just hold onto the sides.

I liked their Animal Exhibits. It was neat to see the Otters, Eagles, Bears and Elk. There is a lot of good information at the exhibits. Eagles have over a 6 foot wingspan.

There is a nice gift shop for souvenirs

This was the highlight of my trip to the Carolinas

I love hiking. I typically avoid any commercial type place. However this place was fun. It’s a little pricey to enter but the amenities make up for it. The mile high bridge was fun and the “grandfather hike” was incredible. Loved the ladders. The curve from Forrest Gump was immediately recognizable when we saw it. This is a great stop for all. Stuff for all types.

We arrived about an hour after opening. We got to the bridge and it was covered by clouds. When the clouds parted it was amazing! 67 degrees at the top in July. Our son is scared of heights but decided to give it a try. He crossed the bridge several times, even with it being windy. We felt it was a little overpriced, but worth it for a day visit. The elevator is down which would make it harder for someone in a wheelchair. Forrest Gump curve is in your way to the top. Trails were wet and slippery so make sure you wear good shoes.

My husband and I went to Grandfather Mountain and walked across the Mile High Bridge for our 46th anniversary. This is such a wonderful place to visit! When you pay to go in you receive a zip drive to put in and listen to an explanation of the area and what you can see and do. We rode up to the Top Shop and drove around Forrest Gump curve! The amazing thing to me is all the volunteers that are up top working to welcome you and make your visit pleasant! They are all so knowledgeable! Everything was so clean and in tip top shape! Go before 11 though because after 11 it got very busy! We pretty much had the bridge to ourselves for awhile before 11.

Cool experience. It was raining and windy which added to the adrenaline of walking across a bridge in the sky. However the fog helped distract from the fact you were so high. People were polite and patient to allow you to get across at whatever speed you wanted/needed to depending on comfort levels. The nature reserve was super awesome got to see bald eagles, and bears. A very laid back enjoyable stop

Yes, the swinging bridge is cool and it’s a great view. However, there are a zillion great views in the area. The only reason worth going to this one is walking across the bridge. However, it is absolutely not worth the $22 per person admission fee.

There are countless hiking trails and amazing views all around the Asheville area and the mountains. And they are free!!!!!! Again, it’s fun to spend a minute walking across the bridge and take a picture. However, for me, just not even close to be different enough to pay $22 a person for that 1 minute walk.

Started our trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway from the north last year. With a weather forecast of 3 days of heavy rain and fog we cut the trip short. Decided to come back and finish the trip this fall. Bought entrance tickets on line before which allowed us from having to wait in long lines. Half way up the mountain we stopped at Mildred’s cafe for lunch and then headed up the switchbacks to the top. Appel parking and elevator to the third level gave us access to the swing bridge. Views were fabulous.

Just one of the may beautiful sights and scenes along the Parkway. A drive full of wonder! Just sorry we missed the leaves in their fall colors.

The fog was so heavy that day we didn't get to make it to the top. But the places where the fog had lifted and the drive closer to the bottom where the fog wasn't so bad was absolutely breathtaking. We DEFINITELY plan on going back to visit again and make it to the top!!

A visit to Grandfather Mountain is a must-do event when visiting the mountains of North Catolina. We were there on the 4th so there was quite a crowd. No problem at all. Go when you can. The scenery and vistas were amazing. Make sure to visit the wildlife center and museum. It was neat to see a couple of mountain lions, as well as bull elk, black bears, otters, and bald eagles. The staff personnel were approachable, kind, and willing to share their knowledge of the mountain and its’ creatures. Several picnic areas are perfect for taking a break. Hiking trails abound for those desiring a more physical experience. Or drive all the way to the top. Whichever you choose. We came from 100 degree temps in the Sandhills and thoroughly enjoyed the upper 70s and lower humidity!!

If you are planning to hike the Grandfather Trail (blue marked trail), you MUST have actual, hiking footwear, not “athletic” shoes. I’ve seen every kind of inappropriate shoe heading up the trail, including Gucci sneakers and flip flops, and I cannot stress the point enough - tennis shoes will not hold on these slippery rocks. The trail is challenging (as in, you can easily slip and fall 100 ft to your death) and Not for people who regularly choose the elevator over stairs. The trail is muddy and covered in roots and rocks. Don’t take babies in a front pack or unathletic kids. You can’t carry them. There are other trails that are perfect for families with young children.
Take water, a basic medical kit, snacks/lunch, and tissues/wipes (for potty emergencies) with a ziplock bag to take them back and throw away - don’t try to bury them.
The Underwood bypass (yellow marked trail) does have one ladder (avoids the multiple ladders and cables on GF) but the trail is extremely slick and rocky. Gorgeous in a different way (no vistas).
Without huge crowds at the ladders and you’re movin’, it’s 2 - 3 hours round trip from the lower parking area to the top of the Chute/Attic Window, 4 - 5 if you are a newbie and stop for lunch.
After the rant above, I must add that this is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been. Worth the fee or the hike up the Grandfather Profile Trail on 105.

This is the first time my daughter-in-law has been to the mountains, and we have been showing her as much as we can. Yesterday it was Tweesie railroad, today the Blue ridge parkway and Grandfathers Mountain. We had a really good time the people where really nice, I stayed down in the gift shop and the rest of the family walked over the swinging bridge. The wind was blowing up to 40 miles and hour on top of the mountain. I think they were pretty brave, I'm the chicken and proud of it too. My 5 year old granddaughter loved it so did my son and husband my daughter-in-law not so much. We all had a good day.

Beautiful views. Loved the bears and other animals in the small zoo there. Great hiking trails. Loved walking across the bridge, kinda scary, but totally worth it.

Grandfather Mountain is a beautiful spot to visit in the fall. The "Mile High Swinging Bridge" is a fun thing to do, and the views are spectacular. Some nice hiking trails are available for all levels of hikers. Nice gift shop set up. The animal enclosures give you good looks at eagles, elk, a panther and a bear. When we visited, the exhibit hall was closed for renovation.

Beautiful views! Awesome hiking around mountain. The roads and attractions are in great shape and well kept. The bathrooms are clean.
Mile High Bridge is a neat area - very busy! The hiking trails are great.

30 years ago, we were here and my husband was planning to propose to me after walking across the suspension bridge. He left the ring in the car so it didn't happen here. It was fun to come back and see it 30 years later. There is an entrance fee. With that fee, you are given a CD to play as you drive through the park. It describes the stuff you see along the way. We stopped at the little museum which was top notch. There was also a shop, ricking chairs, picnic tables and bathrooms there. We walked over to see the cougar, bears (didn't see them), otters, elk and bald eagles there too. It was a short paved looped but it was not flat. The drive up made me sick 30 years ago but we just did the Road to Hana and Haleakal in Hawaii so it didn't see like anything at all this time! There is a small store at the top and a set of stairs or and elevator up to the suspension bridge. We walked across for marvelous views of the valley and the other mountains. It is very windy up there and I would definitely recommend sturdy sure footed shoes.

Enjoyed the charm of Appalacian mountains off Boone, NC.
Very beautiful and charming Green. Mountain drive is pleasant. The peak, hanging bridge, trails are a must do in this area. The place is well managed and worth a visit.

Truly one of my favorite places on the planet. Nothing else like it. Would consider it great for all ages. My two daughters loved it when they were kids and now at college-age they still love it. Some people complain about the price ($22 for adults) but I consider it an incredible value. We spent five hours on the mountain during a recent visit: crossing the bridge for photos and just taking it all in, visiting the Top Shop before heading out on a hike, going out to MacRae Peak on the crest trail, lunch at Mildred's, the animals in their habitats, and the fudge shop.

If you are worried about the social distancing aspect, we were very impressed how they handled traffic on the mile-high bridge; a worker at each end sending folks across so there was no passing. Masks were required for that and while in the Top Shop (gift shop and restrooms at the top). Also in Mildred's Grill. The whole time we were hiking I couldn't wait to have a cheeseburger and fries at Mildred's. So good!

Finally, at least for the time-being reservation are required. They are limiting their capacity so place your order online in advance. The museum and theater are currently closed but Mildred's and the gift shop in that building remain open.

Very scenic views. The swinging bridge was cool. We arrived around 11:00am on a Friday. Not too crowded. Recommend seeing if in the area.

I thought the admission price was a little high (if I remember correctly $22 per person) as I did not spend much time in the park-it was just a short stop on my longer Blue Ridge Parkway journey. I did not do any of the hikes-just visited the mile-high bridge. It was definitely a unique experience and something to do. The views are stunning and I am glad I did stop. Added bonus for the Forrest Gump fans (as I am), part of the drive up is where they filmed a portion of him running. On the way down you will get the exact view from the movie.

As others have noted YOU MUST BUY TICKETS ONLINE - in advance of your planned visit. The website is pretty easy to use. You must select a planned time arrival time also. Tickets are $21 a person (not cheap). There are reduced rates for seniors, veterans and kids. They ay there may be extra tickets available at the entrance but I wouldn't chance it.

Even though this is pricey it is still a great experience: the drive up the windy road with hairpin turns and gorgeous views, the mile high swinging bride, hiking trails, gift shop (and rest rooms), snack bar and a nature center (currently under construction) with a small animal park (bears, elk, otters, cougar and eagles).

Bring some food or pack a lunch. - there are several places to park that have picnic tables and fantastic views of the countryside. Also bring a jacket and dress warm for the Swinging Bridge - it is over 5k feet above sea level. Temperatures are is much cooler at the top of the mountain plus It gets windy and the weather is constantly changing. At $21 per person you want to take your time and enjoy the views.

FYI your entrance ticket is good all day so you can visit in the morning when it is less crowded and come back for sunset.

What a great day! Beautiful scenery and very interesting wildlife area. Haven't been in MANY years and so glad we went back. Great way to spend a day while we were in Blowing Rock.

Grandfather mountain should be a public state park and free access to the public. Instead it is privately owned and run as a "non-profit" (more about that) business. The exorbitant entrance fee immediately make you aware of that ; $20 per adult. It probably is worth $4. The entrance package includes a CD to move the bulk of visitors quickly through the visit to maximize visitor volume per day. It contains no trail map, only a road stops minimally simplified map, though you can ask for a free trail map in the souvenir shop.
Clearly there is business conflict of interest in limiting the number of people enjoying the trails and maximizing fast turnaround "car visitors" who just want to cross the bridge and leave the park have a picnic and call it a day.
They falsely advertise a nature museum and the largest mineral stone exhibit in north carolina , which is one reason i came, I saw neither. This is false advertising. There was a small permanent exhibit in the hall next to the large gift shop but i would not call that a nature museum. Part of the building is under renovation. They still charge their full fee even though these attractions were not available.
They like to say that they offer discounts and list them all then write "etc" which is deceptive since there is no other discount.
They say this is a non-profit organization but i think that such place should be publicly owned heritage managed by the state so that the cost if shared by everybody and the entrance is free.
I found after visiting the park that all the background land of grandfather mountain is state owned and thus all trails are FREE as long as you don't access the trails from their entrance gate and privately owned parking lots. I will definitively look into that option next time. Beside they only open their gates at 9:00 am and they already close the trails at 5 pm (business hours) which is not compatible with a full day of enjoyment like public parks. It should open at 8 am and close at 6-7 pm.
On the positive side, the staff is very effective at directing people but, but that payroll cost could be avoided by having a visitor friendly map of the trails (not just the road stops) in handed to everybody at the gate. While a more technical and detailed trail map should be optional at visitor's request. I suppose the staff is necessary for a corporation to manage crowds in dangerous areas, this is a corporate liability issue that would be avoided if grandfather mountain was state owned. In public parks (such as Hanging Rock park) conspicuous signs alert the public of danger of death . But them being privately owned and insured they have extra concerns and hire extra staff.
They advertise the park goal is to inspire people and to protect nature and they achieve that without a doubt for those who can afford it, but i have a feeling that this is second on their list, first and foremost is profit. This is made clear in more ways than one. In a way, it may not be their fault which is why i think that the state could run Grandfather mountain much more efficiently without the extra liability concerns a private corporation has. But it gets in the way of the free enjoyment of nature as John Muir intended it.

I once visited in February the road beyond the gift shop was closed (no access to the swinging bridge and trails) due to snowstorm but they gladly took my money at a 50% reduced entry fee but. I found no mineral exhibit, no museum. In the animal exhibit i saw only eagles. I was thankful to them for at least letting me see something after 2h30 hours drive on way but i think half cost was still greedy for seeing virtually only a gift shop and eagles.
On my second visit in the summer i still saw no museum and no mineral exhibit.
If this was a free entrance public park i would only have positive feedback.

In conclusion this is a wonderful place but i think would be better for all if it was state owned and managed.

Beautiful scenery! The drive is breathtaking because it was scary with those curves and I was holding my breath. LOL

From the CD that they gave us to play on the drive up, to the views at the top of the mountain, we really enjoyed this stop. I was a little wary about crossing a mile high swing bridge, but the original wooden bridge was replaced years ago with a sturdy steel one, so it really doesn’t swing much, if at all; plus if you go early you’ll be the only one crossing it. After crossing the bridge, you can walk across some boulders (scarier than the bridge) to get to the peak of the mountain, but it’s a pretty wide grouping of boulders, so it isn’t that difficult. From there you get an amazing view of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Definitely try to go on a clear, sunny day for the best views; plus when you’re up there, look towards the right to see the giant white Sugar Top Condominium building that’s way too visible from everywhere in the mountains.

We stopped by the animal exhibit on the way down, but due to cleaning and perhaps sleepy animals, the only ones we saw were the bald eagles and a black bear in cage. The nature museum is small but nice. There are hiking trails beyond the bridge; stop in the Visitor Center at the top for advice and a trail map.

The mountain is a great experience a little on the high side for entry fee.
Climb the mountain or take an elevator to the mile high bridge. Everyone can experience Take a walk to see the live animal exhibit. There is an educational room . We have to come back as we were going up the mountain it started to snow and we were not ready for that

My husband and I visited Grand Father mountain in 1996 as a newly married couple. We were excited to take 8 of our 11 children that still live at home to visit while we were visiting NC this week. Boy were we shocked to find out that it would be almost $300 for our family to go up to even see the bridge! Needless to say this was not in our budget.

Being so high on a suspension bridge that is a mile high and being able to see such spectacular scenery was well worth the $20 (senior rate) price of admission. It is quite a challenging drive to get to the top and we picked a very windy day, 20 mph when we crossed from the parking area side and 40 mph on the way back. There are plenty of places to stop en route to the top or bottom and we stopped to see the sphinx and split rocks where there was a very pleasant young lady who told us about them. This is definitely one of the highlights of our trip to this part of North Carolina.

The drive up to the top has a lot of switchbacks but well worth going. The overlooks on the way up the mountain were beautiful vistas and the view from the top was magnificent. The swinging bridge was an experience you shouldn’t miss.

the views are stunning. not too much walking but a little. watch out for people who are rude and don't move out of the way. rather expensive but once and done. it was $44 for 2 adults.

Absolutely breathtaking views! Crossed the swinging bridge, and ate the restaurant, had good food and people were very friendly! Would highly recommend.

Waited to buy ticket until there, the military discount does not apply in person. Also, does not say if can be used for a family. It is $30 a person which honestly is too much for the park as there are numerous other trails that you can hike in the area. The bridge was beautiful but again I do not feel it was worth $30 a person. I have long wondered and now I know.

Amazing views and fun for all ages! We took 3 boys (3, 9, and 12 years old) and they all had fun. Between the animals at the zoo or the hiking areas it was a good family day. The Mile High Bridge was my favorite part, the view was incredible!

Lovely park to visit. Well organized with audio tour and friendly staff. Scenery is beautiful and the wildlife reserve was fabulous.

We were shocked by Grandather Mountain. We went on an off peak time (Wednesday mid-afternoon) and it was crazy crowded. None of the animals were out, the walking trail to the bridge was packed, and the bridge was so crowded we could barely move. There are so many better places we saw free on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We would definitely recommend skipping this.

This is certainly a one of a kind attraction that if you’re ever around this neck of the woods, so to speak, you need not pass this up! We took our time and enjoyed everything about this Mountain and so glad we did! We spent an hour just sitting on the rocks once we crossed the bridge, just enjoying the views and taking everything in! Heights don’t scare us... it’s only a mile high above sea level! The weather was perfect as well as the crowd.. day after Labor Day was a great day to go! Price is $22.00 for adults.. $20.00 for seniors.. $9.00 for children..they have a restaurant as well as a habitant .. we saw elk, bald eagles and a cougar.. they have other animals as well, but we had spent so much time on the bridge we didn’t get to see all the animals.. they also have a museum, as well for you to visit. Plan a day and have some fun on the Mountain !!!You’ll love it! Before I forget it, you get to ride an elevator so you don’t have to climb stairs to the bridge , that is unless you want to! They also have lots of hiking trails !!! Have FUN!!!!

This mountain is full of amazing places to take a good picture! The scenery as you go up is just beautiful but the most beautiful scenery is reaching the top! The bridge was super fun and provided an awesome experience to see some tadpoles! Definitely would recommend.

Make sure you put the right address in your GPS, as there are a lot of things beginning with Grandfather Mountain. (We first went to Grandfather Mountain State Park.) Get your tickets ahead of time and go EARLY. This attraction gets really busy and some of the parking areas are kind of small. The road up/down the mountain is small and very winding and some people speed around the corners, so be careful.

Bring a jacket because it is extremely WINDY up there! There are two gift shops, a photo exhibit, a cafeteria and two restroom areas. We didn't do any of the hiking trails. Great views and the swinging bridge is impressive. It gets crowded, so be patient.

Great views for sure,if your afraid of heights not a place to go, It was amazing to cross the bridge and see the view they kept everybody in groups to be safe my only complaint is what they charge is way to much

This is a must stop off the Blue Ridge Parkway especially with kids. This stop has animals, hiking, picnic areas, a restaurant, ice cream, a cool bridge, and amazing views. My boys have both loved it here the last few summers.

Grandfather Mountain is a National Treasure disguised as a State Park. There is something for everyone here. Just driving up it and taking in the views is enough to make it worth it. As a hiker I loved the (very difficult) hike to Calloway Peak. But I went back with young nieces and elderly family to check out the (elevator accessible) swinging bridge, shorter trails, and animal habitat. Everything is so beautifully maintained. Cannot recommend more strongly.

Grandfather Mountain has a great trail system for hiking with all levels of difficulty. The museum is extensive. The food at the restaurant was quite good and cooked right when you order it so it is fresh and hot. The animal habitats are a MUST for kids! The swinging bridge is simply amazing!! Get ya some fudge, too!

Grandfather Mt is a family favorite of ours. We always start with the animal habitats !
They have bears, elk, otters, mountain lions , and bald eagles . Then we go to the swinging bridge to walk over and see the amazing views ! It’s spectacular ! Can be 15 degrees cooler than the bottom of the mountain
We were there at sunset for the first time this year for a private event! Incredible sunset !

Grandfather Mtn is a great place to visit with spectacular views of the surrounding mtns. Just driving up to the top to the parking lot is an adventure with the "S" curves especially on a motorcycle. Once you get to the top then up the steps to the swinging bridge that's a mile high is incredible. Once you're up that high you can see for miles. We didn't go because of the weather but I understand there is a trail you can hike to get a different view. I would recommend this highly.

The beautiful drive up the mountain is a testament what an automobile can do when you drive it slow and careful. A hairpin turn mecca.

The Swinging Bridge is pretty neat as is the area hiking. The zoo is surprisingly good for being private and at the top of a mountain.

Highly recommended.

The views did not disappoint on an afternoon hike from the suspension bridge to Calloway Peak. There is a visitor center/gift shop in the parking lot at the bridge and the Grandfather trail begins here. Pretty substantial elevation gain through climbing boulders, cables and ladders but the trail is beautiful and well marked. Just about 5 miles, took 4.5 hours and made for a wonderful afternoon.

It was a really nice day trip here. However the oldest child got carsick on the way up the mountain, luckily the gift shop had Dramamine. Other than that it was fun and beautiful.

What a great trip I had. Being winter the hiking trails were closed. The drive to Grandfather Mountain was a beautiful and amazing drive. I loved that upon entry to park they give you a CD to listen to as you drive to the top with information and history at points during your drive. It was a blustery windy day as well as foggy the higher up into the mountain. The excitement came when I was able to walk over the suspended bridge. I’ve and snow were blowing off the cables making it even more fun. Once across I was able to continue to climb rocks and go further for viewing. I definitely want to come back late spring or early fall and hike the trails and see the beautiful scenery and all the foliage. Most of the animals were hiding naturally due to it being winter. I recommend this trip for families and for single people it’s a great time to connect with nature.

After a disappointing stop at The Blowing Rock, where we felt we were overcharged for what was there, what a dramatic difference to visit Grandfather Mountain. Due to Covid, make your reservations in advance so they can manage the number of visitors. When you check in at the gate, they hand you a CD to play as you make the drive up the mountain - very helpful to learn about what you are looking at! Paved parking lot at the top and a short hike to the mile high suspension bridge and an elevator is available if needed. It's cold on top - bring a jacket, coat, toboggan, and gloves! We arrived at 10 am when a rain shower passed through. The wind was blowing about 40 mph, enough to rock our van! The views from the bridge are amazing! And the bridge sings - as the wind blows through the floor slats it was like a giant harmonica! On the way down the mountain we stopped at the Nature Center, which is like a small zoo. They have Bald Eagles, River Otters, Elk, and Bears - each display is easy to see. Great for the kids! Senior cost was $20 which was well worth it. This was our best stop along our drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

It is definitely worth visitng place for hiking. The trail is not for beginners. I found interesting view points on my way towards Calloway Peak. make sure to start your hike well before time as we were instructed to be back around 04:00 pm. I was disappointed with animal habitats though because I didn't see animals there.

The line was excruciatingly long just to get to the gate where you pay. The fee was $30 plus per adult and includes a cd to play as you drive. It haven’t had a car with a cd player in years so that was useless. The line of cars to get to the mile high bridge was outrageous and there was a worker with a stop sign holding everyone up. It took over 30 minutes to get from the gate to the bridge!

Glad we had read reviews to avoid sticker shock. Very well-maintained and the visitor centers are not large, but very well done and informational. Several volunteers and employees, all helpful and full of facts. Didn’t see any animals in the habitats except the otters. Would be nice if they did more encounters with the animals to be able to see them. We managed to miss every one of them. The cd you are given was a nice addition both driving up the mountains do back down. You’re out of luck if you don’t have a CD player tho. Enjoyed the swinging bridge. Not at all scary and so beautiful. It was rainy and misty which probably affected the animal visits as well as visibility overall, but regardless it was a wonderful day. Were we to do it again, I’d come prepared to hike and picnic.

The mile high bridge is wheelchair accessible and it was so thrilling! It is very windy up there but so beautiful! After crossing the bridge, there are some great photo opportunities if you’re able to walk up and stand on one of the peaks. During your visit to the mile high bridge, stop and see the little museum (a room full of pictures and information) and learn the history of grandfather mountain and the bear that lived there!
Also on the mountain is a habitat area (Wheelchair accessible) with a cougar and a bear and a few other animals. There is a restaurant and a room with information on the animals also. There are places to hike along with walking trails on the mountain. This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! It’s nice that it was so accessible at the top of the mountain!

The hike up was very pretty with lots of places to take pictures. Swinging bridge was also very cool.

What a beautiful drive to the park entrance along highway 221 on this sunny clear Saturday morning in early March. Unfortunately the park was closed due to an inch of snow from the night before that made the area icy. The Blue Ridge Parkway was also closed in and around Boone. I was disappointed not to be able to see the Rhyme ice that formed on the trees above 4,000 ft. elevation. This area is a true gem and we will try again to see this area snow covered next year. I will check for advisories before my next trip to the area however.

I did the full hike to McRae Peak then on to Calloway Peak. At an elevation of 5,964 feet it’s a 700 foot elevation gain over the mile high swinging bridge and 2.4 miles one-way.

The hike has about a dozen wooden ladders and about 4-5 cables. It’s a rugged hike and includes many very rocky areas where I had to sit on my rear end and slide down as I was grabbing rocks for hand holds. It’s not to be taken lightly and I’d allow 5 hours minimum. Pack plenty of water and snacks for the hike. No porta-potties!

The view from the top is great. There were some low clouds that obscured the view partially though.

It’s nice to finish it, just realize it’s not a walk in the park.

If you are a person who loves nature and hiking this is for you! Upon entering the park you are provided with media (CD or USB stick) that provides an audio tour as you progress through the park. I love that it was “move at your own pace”. You can stop wherever you want, hike as long as you want, and then proceed. The food was delicious at Mildred’s cafe and the animal exhibits were awesome! There were very helpful volunteers sprinkled throughout the park that answered questions and gave you park information and history. Everything was amazingly clean including all of the bathrooms. The swinging bridge was a wonderful addition to the trip. At $24 per adult I would say this is a great value. We spent over 5 hours in the park and could have stayed longer if we wanted to and not have been bored. Would highly recommend and would love to visit again!

What started out as a pleasant day up to the swinging bridge ended up at a Banner Elk Auto Shop...Heed the warning I am giving you. When parking up at the top, be aware of the wind direction and strength. When my son in law opened his car door ooops there it went flying out of his hand and bending the hinge. Here he was at the top of the mountain and a car door that now will not close. No swinging bridge for him but rather he spent his time strapping the door shut thanks to my other son in law who had them. There is no telling how they would have gotten down the mountain with a door that was open. The staff although very nice were not helpful in that matter. They offered a raincheck.
We weren’t advised about the “wind” at the gate however after our incident we did hear the staff saying it was windy at the top....still not much of a warning though so ......
Hold onto your doors, strollers and small children and you will certainly enjoy the awesome views!
Ps the animals may have been hiding from the wind the Eagle was the only one we saw.

How to start this, I live in Miami Florida. We do not have anything remotely close to Grandfather Mountain. First of all it took a minute for me to even get used to the altitude I wont lie I did feel a bit dizzy going up but slowly my body started to adapt and everything turned out OK. The views are just breath taking. It truly felt like something you see in a painting, everything felt so still and I could breath this amazing fresh air. I truly loved it. I was scared at first to cross the bridge, but it was actually really safe and stable. I will be coming back

Had 2 fun visits to Grandfather Mountain and neither time disappointed. The first time was on a Sunday with some rainy/cold weather and was less crowded. Went on a Saturday as well with nice weather and was pretty packed. Still, it didnt' feel too crowded either time except for on the Saturday when trying to go to the bridge. The parking was horribly backed up, so we skipped a 2nd visit to the top. Loved the animals, hiking trails and the bridge though.

I attended as VP of Clan Donnachaidh of the Carolinas and Honor guard of Scottish American Military Society Post 1775. We opened the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games with 108 clans and many societies.

Loved this place. Yes, it is pricey, but worth it. Loved the narrator you pop in your car as you drive up and down the mountain. Well worth it in the end.

Grandfather Mountain is an absolute favorite when we visit NC. The kids really enjoy coming here and seeing the animals and visiting the museum at the visitor center. The also have a great little program that the kids can do an earn their ranger badge.

Worth the price of admission. Spectacular views, hiking if that's your thing, Bear watching as well as unique old rocks. Most of all you can walk across the swing bridge at a mile high. Don't miss this part of the experience.

Important to know: There is Grandfather Mountain State Park, which encompasses about 2/3 of Grandfather Mountain and contains multiple FREE hiking trails. There is also Grandfather Mountain private attraction (NOT FREE) which manages the remaining 1/3 of the mountain containing the swinging bridge and Grandfather Trail up to Attic Window (2nd of 3 peaks). This review is for the private attraction.
Grandfather Trail to Calloway Peak - 10/10 one of the best hikes of my life. Boulders, chutes, and ladders make it the longest 3.9 miles you'll ever climb. Exposed cliffs, rockfalls, and alpine forests make a varied and phenomenal landscape.
Mile High Swinging Bridge - 7/10 a nice feat of engineering, excellent scenery but kind of a tourist trap. Go before 9am, before the hordes arrive.
Entrance fee - biggest bummer. $22/person and nature should be accessible, granted all proceeds go to preserving the park, and they do a fantastic job maintaining the trails.

We read about this place from other reviews on TripAdvisor and decided to check it out. The reviews do not do it justice! From the moment we entered the front gate, this was one of the best educational experiences we have had with our kids (3rd and 5th grade). At the gate, they give you either a CD or USB audio tour of the mountain and the timing as you drive up is perfect. At every stop, there was something interesting to do. Don't skip any of the stops! My kids loved the first nature walk, looking at plants, building a fort with tree limbs, inspecting the decomposing trees in a new way. We spent half the day at the new Wilson Center for Nature Discovery. Inside is a 30 minute video about the mountain, an interactive classroom in the clouds, a wildlife habitat with keeper talks every 30 minutes (we attended the bear and otter talks and they were awesome!) Other great things to see: the split rock, Forrest Gump curve, and a million places to stop and eat a picnic (we recommend you find one with a great view). The ONLY negative part of the day was that the mile-high swinging bridge was closed for reconstruction and we had hoped it would be open by now. Also, the hiking trail at the top of the mountain is very difficult and for experienced climbers only with very clear warning signs. We did not attempt it with the kids. We hope to come back again someday to experience the bridge.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific day and time you will arrive. We decided to arrive when they first open at 8am. Glad we did. It was on a Tuesday and the park was already getting full by 10am. The drive to the top is a bit scary as there are no guardrails and its pretty steep but our little car made it just fine. About halfway up there is parking for the wildlife park and museum but we decided to go there on the way back down. Parking at the top is limited and can get full on a busy day. We arrived early so that wasn't a problem for us. To get to the mile high swinging bridge you can take the stairs or use the elevator. The bridge itself is really narrow. It barely fits two people side by side and there is a limit of 40 people on the bridge at one time. BUT.....the views are completely worth the drive and the scary walk across the bridge. It was a beautiful day when we went and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I would definitely recommend everyone experience this at least once in their lifetime. There is also a gift shop at the top so be sure to grab a souvenir of your trip up this beautiful mountain.

On the way back down the mountain we stopped to see the animals. The bear was a no show as were most of the other animals as well. Only the eagle was out and about that morning. There is a nice little fudge shop nearby that is wonderful. The museum was under construction so we weren't able to see it but we did hike down to split Rock and sphinx rock. Both were pretty cool but already getting crowded. Overall it was a great way to spend about 2-3 hours and we will definitely be back once the museum is finished.

Great getaway near Boone, Nc. It's a little pricey for admission, but you can get a great discount for having AAA or AARP. The park is well maintained and there are spots along the way for taking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Near the top is a Resource Center featuring dioramas of different wildlife found in the mountains as well as some luve bears and two live bald wagles.

Further up is the famoux swiinging bridge where the wind causes an eerie howl as it whips through the towers and the supports . At the entrance gate they give you a CD that gives you a guided tour pointing out certain points of interest. A great afternoon journey, and the roads on the mountain are clear and well maintained.

This is a beautiful area and was well worth the admission fees just for the beautiful views alone. I'm rating it as a 4 rather than 5 however for 2 reasons. One reason is that the Nature Museum is under renovation and we only that after arriving because there's no indication that it's closed on the website. The second reason is the limited wheelchair access. Some areas are understandably going to be inaccessible because of the natural trails and climbing but other areas which we though were accessible after viewing the website were extremely difficult for a wheelchair bound adult to navigate such as the Wildlife Habitat due to the steep grade despite being paved. There also are no wheelchair rentals -which we didn't need this time - and the access to the ramps to access the visitors centers are a bit challenging due to the incline. Overall it was a good visit and we do plan to go again but I hope at some point when renovations are being made these things are taken into consideration so that disabled guests can enjoy a similar experience to what able bodied guests enjoy.

We hiked up to the Bridge, a nice moderate hike. The afternoon turned cloudy and we couldn't see any good long-distance views, but enjoyed the other side of the bridge anyway. Hike back down was fairly easy.
Highly recommended! Hope to go back one day when it's sunny!

Came from campground in Boone for a mid morning visit even though the weather was breezy and cloudy. When got to gate was told top closed but might open so we got in for half price. Toured overlooks and museum and about 1pm the winds had died down so top was opened. Drove halfway and hiked the rest which was a easy hike. Wind at top was crazy breezy and the clouds opened up. Picnicked at overlook in was down road which was great. Highly recommend this place.

The price is high, but the place is well maintained. The CD guided tour was an interesting touch that my family enjoyed. We stopped at the Nature area and museum. The animals look healthy and content. The fudge shop is a must stop. So good! We were there on the 4th of July, so it was quiet crowded. But people were polite and patient. And the views are just spectacular!

Wife and I drove up there, but reservations are required! Well worth the money to check it out! Went to the mile high swinging bridge which is fantastic!!! But not for the weak at heart! Little windy up there but fantastic views!!! Lot of families with kids there just something you have to check out!!!

The views were amazing and the hiking was really interesting and fun. Lisa at the gate was very knowledgeable about the area. We had a fun adventure.

We paid full price to enter this park (5 adults at $22 each!) and most of the park was closed once we entered. I really wish they had told us how much of the park was closed or charged a lower fee. The museum, the cafe, and all of the trails except for one were all closed. We still enjoyed the little "zoo" and suspension bridge though. It's probably an amazing time when fully open.

We really enjoyed the beautiful views from the top if the mountain, but the mile-high bridge was the best part of this stop. The whistling noise of the wind through the bridge was also a nice treat, it almost sounded like music.

Gotten a little pricey at $22 a person. Call ahead as they only let so many in at once now. There can be extra tickets which is how we got in. Bring your own food for lunch as $7 for a hotdog is crazy. It's Oct 21 still Covid-19 stuff masks inside. Fall colors are really nice. The animal enclosure are not huge, but a good size. You can't feed the bears anymore which is a good thing.

See the animals, drive to the top and walk the steel bridge which is 1 mile high, but only 80ft above the area. There are a couple of trails to hike at the top. Drive-up has some hairpin curves.

What a fantastic educational experience! We were able to go 'behind the scenes' to learn more about the living environment and activities of the otters, bears, cats, and elk. Stephanie Sellers was an outstanding guide! Kuddos to Grandfather Mountain for offering this type of activities. It is a 'MUST DO'!

Neither my husband nor I have ever been to Grandfather Mountain even though we grew up within driving distance of this attraction. Long weekend travels found us in the area and it was the perfect opportunity for us to check it out. We were not disappointed. It was a very foggy day, which obstructed a lot of the view, but we still enjoyed all it had to offer. The staff presentations at the animal exhibits were very interesting, the cd that was included in the admission was so informative and access to the bridge was almost effortless. For those with a sweet tooth, the fudge shop is a must stop! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the mountain and if we are ever in the area again on a clear day, we certainly would be glad to pay the entrance fee to try it one more time!

Grandfather Mountain has amazing views. The museum is very interesting and the gift shop is charming. My one negative is that we did not see the animal habitats due to the fact that like the museum, they were not pet friendly.

We spent about 4 hours there, but honestly you can spend a whole day there. We thought it was well worth the admission price.

We started with the short, but somewhat moderate, hike to the Swinging Bridge. The bridge does swing, but it’s not very much. The views are as spectacular as advertised. You can also drive to the top and you can even take an elevator up to the bridge- convenient options for those with small children or anyone with walking difficulty. The bridge was briefly closed for safety, as there was lightening within 5 miles. The staff was courteous and helpful through the process.

Next we visited the animal habitat and got to listen to a brief talk by one of the staff. He was very knowledge and friendly. The mountain lions, otters, and elk were nowhere to be seen, so if you’d like to see all the animals, I would recommend doing this between 10:30-noon, as the staff does talks on each group of animals during these times and they feed the animals at the end of the talk-so you are guaranteed to see them. We had some ice-cream and went back out to the enclosures for a quick look before heading out, and this time got to see the elk and mountain lions.

There are plenty of picnic tables scattered on the mountain, so pack snacks or bring lunch if you plan to stay a while. They also do have a small cafeteria in the visitor center -it closes earlier than the park, so plan accordingly if you plan to grab a bite there. There are also several trails if you want to do more hiking and enjoy the views.

We were worried that it would be crowded, but it was not. The swinging bridge was by far more crowded than the other locations, but it was not bad. There is a 40 person limit on the bridge at one time, but we didn’t have to wait to walk through it as there were maybe 4-6 others on it when we got there.

Go enjoy this beautiful place! And don’t worry about going in the summer -it is about 15 degrees cooler in the mountain than mainland.

Overpriced but a really beautiful place. I paid around $50 for admission for 2 people. We spent about 2 hours there. The parking area near the bridge was tight but we managed. The park was extremely crowded and there were several buses there with school children. Overall I enjoyed the park but the admission fee was excessive.

I went early in the morning before the crowds. The swinging/singing bridge is cool! Very windy, as you’re a mile above sea level. You can drive to the bridge or park in the hiker’s lot and do a short hike to the bridge. This is probably the only part I’d say is kid/dog friendly. I moved on to the Grandfather Trail Loop to Mcrae’s Peak. This was difficult at times and I would not recommend bringing kids or dogs. It’s very rocky and there are ladders involved, so you’ll end up having to strap them to you. People were giving up and turning around so once you pass the easier part, there is not much foot traffic. The view is definitely worth the hike if you’re solo or with a small group! One of my favorite parts about hiking is people you meet along the way. The trail is marked the whole way as well, so you won’t get lost. By the time I finished the hike — which was about 3+ hours, the parking lot and bridge were packed full of people and dogs.

I had read mixed reviews on GF mountain so I was a little leery but was so happy we went. They have 2 nice gift shops, plenty of restrooms. We didn’t get to see many of the animals in the little zoo but did get to walk around. I thought the price of entry was reasonable for what was offered and the views were just wonderful. I would have stayed longer if we didn’t have 3 kids with us. We did walk across the mile high bridge. We had one granddaughter who has anxiety issues and was quite hesitant but once she went across she was glad she did. It should be nicknamed the singing bridge instead of the singing bridge, it was very sturdy.
It wasn’t crowded at all. We did not go out on the higher rocks because I am pure chicken and a klutz but were very happy with the views we saw. Even yhe views from the parking lot were great.

Amazing views! Gorgeous rock formations. Great picnic areas, great for birding, people have cute dogs everywhere, so many photo ops, Forest Gump hiked here (lol)...

The drive up and down the mountain were stunning! However, at the top, it was extremely foggy, which we expected! We did cross the swinging bridge, and my middle child was extremely thankful for the fog so he didn't have to look down!! I thought the CD that came with the admission was a nice, unexpected, touch!

What a glorious place to visit. Had a spectacular time. It cost per person not by car and while it seems a bit expensive it was well worth it. The scenery was absolutely out of this world; And you must climb the mountain. Although we didn’t eat there the prices didn’t seem to outrageous. We did purchase some fudge and enjoyed that. This is a must do. Yes, that’s me way up on Grandfather Mountain. Didn’t see any bears but saw the bald eagle. It was a nice family outing.

A must see stop. They give you an thumb drive to plug in that narrates the journey to the top of the mountain. Once at the top you have to check out the mile high bridge. Just make sure that you have good footing when the wind blows. This is a great place to visit and should not be missed.

This sited is kind of expensive to visit but worth it. The cost was $22 per person for senior citizens. There is a long, steep drive up to the top of the mountain with several places to stop for the views as well as a museum/visitor center half way up the mountain. Once you get to the top, you can take an elevator or climb more stairs to get to the swinging bridge. The panoramic vista from up there is amazing. It's worth the walk over the bridge to the rock outcroppings on the other side. This site might be a problem spot for those who have a fear of heights!

If you have not had the opportunity to enjoy and spend time at Grandfather you are missing out! So beautiful and such untouched habitats...as you drive along to get to the GM there are many overlook stops where you can take in the amazing view....it can only be experienced....it is hard to explain...literally breathtaking!
Our tour made it to the mountain but was unable to experience going to the top and the swinging bridge due to high winds. We got to see a brown and black bear, elk, and otters, the temperature was really cold so the cougars decided to stay warm and not come out :-). We are making plans on coming back!

Absolutely beautiful park! Incredible views from every direction. Route to the top was a bit harrowing at times not for the faint of heart. The swinging bridge at the top is a very cool experience. But don’t feel bad if you can’t bring yourself to do it!

Lived in NC my whole life and never been here. Definitely magnificent breathtaking views from swinging mile high bridge. Was not handicapped accessible for those who may need that option. Elevator was down. $60+ to bring in a family of 4 was a little much but it definitely wasn't an every weekend expense. Spent about 4 hours exploring mountain, views, zoo area and the area. Still go back when my children are older maybe.

Be prepared to spend money. First the price was high for the amount of time spent there. The Website has senior rates, but when we arrived they charged general admission which was $2 more than the top end of the senior rate listed. There were not many animals to see at the preserve. Understandably in winter some animals would not be visible. However, the cougar and elk appeared very thin and the elk appeared lethargic. Despite the extreme cold temperature 28 degrees with extreme windchill, the view was beautiful. There are hiking options and picnic opportunities, but these options would be best utilized on milder days.
Plan a trip here carefully.

This was our 2nd time here and was shocked to find out your supposed to call ahead and make a reservation (put in place due to COVID), however, we got lucky and they had some general admission tickets available. I would check ahead going forward to make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity.

We veered off of The Blue Ridge Parkway to visit the privately owned Grandfather Mountain and enjoyed the view, but not the $20 per person entrance fee. There’s more to see/do than just the swinging bridge, but other than the bridge, just about everything else is available elsewhere in The Smoky Mountains for less - if not free.

It didn’t help that the audio tour that comes with the admission price is only available on CD. And like a lot of “newer” cars, our 2017 doesn’t have a CD player. No need for one anymore. To add insult to injury, the ticket-taker feigned to look for a USB version before admitting that they don’t have any.

But it is a nice view from the swinging bridge. You decide if it’s worth it.

A superb place to visit. Not cheap, but worth it. The drive to the top (and back down) has stunning views, places to stop etc. The Mile high bridge alone was worth the entrance fee - this fee also allows you to return and do trails on a different day, I believe.
Some excellent opportunities for landscape photos.
Take a fleece - even on a hot day it was windy and a little cold.
There is also a small animal experience - animals looked well looked after and content.

Great day at Grandfather Mountain. The swinging bridge and the mountain itself are beautiful. The views cannot be beat. We went with the whole family, including grandkids, and had a great time. Mother Nature does not do much better than this. My only complaint is the traffic. We bought tickets on line before our visit. We assumed this would be a controlled access gate to limit the number of people at a time. This did not happen. We arrived at our scheduled time and then spent an hour in the car snaking our way up the mountain to get to the parking lot. The lots were all jammed with people. The whole place was way to crowded. Views are great, but I would plan to get there early next time to beat the crowds and enjoy a more peaceful experience.

Grandfather Mountain

Getting up here was the hard part. Deep drops and curvy roads with small cement paths! Seriously. Are you people trying to terrify us? Really! Expand the roads, etc. Really! Even in CA, the roads are a little bigger through the mountains.

Besides the crazy roads, the store up here is great. Good to know you don't need to travel far for the bathroom and parking. The bridge is a simple walk away. NO killer hill to climb or steep walk through the jungles. Simple access.

Some ideals: food shop or food truck! How about guard rails!!! OMG. Replace some walk panels on the bridge with glass. Everyone is doing this. Tennessee and Michigan bridges already have this glass.

Very busy on holidays. I'm told on normal days, it's very light.

Highly Recommended.

My family went from Charlotte up to Grandfather mountain to take a hike. I should have done an internet search beforehand because at the entry gate, for the four us, the fee was $88 bucks. I reluctantly paid since we had spent a fair mount of time getting there. I would not say a fudge shop and multiple gift shops add much value. Yes there are a few cages with some animals etc.. The view from the top is beautiful. The are a few trails to hike. Needless to say, I won’t be back. The fee for a family of four should not exceed about $40-$50 if that.

Interesting place. Not too crowded, thank goodness. Walking out on the rocks is rather, ummm, adventurous. The "mile high" bridge advertising is deceptive. It's really an 80-foot high bridge that's a mile above sea level.

our family of 7 of us visited during a storm with freezing rain and wind - we had a marvelous time even during Covid crisis....highly recommended

The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, and the wild animals were our goals to visit on Grandfather Mountain. The bridge and its history were interesting, and so were the views from the other side for the bridge on the highest rocks - incredible! The Nature Center was the best thing of its type we’ve ever been to…so many interesting exhibits (some interactive), plus a fabulous photography presentation on the 2nd floor. The bears, cougars, otters, elk, bald eagles….so inspiring to see up close in natural habitats on the mountain. Well worth the mountain driving on the hairpin curves (where Forrest Gump “ran” in the movie!”)

$20 to get in and get a CD to guide your trip. Very nice park. We hiked up the Bridge Trail which isn't for everyone. It was very rocky walk up to the Swinging Bridge. The views were priceless.

The animals seemed to be taken care of in the habitats. The hike to the Swinging Bridge and walking the Swinging Bridge were the highlights for me.

Nice day with overcast sky. Drive up is steep with hair pin curves especially near the top parking lot. There is a short 20min hike from the middle parking lot that is easy. Plenty of picnic areas along the roadway up. There is an elevator at the top parking lot to the bridge or a few stairs. Gift shop and refreshments also there. Only peeve was that to get senior discount you had to order tickets online before hand which seems counter productive as a senior discount.

This has been on my list for a long time. We got there early to avoid the crowds. Really enjoyed the walk across the bridge - not scary at all. Incredible views. Also enjoyed the Animal Discovery area. Bears, otters, elk, eagles and an elusive cougar. Hearing the elk bugleing was amazing.

I think the admission fee with simply too expensive.
My fifteen year old son and I went, and it cost fifty nine dollars to get in. In my opinion, there is no justification for that amount. I will not be going back.

Well kept park with friendly staff - the audio cd they provide at entrance gate was very informative. The small zoo would be nice for the kids. Exhibit/museum was good. Throughly enjoyed the swinging bridge - easy to get to with the elevator. The views were outstanding from the bridge !!! The road up to the bridge was extremely curvy - caution !!!!!

Beautiful views and accessible for people with physical limitations. The mile-high suspension bridge is the main attraction. Great photo opp and family or extended family activity. Take a picnic lunch. A little pricey, but facilities were all beautifully maintained. Is run by a non-profit and is separate from the Grandfather Mt State Park.

WOAO, taking our breath away.
We're in our 63+68, and still was able to Cross all those rocks after a mile bridge
Best experience ever.
Can't wait to go back.
So, so beautiful.

Bought reasonably-priced tickets ahead of time, due to limited entry options with covid. Quick entry at gate and was given an audio tour on CD to pop in. Nice narrated drive to the top, where we crossed the swinging/singing bridge - windy! Took in the beautiful views and stopped by the museum, animal habitats, overlooks, and split rocks on the way down. If not for the wheelchair in our party, we'd have taken advantage of the miles of hiking trails in the park. A must-see in the area!

Grandfather Mountain is a mountain, a non-profit attraction, and a North Carolina state park near Linville, North Carolina. At 5,946 feet (1,812 m), it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Mile High Swinging Bridge welcomes all visitors to admire 360-degree panoramic views from Grandfather Mountain.
We enjoyed walking across the bridge with the wind whipping across. It was alot of fun. The views up there are amazing. They have a gift shop up near the bridge.
When you travel back down there is a museum,restaurant, and small zoo with bears, otters, elk, and mountain lion.
We enjoyed the visit!

It was very foggy during our visit. We enjoyed the animals at the bottom but was a little disappointed the museum portion hadn't opened yet. We made our way to the top in our car, but it was so very foggy you couldn't really see where to go. We found the bridge and it was very neat but you couldn't see the view, obviously. We may have to return some other time to fully enjoy.

We visited Grandfather Mountain and were just awed by the views. We also enjoyed the animal preserve where we saw up close, eagles, mountain lions and bear. The museum was also very interesting. All, in all, a great way to experience the beautiful western NC mountains.

We found out about this place in a tv series called "Outlander", we were curious about it. Tickets can be purchased online for 20 dollars per person. They give a CD guide to listen to when you start driving. The views are amazing. You can drive to the bridge or you can hike. We decided to hike and it was a beautiful experience. There's also a museum, a little zoo,a restaurant and some shops. You can definitely make a whole day of it.

If you are scared of Covid, don’t go. If you want to insult people for wearing masks, don’t go. It is a bit pricey, however, it is a day trip and they provide a CD with a tour to guide you through the mountain. There are a lot of interesting and geographical things to explore during your time there. There are places to have picnics and grill and you can check out Forrest Gump curve while you are there. They are currently working on improving areas around the mountain so people need to have patience. The restaurant is a decent place and the gift shop is what you’d expect. Take the time and explore the area. Not the best with children as with the top it can get tricky.

Loved the experience of this little visit! Park was clean, beautiful, and very fun to visit! It easily accommodated a very large crowd of people! Views were amazing, like nothing I’ve seen— you can have the beach for this beauty! Loved this place so much!

It was quite foggy and rainy when we went. You need a reservation to get in on weekends which we found out after we arrived at the gate. We went the next day which was not a nice day. All staff was very nice and the views I bet are spectacular on a clear day. We had fun hiking up to the bridge and then walking across.

Amazing view and a neat zoo area. The bridge is only about 80 feet above the chasm below. The mile high refers to elevation above sea level. Nice bathrooms and lots of trails. $22 a person is a little steep. It would be a great price for a family of 4 to charge $22 a car.

You can learn a lot in this well-kept State Park. The various ecosystems and rock formations are explained on a cd given when you pay the $22 per adult entry fee. Plan to spend time exploring and you will really get your money's worth, from a small animal zoo to some pretty challenging hiking trials, swinging bridge (not too too scary) and amazing vistas to enjoy and photograph. Highly recommended. You will feel the altitude if you are a flatlander like us!

If you like dramatic views , some exercise and exciting spots this is the place
I drove from lake james area about 30+ minutes up mountain , stopped several look out spots and finally made it to the top grandfathers mountain and swinging bridge
You can see for miles even on an overcast day like I had
You can either drive right up to the bridge or hike last part which I did

One of the highlights to our trip.. The Mile High Swinging Bridge was incredible. The park is beautiful. There is a tour voice guide that tells you about the features of the park as you drive through. $22 a person is well worth it.

We had a wonderful time at Grandfather Mountain. For our family of four it cost
$ 88.00 and while I know some people feel it's a little pricey, we thought it was well worth the price!

The drive up the mountain is gorgeous and they give you an audio CD that tells the history of the place which is very informative. At the top of the mountain they have a small zoo with otters, bears, eagles and cougars. They have a snack bar, nice gift shop and clean restrooms.

We all walked across the mile high sky bridge which whistles in the wind but thankfully doesn't swing much. It felt extremely safe and the park staff were nice and helpful.

We will definitely be back to visit when the leaves change and in the spring - I'm sure both times are gorgeous and the views would be incredible! One note: Bring a jacket because the temperature drops significantly the higher up you go.

I fully expected to have to hike to get to the swinging mile high bridge - but you can drive up the mountain and just a quick trip up some steps - or the elevator! - and you are at the bridge. The views are too much for words! There are indeed trails for the super fit hikers out there. There is also an animal observatory, where we enjoyed seeing the bears, the otters, some elk and 2 beautiful eagles. We definitely want to return and enjoy the picnic tables and more of the gorgeous views!

We have been to many of the parks out in Colorado and Utah. None of them can hold a candle to Grandfather Mountain. Grandfather Mountain is a national treasure and is totally under rated. First, the view is like nothing else on the entire East Coast, it is spectacular and after a year of COVID it was so nice to get out and talk with people and share one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If you are on the East Coast, this place needs to make the list, we spent an entire day: the Swing Bridge (1 mile above sea level), walking the ridge, viewing countless states and all of the beautiful animals in the preserve.

I met a man named Jesse. He was the most rude, misogynistic, self entitled human I have ever come across. My daughter asked him a question, and he scoffed and pushed me in the direction of a member of the park. I have never experienced a situation where I am a paying customer and have felt so small to another human being. I hope Grandfather Mountain holds themselves to better standards. He made our experience so bad, that my daughter no longer has a passion for the mountains. DONT GO TO GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN.

I really enjoyed visiting Grandfather Mountain as you are given a CD or drive that gives you a guided tour up the mountain. You have several places you can stop, and the views are spectacular.

I totally missed there was an entrance fee and a required reservation that could only be done online due to COVID-19 😫. I got there around 9:45 am and was told the next open time qaa around 1 pm. I pulled to the side, made reservation for 1 pm. Well - favor was given unto me! The attendant let me in because I was solo. 🤗

(SN: Fee is per person and slight discount for military, AAA, students) w/ID.

The drive up to the Mile High Bridge is breath taking! It was crowded at the top, masks are required and the wind was whipping! Definitely NOT for anyone afraid of heights!!!!

The animal habitat was a nice addition and there are sitting areas all over for eating.

I expected to do a bit hiking but the descriptions of the trails were above my talents.

We purchased our admission tickets on line with our desired time of arrival and welcomed so nicely by the attendant upon arrival. She handed us a pamphlet and CD and we were on our way. We were pleasantly surprised at the usefulness of the CD. We stopped as we wanted as we made our way to the welcome station and glanced at the suspension bridge which we already knew we would bypass. Inside the building we found out the auditorium was closed for renovation when I asked at the gift shop about it. It would be helpful to have a sign stating that. After purchasing a nice t-shirt we proceeded to the Conversancy and viewed the animals and read about them. Then back to our car. It was a perfect one and a half hour visit.

I had an 8:30 entry. They give you a choice of a CD or a thumb drive to play in your car for a mini tour on the 2 1/2 mile drive up the mountain. I skipped it and went straight up, parked at Blackrock parking. A very nice employee just before the parking helped figure out how to attack my day. He gave me great advice. I hiked 3 total moderate trails which totaled about 4 miles. I took Bridge Trail at 8:45AM, a .4 mile hike up the mountain to the swinging bridge. Easy hike, interesting rock formations and also interesting trees. I didn't have to use my hands at all or even grab a tree. It took me right up to the stairs for the swinging bridge in 17 minutes, the huge attraction for the place. I didn’t go fast and stopped to take photos along the way. The views were of interesting trees and rock formations.

There aren't a lot of stairs to get up to the Swinging Bridge. The swinging bridge was amazing so cool. They views were amazing. There weren't a lot of people at 9AM and lots of parking available at the bridge parking lot. Breathtaking views.

I next took the Grandfather Loop trail which is 1.5 miles. The first 1/3 of that trail goes up, the last 2/3rds goes down. The beginning is part of the Grandfather Trail and is very intimidating as it is very steep and I thought about it for awhile as to whether I would do it. I went for it. It was much harder than the Bridge Trail. I had to use my hands a lot going up, especially to climb the rock formations. The 2/3rds down was cake. I did think about whether I could have gotten down some of those formations if I had gone the other way on the trail, I’m not sure. There were a couple of areas on the trail that had pretty views. The official website says when the loop trail and main trail merge, “You’ll get a small taste of this challenging crest trail with a couple of brief climbs and descents.” Just beware that some of this requires using your hands to get up/down.

The Grandfather Loop ends where the Black Rock trail begins. Black Rock is one mile out and one mile back on the same trail. There are ups and downs and a cool rock formation half way through with a mini rock bridge. When I got to the end of the trail, there was supposed to be scenic areas. The website says, “At the end of the trail, there’s a short loop that takes you to a couple of rock outcroppings with big views. The best view is accessed via a short ladder and cable to safely climb out on the rock.” There is a bigger rock
formation and a smaller one. I did the bigger one and struggled - mostly fear of falling. It is not easy to get up at all. I will attach pictures. No one was around so I did it, taking a long break halfway up. It was worth it panoramic amazing views. I'm not sure I would do it again though. Also, there isn’t a lot to see if you can’t climb the rocks, which would probably really disappoint me if I took the trail and could not cable climb the rocks. They really don’t adequately warn you well about the difficulty of the cable climbs.

When I got back to the parking lot that was so quiet when I left, it was now chaos at 11:45, when I got back. Cars were everywhere, lining up and circling the parking lot. The line of cars from the top came all the way down to Black Rock lot and then further down from there. I was glad I went so early and did the bridge at the beginning. It was a crush of people to see it just before Noon. I skipped seeing the animals at the nature museum because it was just too crowded.

I enjoyed my 1/2 day, I was really challenged several times on the first 1/3rd of the Grandfather Loop and at the rock formation at the Black Rock- these are much harder than the Bridge Trail, be prepared to climb rocks on both trails using your hands. Definitely wear hiking boots on these 2 trails so you don’t twist an ankle or slip and fall. Definitely go as early as you can so you enjoy the place.

Our friends drove us up to Grandfather mountain and wow what some fantastic views - the colours were spectacular and lovely to see the bears and did walk across the mile high bridge. Very impressed.

This was a stop on our way home from Florida and my only complaint is I wish we planned it and had more time. It was very cold and windy on top(beginning of March)so the mile high bridge was only reached by my husband as we didn’t have enough warm clothing for both of us to go. It was $48 and we didn’t get to enjoy everything they have, but the view were breathtaking and my husband called his experience “icing on the cake” of our whole trip.

I am glad we went here, but I'm not sure that I would pay the admission price to visit again. It was $30 per adult, and that seemed a bit high for the activities we did--I think if we had been prepared to hike or picnic, we might have felt like we got our money's worth.
Regardless, it was beautiful. The mountain views were breathtaking. The swinging bridge was cool, and offered minimal movement. It was vey crowded, the drive to the swinging bridge took around 45 minutes due to the number of people and limited parking.
The animal habitats were nice and clean, the animals looked to be well taken care of and the employees were very informative of their habits and habitats.

Grandfather Mountain was a lot of fun. The highlight was obviously the suspension bridge, but walking through the grounds to see the animals was also a lot of fun. The museum left something to be desired, but no big deal. Lots of great areas for picnics.
Neat Forrest Gump trivia for movie junkies as well. Well worth the money and time to visit Grandfather Mountain. Breathtaking views and ever changing weather= fun day.

It was beautiful well organized and overall a great experience. I was actually really good for kids as well. They have a restaurant in the park decently priced. The food was actually really good. they have a wildlife reservation outside that you can walk around and an inside museum. me as an adult even enjoyed that. It’s definitely windy at the top.

It is a great way to spend an afternoon. Not bad for gentle walkers, although it is in the mountains it is not bad walking..there is an elevator at the top to go the swinging bridge for handicap folks. We had some difficult weather but went back after the rain let up and it was worth the wait. We checked with the people at the gate and they said it was ok to come back as long as we were back before 6. Wear at jacket as it was windy at the top

If you are hoping for an organic hiking experience, then avoid this mismanaged gem.
If you are hoping to have all trails closed, and way way way over priced tickets and no public restroom, you have found your place!!
Incredibly disappointed, I have not been to a worse mismanaged state or federal park in all my travels. Do yourself a favor and find a better wilderness experience to save money on and enjoy.

The views from the mountain are breath taking. The hikes are challenging but rewarding. I highly recommend despite the somewhat high entrance fee.

I grew up coming here, but brought my husband for his first time several years ago. It’s his favorite stop in this area of the mountains and each visit is different. I enjoy it even more because he loves it. This year, instead of taking the switchbacks up to the bridge, we took the Bridge Trail. Only makes you more curious about the other trails.

Glad that they had the thumb drive to listen to since I no longer have a car CD player. So thankful for reservations now instead of sitting in the lines that used to form at the entrance. Also, it’s nice to see investments being made in upgrades and upkeep. The re-opening of the nature museum and all the enhancements was jaw-dropping. It’s amazing to see how far it’s come since my first visit back in the 90s.

Finally, there are so many people that commit to preserving this place and making it a safe and worthwhile place to visit. Thank you all.

Don’t skip Grandfather Mt because you think it’ll be too touristy. Maybe we picked a great day but stopped in Boone overnight on our way to Asheville and had online tix to go to GM at 9:30 the next morning. As we pulled in to entrance at the bottom of the mountain there were hundreds of cars parked and pulling in with police directing traffic. We almost turned around. We didn’t, thankfully, and as we went up the mountain realized the Scottish Highland games were being held in some of the lower areas on the mountain. What an event! We continued up to the entrance of actual Grandfather Mt swinging bridge area and we were thrilled it wasn’t crowded at all. The views were spectacular! The ‘swinging’ bridge (it’s not swinging) was fun to walk across and a small hike farther up produced even more ridiculously gorgeous vistas. Well worth the entrance fee for me (a senior) $22 and my grandson (11) $10. A gift shop with restrooms located near bridge entrance.
The road up/down mountain kind of a thrill on its own.

One of the interesting things about Grandfather Mountain is that had the family who owned it not kept it out of developer’s hands it would likely be clustered with homes and condos today. Because it’s been preserved you get to experience the awesome views and natural resource up close and personal. Admission is pricey in my opinion but they don’t nickel and dime you once inside, as all exhibits are included. The mile high swinging bridge doesn’t really swing, so don’t be afraid to experience it. The animal exhibit is a little iffy, the animals don’t always seem to make their appearance as expected. TIPS: Bring a sweater or jacket as the temp up top is considerably cooler (and windy) than at the base. Wear the right shoes for traction - you get to walk around on the outer rocks and slipping is a possibility. Don’t forget the camera!

I have been coming to Grandfather since I was a child, and today we brought my kids for the first time.

It is beautiful/breathtaking of course, and the kids loved it.

We checked out the animals, kids loved the otters and eagles. We went early and it wasn’t crowded, it was pretty easy to maintain social distance. The grounds are marked and staff all wore masks. Most guess we’re cognizant as well.

The views from the bridge were spectacular of course. The grounds were again marked and staff were careful to do their best to keep guests maintaining distance.

In some spots we had to take turns with other families, but in general everyone was careful and/or respectful to those trying to maintain space.

We walked a bit on some trails and had lunch at one of the (plentiful) picnic tables.

Great option during these times for those of us looking for activities and open space.

Marvelous views, easy ascent to swinging bridge. Fun to cross and take in views from the other side and those rocks. Site has some nice museum exhibits for nature lovers---very well done. Great educational experience with animals for young people. Just a lovely place to be in the otherwise summer heat. We very much enjoyed our visit.

This is a must do activity when you are in the area! You enter the gate and they provide you with a sound track to listen to as you go up the mountain. It’s like having your guide right in your car! The views are stunning. There are animals to view in a zoo like habitat which was a nice surprise. You can drive to the top or park and hike up. We chose to hike. I was not challenging for us and a 5 year old. The swinging bridge was a cool feature as well. This did require tickets in advance for specific time slots.

I do not know what us the point in reserving a time online when you still have to wait an hour for your turn to park. This is unfair business practice. They need to stop letting in more people than they can handle. They also need to expand parking. The View and experience was awesome, but they need to do better on organizing the visits.

Well worth the visit. We enjoyed the mile high bridge as well as the "zoo" featuring local animals, including bear, elk and eagles. Go!

Beautiful drive up the mountain. Love the swinging bridge, but the views from the other side are unsurpassed. The animal habitats are very well managed and always fun to visit. Nice little gallery at the mountain top. Great place to spend a day.

We live near Grandfather in the summer and have taken many houseguests there over the years. It is the #1 tourist attraction in NC. Even when the weather is very bad there are inside things to do: the museum, theatre, restaurant, gift shop, fudge shop at the visitor's center level and the photographers' exhibit and gift shop at the top. In good weather, add the Woods Walk and all of the different trails, the animal habitats and, of course the mile-high swinging bridge. A day trip to Grandfather has always brought smiles to our guests' faces.

We have always enjoyed Grandfather Mountain and were wanting to get back to the mountain but we’re concerned about the crowds and COVID-19. We were very pleased with how well they were prepared for visitors. We chose a time to visit and bought our tickets on line. They had limited availability of tickets. Once there we followed a path to visit the animals and stayed in marked areas, 6 feet apart, from other family groups. At the bridge, parties crossed together at a distance from other family groups going one way at a time. Masks were worn by all employees, as well as people visiting the bathrooms and gift shops. It was a great day.

A tad more expensive than I expected but if you plan on spending the day you get your money's worth. In addition to mile high suspension bridge there is a nature museum and wild animal exhibits of bear, elk, eagles, mountain lion, and otter. There is a fudge shop and several gift shops. There is a large Picnic area with grills available. Hiking trails were well marked. The CD that is given to you provides a talking tour and history and interesting facts. There was good parking at all the look out areas.

This is one of the most unique parks you will ever see, the scenery is stunning, more than just a drive up a high mountain, exhibits, animal habitats and much more. if your visiting the northwest mountains of NC, this is a must.

Beautiful spot. Strenuous climb to the Swinging Mile High bridge. Crossing it with the winds can be a challenge but the view from the top is worth it. We took our Lab and he loved the hiking.

This was a last minute decision to visit due to the admission cost per person. but after visiting it was definitely worth it. Beautiful scenery and attractions inside the park. Lovely place to visit with a variety of things to do.

Upon arrival, you are given a cd to listen to on your way up the mountain. We so enjoyed every moment on the way up. There are so many things to see and do other than the top of the mountain bridge. The animal attractions are first class. The grounds are clean and very well maintained. Every employee we came across was very kind and helpful.

Once you get to the top you are already happy with your experience and then you get to see the beauty of the area on a mountain top that is very easy to get to. The mile high bridge is an extra special experience.

We plan to come back again.

Great for all ages. Animals,trails and education a little of everything here. A must do is the swing bridge. Alot of walking.

Views were wonderful but super crowded . Driving the switchbacks were nerving. Nice store up top with bathrooms and they provided a great audio tour

I always wanted to go to grandfather Mountain since I was a kid and we were never able to go, so I asked my husband to take me there for my 52nd birthday. Not sure the kids were super excited about it at first, but after they got there and saw the bears, eagles, otters and hiked up the mountain to cross the Swinging Bridge they were sold... Wonderful day!! My advice to anyone who is going to travel on a holiday weekend. Arrive early. It gets crowded.

Second time here. First was back in 2007, improvements made since. Views are terrific. Really enjoyed animal exhibits and the keeper chats that took place around every 30 minutes throughout the afternoon. We bought tickets at our hotel for $24 and saved a few bucks, so before going see if your lodging offers a similar deal.

If you're staying anywhere in the Boone area, Grandfather Mountain is a must-go must-see. From the lookout across the bridge, on some days you can even see as far as Charlotte, with one of the most breathtaking views I have ever had.

On the way up there are a few small animal enclosures and a museum, something to check out if you have the time.

Now about the trail at the top, that takes you all the way to the summit - it is a tough one. You are even required to sign a permit to certify you won't die climbing it. I made the mistake of not having hiking boots or any packs of extra water, and still decided to get a taste of it. Went up about three quarters of a mile (when it is 2.5 miles to the top), and was drenched in sweat and had broken my ankles twisting on the rocks with tennis shoes about a hundred times.

So the biggest tip is - BE PREPARED!

Gorgeous views, especially at Top Shop! Did not cross the swinging bridge since then so many people on at time.
However, very steep drive with switchback road at top. Some cars get too close. Maybe you can find tour group that will drive you up!

This is a place you should not miss. The mountain and the swinging bridge is so cool and the views are amazing.

This place will always be one of my favorite places on this Earth. I am so grateful to get to enjoy this beautiful place- the swinging bridge, the animal exhibits, the beautiful nature, the hiking trails, delicious fudge :), beautiful drive to the the very top of the mountain, and being able to stand on the edge of the world on the rocks on the other side of the bridge. This place brings me such joy and has been bringing me joy since I was a young girl, and now I get to bring my little girl to enjoy the things that I love so much from my childhood. What more can you want from life? Thank you for this experience I get to relive every year I visit :)

My wife and I visited while on an anniversary trip in the area. Well worth the price of admission. The views from the bridge and from the rocks across the bridge were amazing and breathtaking. There were really good spots for viewing on the way up such as Split Rock and Sphinx as well as other spots to stop and see the views. The animal habitats were really good, but the "museum" is definitely lacking.

We had company visit and we decided to spend a day at Grandfather Mountain. We has so much fun. The swinging bridge was whistling as usual. The view was spectacular and people were friendly. The fellow stationed near the bridge was helpful with general information. We appreciated the senior/AAA discount. Nice to listen to the tape as we drove. We loved the otters, bears, and eagles. Really nice place to take visitors.

We loved our day at Grandfather Mountain! We were greeted by a very friendly employee, & found the CD commentary to be very informative & interesting (& loved the music!). The stop at Sphinx & Split Rocks was amazing...(there are lots of photo opportunities at GM). We enjoyed the hike up to the Mile High Swinging Bridge, & people were patient as they waited to cross the bridge. The naturalists did a fine job of talking after the surrounding flora & geological history, & the assistants in the Animal Habitat areas. It was a wonderful day of exploring this amazing spot!
I would suggest wearing either hiking boots or sturdy sneakers to do the walks (the folks in sandals had a difficult time) & wearing sunscreen, & bringing a picnic if possible, as there are lovely picnic areas.

This was a great day out. We packed a picnic and ate with a beautiful mountain view. They do have a restaurant as well. We loved seeing the animals and walking the bridge.

I went to Grandfather Mountain with my kids ages 8-19 in September of 2020 and we had a blast. I wish the attendant who gave us the CD would’ve explained to us to put it in our CD player right then because we missed out on that part of the experience. She just handed it me and I wasn’t sure what it was for until I had a chance to stop and read it. By that time, it was too late. That was my only complaint about this experience.

We stopped at a parking lot (not sure of the name) so we could hike up “a little trail” to the Mile High Bridge parking lot. It was more of a challenge than we anticipated, but fun nonetheless.

The views at the lookout on the other side of the Mile High Bridge were breathtaking. I was slightly terrified as I am scared of heights, but I still enjoyed myself. My kids were hopping around without fear and that frightened me even more. With that being said, we’re still going back this week for Spring Break.

The kids wanted to hike the Grandfather Trail, which is for more experienced hikers. We opted for a shorter trail and still got a taste of the hiking experience with ropes and some hand over hand climbing. They want to do the most challenging hike when we return this week, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea because we are all out of shape due to Covid and laziness.

We’re probably going to give it a try. We will go visit the bridge early so that we have time to attempt the hike to the top. I recommend starting the hike as early as possible because from what I’ve seen on YouTube, it takes 4 hours minimum to complete it.

We loved our trip to Grandfather Mountain and highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about going!

There are no words to describe the beauty you see and experience here. Just great place overall, nice, kept. All staff very nice and willing to assist. Recommend to all!!!

We wish we'd gone to the state park rather than this, what we consider to be an expensive tourist trap. The views are beautiful, but in the gorgeous state of NC, you don't need to pay for them, or the trails. The swinging bridge doesn't. The thing that we detested most was the "animal habitats." The poor one-eyed eagle, the lonely otter, and there is a cougar, although it was out of view. There two lazy bull elk, which are there "for 'educational' purposes so that the public will know what they're looking at if they see one in the woods..." There are also a couple of bears, but we only saw one of them laying in the grass asleep. We really hate that we contributed the admission price after seeing these animals in these "habitats."

Incredible view from mile high swinging bridge. Numerous trails for hiking. Love the zoo. Saw wild deer while driving up the mountain. Wonderful fudge shop. Sad the museum is closed for renovations.

This place is amazing! I brought my wife and nephew here for the very first time! I’ve personally visited the mountain several times as a child and adult and it’s beauty never ceases to amaze me. This place is a true charm. Don’t rush your visit... enjoy your time!

hiked from the Profile Trailhead off Hwy. 105 in Banner Elk to the Swinging Bridge and back, very difficult and rewarding hike, 12 miles total, I did this hike 2 times this year, both times in Sept. weather was picture perfect both days, It will test u mentally and physically, can be scary and dangerous, so not for the casual hiker,
cant wait to do again in 2020,

Finally, after 36 years, we finally got to cross the mile high bridge. Thirty-six years ago, my wife and I made this one of our stops on our honeymoon and just as we started to cross the bridge a lightening storm started and we had to quickly depart. Two years ago, we made it back and the bridge was closed off due to high winds. And finally, this year, we tried again and were finally able to cross the bridge. This is truly a beautiful spot. Although delayed, our visit was worth it . Beautiful scenery.

The bear and otters were cute.