hikes,  outdoors,  travel

Grandfather Mountain, NC

January 12, 2022 /

The week after Christmas we took a short vacation in North Carolina and per usual planned some outdoor adventures. First on the agenda was snow tubing which was really fun despite the warm winter and it not being natural snow. Next was a hike at Linville Gorge (see post here). On our 2nd day we visited Grandfather Mountain. All of these places were chosen from my internet search for things to do near Morganton, NC where we had booked our hotel.

The day was windy and a little windy but not especially too cold. After being unprepared for one hike in the fall. I now keep extra windbreakers and hats in the car and we did take advantage of them during this visit. It was fairly busy as everyone was on Christmas break but as it was an outdoor advantage we were pretty comfortable. We passed by people on the trail and some areas like the bridge and top rocks I just tried to pass quickly by people.

We chose not to park at the top where the swinging bridge is but at a lower level which had access to a fairly short hike to the top. It was not streneous but since the rocks were wet, I made sure to hold my youngest’s hand while we walked. I really enjoyed the natural stone steps and the moss. Grandfather Mountain is a state park and the highest peak on the eastern part of the Blue Ridge Mountaisn.

The park boasts a swinging bridge which according to the website is America’s highest suspension bridge. We booked our tickets for Grandfather Mountain online and enjoyed our experience enough that we would like to return in nicer weather to have a picnic and explore more trails.

The views from the swinging bridge were quite beautiful! My oldest 3 boys and their dad went to the top rock in the first picture where you see all the people but I was not comfortable doing that with my 4 year old. Slips and accidents can happen and I felt more comfortable on the bridge and next to it.

I can really imagine a movie like the Lord of the Rings being filmed in such landscape. So beautiful and a little ethereal!

The park had several neat rock formations as well as a nature center preserve with local rescued animals and a museum. There were a couple gift shops and a variety of trails of different levels to hike. We really enjoyed our visit!

A bientôt!

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