Grandfather Mountain: Home to the Mile High Swinging Bridge
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
One of the more popular sites on the Blue Ridge Parkway is Grandfather Mountain. The highest peak on this mountain, Calloway sits at 5946 which makes it the highest peak on the eastern escarpment. The mountain is conveniently located nearby Boone and Blowing Rock, 2 popular cabin vacation hot spots. Also, it is fairly close to Asheville, a vacation destination in and of itself which I highly recommend adding to your bucket list if you are a hiker, art lover, or foodie.
I first visited this park several years ago when I was roadtripping here from Tampa for a holiday trip. I stayed in this beautiful little inn called the Lazy Bear Lodge which was a scenic half hour drive away. This was one of numerous attractions we enjoyed during the slower winter season. In later years, we moved to Asheville and saw just how crowded this park gets during the summer season!
In my opinion, this park is even better in the winter as there are virtually no tourists around. This wonderful park is open year-round, depending on the weather. I recommend several trips as each changing season brings forth a new natural setting to enjoy.
The drive up the mountain
Visitors are able to drive up the mountain and enjoy incredible views while listening to an informative audio CD (which you will receive when you purchase your entry ticket). The ride up the mountain is an experience in and of itself with amazing views everywhere you look.
Overlooks along the way allow you to get out, enjoy the views, and take a few photos. The drive to the summit is about 2 miles long with stunning viewpoints throughout. There is even a picining area if you want to bring your lunch during the warmer season. The last stop will be the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge parking lot and a gift shop. The gift shop has restrooms as well as an elevator up to the bridge. You can also opt to hike. Interestingly, the top portion of the drive has been used in numerous car commercials according to their website.
Split and Sphinx Rock are 2 interesting sites along the way. Estimates put these rocks at 640+ million years old! You can get out of the car and stretch and take a few photos near these unique rock formations.
This really is a diverse place, with over 16 different natural communities represented according to park info. The mountain is home to many endangered plant and animal species including flying squirrels. You will learn more during your visit and maybe see some wildlife for yourself.
Attraction Guide
There are numerous things you can do here, with summer being the best season to hike and explore, while winter offers a more serene setting.
Mile High Swinging Bridge
As you walk across this 228 foot tall, mile high bridge, breathtaking mountain views surround you in every direction. It happens to be the highest suspension bridge in the US so a cool thing to check off your bucket list. Be sure to plan your visit on a non foggy day as you will be able to see much more if you do so. The bridge walk is a bit scary as it wobbles a bit to the side, however, don’t let that stop you from taking the journey across! That being said if you are really scared of heights, I am not sure how you would handle the big drop.
As you can see in my photos, it is pretty desolate during the winter season. I actually love the cold weather and dreary ambiance, so gloomy skies combined with no crowds is a big bonus for me. This area actually gets a lot colder than the eastern portion of the state thanks to the high altitude. So, if you don’t like the cold, definitely plan your visit during the spring or summer months.
Beyond the bridge, more amazing views await if you hike the Grandfather Loop. Be careful, the climb is a bit steep and can be slippery especially during the cold rainy months. I recommend those afraid of heights to definitely skip out on this one – the bridge walk is scary enough.
There are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities which will vary based on the season you decide to visit. Fall offers views of colorful foliage, summers are green, and winter offers a barren and often snow-filled landscape.
During our first visit, the bridge was lit up in solar lights for the holidays. Unfortunately, they did not keep up with this tradition. Hopefully they bring something back in the future. I wish they would add a few more holiday or winter events.
Update: As of 2025, they now offer a holiday event where you can watch the mountain’s mascot (Millie the Bear) bring the annual Christmas tree to the Wilson Center (a nature discovery center). Special winter crafts and hot cocoa are provided. I imagine this would be a fun event for family with kids. 2025’s date will be November 21st.
Keep in mind that it is typically about 10 degrees cooler at the top of the mountain due to the high elevation, so be sure to dress accordingly! The park is open all year (asides Thanksgiving and Christmas) and only closes in the case of inclement weather and road closures.
Wildlife Habitat
The mountain features 7 animal habitats that mimic actual conditions found in the wild. Here you will be able to see bears, cougars, white tail deer, bald eagles, and river otters. The animals live in a nice habitat. I found the setting more attractive that typical cramped zoo enclosures
The Wilson Center
The Nature Museum includes over 20 different exhibits to browse through including a collection of North Carolina gems. Did you know that this state is known to be the gem capital of the world? You will find this out and more by taking a quick browse around this discovery center.
You will also find displays detailing the various wildlife that call the area home. You can read though many interesting facts about the animals you may possibly encounter during your visit. In addition, you will find wax models of various mountain plants on display by the late artist Paul Marchand. He was known as best in the world for creating realistic looking wax plants.
If you get hungry, you can visit Mildred’s Grill for a small bite. The attractive rustic decor provides a relaxing setting that compliments your visit perfectly. They offer a small menu of hamburgers, wraps, and homemade pie.
The gift shop offers a lot of great North Carolina mountain themed decor and souvenirs. You will also find plenty of great holiday gift ideas! Rustic mugs, hiking sticks, art…the list goes on! I love browsing through these eclectic decor shops – if I owned a mountain cabin, I would be picking up a lot of knick knacks. A fun place to browse around after a long day on the trails!
Hiking Trails
You will find several hiking options, varying in intensity from beginner to advanced. Several short trails enable you to get lost in nature for a bit without a lengthy time commitment. Those wishing to see the back country can plan at least half a day for one of the more rigorous hikes. These hikes are very challenging and only suited for the advanced hiker. These trails may require you to use ladders and cables to climb cliffs. For those up for an extreme challenge, you will be rewarded with great views.
The Bridge Trail (pictured below) is a moderate half mile nature trail, suitable for most hikers even families. A short steep climb is required, but nothing too challenging. It will lead you all the way up to the visitor’s center, where you then can take an elevator to the swinging bridge. Some cool rocky outcroppings on this trail and lots of wildlife to see. Note – you will see the hiking parking lot as you make your way up the mountain.
I recommend browsing the trail guide online before your visit to find a suitable trail based on your current activity level and personal preference. In addition, guided hikes are available for those looking to explore with an knowledgeable ranger. Sometimes, a guided hike is the best way to go, especially if you are new to hiking or want to learn more about the area’s ecosystems.
Overall – a great Parkway stop
I would say a trip here is a must if you are visiting or passing through the high country region of Western North Carolina. The beautiful hiking trails, fantastic animal habitats, and panoramic views from the swinging bridge, not to mention the incredible drive up the mountain, easily place this on my bucket list.
It’s definitely a great day trip from Asheville and other small towns in WNC like Hendersonville and Brevard. I would definitely add it to my “best of” list in WNC. You can check out my full guide for lots of other bucket list contenders in this beautiful region.
Location & Pricing
The mountain is located a mile off the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 305. GPS address: 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646. The GPS coordinates are 36.08502N, -81.84646W.
Admission is $25 (Senior $23, kids $12) per person. This ticket includes admission to the nature museum, a documentary film, animal habitats, the swinging bridge, and the hiking trails. Prices are current as of 2025. Please check the website for updates.
Dogs are allowed but they must be leashed. Also, they are not allowed in buildings or the animal habitats.
Accessibility: This park is actually very accessible. According to their website, the founder’s goal was to make the mountain views accessible to everyone not just hikers. Part of the reason Hugh Morton wanted the bridge developed was so that his grandmother could enjoy the views too.
The bridge is accessible via elevator from the Top Shop. Additionally, the Wildlife Habitats Loop, Wilson Center, and overlooks are all accessible. No wheelchair rentals available. You can learn more on the park’s website.
