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Grandfather Mountain Trail generations to come. to generations www.grandfather.com the mountain in its awesome state for for state awesome its in mountain the And with your help, we’ll preserve preserve we’ll help, your with And nowhere else on earth. on else nowhere say that Grandfather is like like is Grandfather that say Reserve family, it’s safe to to safe it’s family, Reserve the International Biosphere Biosphere International the in the Southeast. Southeast. the in including induction into into induction including of the most wonder-filled places places wonder-filled most the of to worldwide recognition, recognition, worldwide to Grandfather Mountain is one one is Mountain Grandfather features and natural diversity have led led have diversity natural and features and an impressive array of wildlife, wildlife, of array impressive an and imperiled. As its unique unique its As imperiled. Known for sweeping views views sweeping for Known 29 of which are globally globally are which of 29 and endangered species, species, endangered and and protect at least 70 rare rare 70 least at protect and communities that house house that communities you can fi nd 16 distinct ecological ecological distinct 16 nd fi can you of this ancient mountain, mountain, ancient this of On the slopes and peaks peaks and slopes the On impression. impression. Wonders never cease never Wonders visit here is sure to leave an an leave to sure is here visit High Swinging Bridge, a a Bridge, Swinging High NORTH CAROLINA NORTH MOUNTAIN scenery, to making the trip across the Mile Mile the across trip the making to scenery, Welcome to Grandfather Mountain Grandfather to Welcome ® GRANDFATHER habitat, to relaxing among unparalleled unparalleled among relaxing to habitat, Linville, NC 28646 Linville, NC explore. to you for waiting Wild, wonderful and and wonderful Wild, US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway natural its in wildlife observing From Wonders never cease TRAIL GUIDE TRAIL BACKCOUNTRY HIKING The more you see, the more you’ll be amazed. CREST TRAILS River through rhododendron thickets and under a hardwood to the summit of Calloway Peak (5,946 feet), the highest point THE GRANDFATHER TRAIL – An upper ridge trail of astonishing canopy. Upper sections, beginning around Foscoe View, get on the Blue Ridge Escarpment. About halfway up, at Flat variety, with spruce and fi r, rock walls and pinnacles, and steeper, and there are turnouts. Before the trail reaches a Rock View, hikers reach the junction of Cragway Trail. The open spaces with views of mountains in every direction. The view of the Grandfather Profi le, hundreds of large boulders upper half of the Boone Trail is rough going with views of route follows the crest of Grandfather Mountain from the were rearranged into a rock walkway called “Peregrine’s Price Park. Just before Calloway Peak, in-place ladders and Backcountry hiking at Grandfather Mountain Swinging Bridge Parking Area out 2.4 miles to Calloway Peak. Flight”. Shanty Spring, at 3.1 miles in, marks the beginning cables help hikers through steep sections. It was along this trail two centuries ago that noted French of a strenuous segment that makes the transition out of the NUWATI TRAIL – Nu-wa-ti means “medicine” in the Cherokee Access the trails inside Grandfather Mountain State hardwoods and into the Canadian fi r Zone, climbing 0.3 miles language and this trail follows an old logging road 1.2 miles. Park for free from trailheads outside of Grandfather explorer and botanist Andre Michaux broke into song thinking Mountain nature park. Access to the trails from the Swinging he had arrived at the highest point in North America. before joining the Grandfather Trail. It is steep and rocky It’s an easy but rocky hike, ending at Storyteller’s Rock and Bridge requires the purchase of a ticket to the attraction. Pace is often deliberate. There are chutes where progress and calls for some careful footwork. Your reward is the view a view of the Boone Bowl. Along the way, there are stream is hand-over-hand and some extra steep sections where at the top. crossings, and a stand of Bigtooth Aspens. Enter Grandfather Mountain State Park from hikers use cables and ladders. An alternative to taking the CRAGWAY TRAIL– A steep, demanding hike with lovely vistas. the Swinging Bridge area ladders up MacRae Peak is to opt for the more sheltered EAST SIDE TRAILS Boulders and crags jut out with views of the Boone Fork There are two points for accessing East Side trails. Most Bowl. This trail links Nuwati and Boone Trails, and makes • Hiking is included in the price of admission. To access Underwood Trail (see below). the start of the Grandfather Trail, please park at the THE UNDERWOOD TRAIL – Splitting off the Grandfather Trail hikers use the Boone Fork Parking Area at mile 299.9 on the a fi ne loop hike. A hiking option coming down the Boone Hiker’s Parking Area, a quarter mile below the summit. near the half-mile marker, the Underwood Trail bypasses ladder Blue Ridge Parkway. The alternative is the Asutsi Trail which Trail when returning to cars is to follow Cragway Trail to the • Guests wishing to camp in the state park are not climbs on MacRae Peak, rejoining the Grandfather Trail at MacRae begins 1.8 miles south of Holloway Mountain Road on 221 Nuwati. permitted to park in the attraction overnight. Gap, about a mile out. The strenuous trail makes a long, steep, South–the only winter access when the Parkway is closed. ASUTSI TRAIL– (National Park Service Trail) A-su-tsi means • Please return to your vehicle at least one hour before rocky turn around Raven Rock Cliffs by way of one long ladder. From Boone Fork parking area, hikers can follow the “bridge” in the Cherokee language. This short, easy trail closing time. If, in an emergency, you leave your car on Going out along Grandfather and returning along Underwood Tanawha Trail south to the Nuwati and Daniel Boone (0.4 miles) links to US 221 and the Tanawha Trail, providing the mountain, please call 733-2800 (Top Shop), 733-4337 makes an excellent loop hike from the Swinging Bridge. Scout Trailheads. The Tanawha winds easily along the alternative access to Nuwati and Boone Trails and winter (Gate) or 733-1059 (Nature Museum) as soon as possible mountainside parallel to the Parkway. No fee is charged for access to the East Side Trails. to notify Grandfather Mountain staff. If you do not call, WEST SIDE TRAILS its use and no camping is allowed in designated campsites. we will send out a search party. THE PROFILE TRAIL – Beginning as a rolling pathway through DANIEL BOONE SCOUT TRAIL– Ascending about 2,000 feet seasonal wildfl owers, this trail travels beside the Watauga over 3 miles, this hike begins at the Tanawha Trail and climbs Enter Grandfather Mountain State Park for FREE • Guests wishing only to hike or camp can access Grandfather Mountain State Park from one of the two off-mountain trailheads located either on the Blue Ridge Parkway or NC 105. A trail map will be available Mountain Regulations when you register. • Plan on hiking back to your car. PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL. Cutting through switch- FIRE – It’s best to bring a gas backpacking stove for DOGS– Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet • If you plan to have someone pick you up at the backs and exploring areas off the trail can cause cooking. Campfi res are permitted only on designated at all times. Please clean up after your pets. Swinging Bridge, the driver of the pick-up vehicle will erosion, impact rare plants, and generally damage campsites in the state park but not on Grandfather Trail be charged regular gate admission to come inside the sensitive habitats. or at Hi-Balsam Shelter. If you decide to use a fi re in a travel attraction to pick you up. PROHIBITED MATERIALS & ACTIVITIES • Grandfather Mountain is not able to provide rides to or permitted area, keep it small, tend it at all times and only No Drugs or Alcoholic Beverages The following policies will help us protect the collect wood that is down on the ground. Drown fi res from trailheads. mountain for future generations. No Weapons before leaving camp. Campfi res may be banned during No Removal Of Plants, Rocks, Animals, etc. dry periods. If you smoke, be especially careful during Keeping Grandfather Mountain Green CAMPING – Camp in designated areas only. Camping in No Rock Climbing the attraction is not allowed and guests wishing to spring and fall dry spells. Crush cigarettes and carry out No Hunting or Fishing Your support of the nonprofi t Grandfather Mountain camp in the state park are not permitted to park in the the fi lters. No Mountain Bikes, Horses or Pack Animals Stewardship Foundation helps to maintain the network attraction overnight. A tepee on the map in this No Geocaching of trails and the rugged natural beauty of this LITTER AND WASTE– Please carry out everything brochure pinpoints a campsite. A tepee symbol on a park for future generations. Visit you carry in, including used bathroom tissue. For public grandfathermountain.org to learn more trail sign indicates a camping area close by. Please health and courtesy reasons, bury all human waste 12” See www.ncparks.gov for full list of State Park or to make a donation. camp quietly after 10pm so others can enjoy the deep, 100 feet from any water resources, campsites, and Regulations serenity. And leave trees as you fi nd them—carving into trails. And thanks for picking up litter left by others! a tree can eventually kill it.
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