Sunset at the Swinging Bridge
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Mile High Swinging Bridge in 2027, Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is offering a sunset experience. This special event, titled “Sunset at the Swinging Bridge,” will provide guests with the rare opportunity to be in the park outside of regular operating hours and to hopefully experience a lovely sunset from the bridge’s lofty vantage point during the fall season.
Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.
Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase tickets.
You will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase.
Non-Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase tickets.
Admission to the event is $52 for general admission, $33 for children (ages 3-12) and $20 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club. Event tickets include an entire day’s access to Grandfather, with regular park hours being 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with trails closing at 5 p.m. on October 1.
With park admission included in each sunset ticket, we encourage all event attendees to spend the day at Grandfather Mountain before their special event.
All participants will be required to head to the top of the mountain by 6 p.m. on October 1 when the park is closing. Due to safety regulations, eventgoers are only permitted to view the sunset from the Swinging Bridge area. The Top Shop gift shop and restrooms will be accessible during the events. Other overlooks, all hiking trails and all other areas of the park will be closed to event guests.
It will be important for all sunset attendees, even Bridge Club members, to identify themselves when coming into the park that day. A vehicle tag will be given to all attendees to place on their dashboard so that their vehicles are easily identifiable when staff are clearing the park for the day.
Park educators will be on hand to talk to guests about the nature around the Swinging Bridge, identify nearby points of interest and answer any questions. In addition, a professional photographer very familiar with capturing sunsets at Grandfather Mountain will also be on hand to chat with those guests wishing to capture the beauty of the day’s last light with their cameras.
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp and wear heavy jackets, hats, gloves and rubber-soled shoes. Fall evenings can be surprisingly very chilly at the top of Grandfather Mountain!
The event may be canceled on short notice in case of inclement weather, and guests will be refunded if that’s the case. In addition, a picture-perfect sunset, unfortunately, cannot be guaranteed.
Each event is limited to 150 guests. If the events sell out, waiting lists will be available.
“Sunset at the Swinging Bridge” | Oct. 1
- Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.
- Sunset is at 6:41 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1
- All “Sunset at the Swinging Bridge” participants will need to exit the park’s gates by 7:45 p.m.
- To receive a full refund, guests must cancel prior to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Cancellations following that date are not eligible for a refund. To cancel, email judi@grandfather.com or call 828-833-6332.
- Grandfather Mountain will make a decision on whether the event is able to take place and notify all ticket holders by noon on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
