Sunrise 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 sunrise experience. This special event, titled “Sunrise 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 sunrise from the bridge’s lofty vantage point.
Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website June 7 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 each 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. As the remainder of the park doesn’t open until later on after sunrise (8 a.m. on August 7), participants are welcome to leave the mountain following sunrise and return later in the day for no additional cost.
Due to safety regulations, eventgoers are only permitted to view the sunrise from the Swinging Bridge area. The Top Shop gift shop and restrooms will be accessible during the event. Other overlooks, all hiking trails and all other areas of the park will be closed to event guests.
Park educators will be on hand to talk to guests about the nature around the Swinging Bridge and the history of the iconic landmark, as well as identify nearby points of interest and answer any questions. In addition, a professional photographer very familiar with capturing sunrises at Grandfather Mountain will also be on hand to chat with those guests wishing to capture the beauty of the day’s first light with their cameras.
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp and wear heavy jackets, hats, gloves and rubber-soled shoes. Summer mornings can still be surprisingly very chilly at the top of Grandfather Mountain!
In the event of high winds, this event may be canceled, or the location may be moved to a lower spot in the park (such as Black Rock Parking Lot). Due to the mountain’s quickly changing weather, it is possible that a location change will not be communicated until guests arrive at the mountain that morning. Refunds are not granted when the sunrise viewing location is moved.
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 sunrise, unfortunately, cannot be guaranteed.
Tickets are only available for purchase on www.grandfather.com and not in-person at the park. Tickets will be available for purchase until noon the day before the event, unless they sell out before then.
Each event is limited to 150 guests. If the events sell out, waiting lists will be available.
“Sunrise at the Swinging Bridge” | Aug. 7
- Tickets for this event go on sale online on Grandfather Mountain’s website June 7 at 10 a.m.
- Park gates will open to sunrise participants at 5:50 a.m.
- Sunrise is at 6:39 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7
- Park hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. this day, with trails closing at 6 p.m.
- To receive a full refund, guests must cancel prior to 5 p.m. Friday, July 30. 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 Thursday, Aug. 5.
