The Science Behind Grandfather Mountain’s Fall Leaf Season
In autumn, Grandfather Mountain beautifully blends a landscape of rock faces and granite cliffs, the dark-green hue of evergreens and a kaleidoscope of fall colors….
In autumn, Grandfather Mountain beautifully blends a landscape of rock faces and granite cliffs, the dark-green hue of evergreens and a kaleidoscope of fall colors….
The fall season on Grandfather Mountain (September & October) is certainly a favorite for many as the crisp cooler temperatures usher in the leaf color…
Look out for our daily fall color photographic reports during October. Enjoy a sampling of our colors on Grandfather Mountain and our surrounding area, including…
As the Blue Ridge Mountains begin to burst with fall color, Grandfather Mountain invites leaf-lookers to see the brilliant change from one of the best…
Enjoy a sampling of our fall colors this season with these photographs. During this time, more detailed daily color reports can be found on Grandfather…
From Oct. 4 through 12, guests enjoy short, guided nature walks that highlight Grandfather Mountain’s fall colors. The Fall Color Rambles take place daily, weather…
Autumn at Grandfather Mountain draws visitors from across the country to witness the vibrant changing of the leaves, as hues of yellow, orange and red…
Ahead of winter’s arrival on the mountain, Grandfather’s animal caretakers are busy planning and preparing for the season. For the park’s black bears, it marks…
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is known for its extremes: an impressive rise in elevation above the…
The coming of spring marks changes in the behavior of animals on Grandfather Mountain. For bears, they begin to move around and emerge from a…
Grandfather Mountain’s elk not only provide an exciting opportunity to see one of North America’s most majestic animals in its natural habitat, but also highlight…
During your visit, attend one of our Daily Programs in April-October (The schedule has been slightly expanded for 2025 … see below.) presented by our…
Grandfather Mountain towers above its surrounding region with a 1,500-foot vertical drop into the Linville River Valley to the west and a 4,000-foot vertical drop…
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has set up public photo stations in four locations, with one more…
At the 67th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2023, two track and field athletes secured their first Outstanding Men’s Athlete and Outstanding Women’s Athlete…
2025 Operating HoursGrandfather Mountain is open every day of the year, weather permitting, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The mountain also closes early…
Following the historic Tropical Storm Helene hitting Western North Carolina with extreme winds, rainfall and flooding in late September, Grandfather Mountain saw a return to…
September 2022 saw average weather on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for September…
Grandfather Mountain has always been a big part of the lives of Gail and Snyder Garrison and their family. One of the couple’s first dates…
The Blue Ridge Mountains contain some of the world’s oldest rock formations — Grandfather Mountain alone has 1.1 billion years of geologic history. Throughout the…
Research on Grandfather Mountain has confirmed the presence of 10 species of fireflies or luminous insects: Photinus carolinus – Synchronous FireflySynchronous firefly males produce a…
Find plenty of family fun things to do on Grandfather Mountain! Generations return with their children and grandchildren to Grandfather to walk across the Mile…
October 2022 saw average weather on Grandfather Mountain, and fairly cool temperatures, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average…
Half Moon Overlook is the first overlook guests come to after entering the park on the Scenic Drive to the Top. The overlook is definitely…
Grandfather Mountain has some of the most extreme and quick changing weather on the east coast. Temperatures are usually 10-15 degrees cooler than the foothills…
The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is located about halfway up the mountain, adjacent to the Wildlife Habitats. It doubles the size of the original…
During the last week of May and the first week of June, parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains tend to look a little more pink…
1. What is included with admission? Paid admission includes many things to do! At the Wilson Center for Nature Discover, find exhibits about the mountain,…
Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is gearing up for springtime, with daily programs, special experiences, a slate…
While Grandfather Mountain’s annual Hawk Watch – a vast citizen-science project during the month of September to count and identify the numerous species of raptors…