Fall Color Ramble
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…
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Fall Color Gallery 2024
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…
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….
Fall Visits: Insider Tips
The fall season on Grandfather Mountain (September & October) is certainly a favorite for many as the crisp cooler temperatures usher in the leaf color…
Fall 2023
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…
Daily Programs
During your visit, attend one of our Daily Programs in April-October presented by our animal habitat curators and park educators. These fascinating interpretive programs throughout…
Rhododendron Rambles
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…
Annual Events
We have many annual events on Grandfather Mountain that have become a favorite annual tradition for many of our guests. Presented by the Grandfather Mountain…
Cobey Botanical Garden
Surrounding the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, the Cobey Botanical Garden is a newly reimagined space that provides a home to plantings of several species…
Half Moon Overlook
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…
Connecting with Curiosity
“It’s our job to foster a child’s curiosity of nature and science, and help them to understand the world around them.” – Stewart Gray Stewart…
Scenic Drive to the Top
The 2-mile winding, scenic road to the top of Grandfather Mountain is one of the most spectacular drives in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grandfather’s Road…
Tickets & Online Reservations
NOTICE 09/25/2024 UPDATE: Due to the impending storm, Grandfather Mountain will be closed Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. Updates on Saturday’s opening status…
Cougars
The cougar, also known as the mountain lion or panther, ranges throughout the wilderness areas of western America and Canada. About 30 to 50 of…
Grandfather Mountain animal habitats prepare for winter
Do you trim a tree for the holidays? So do Grandfather Mountain’s resident elk. Every year, the resident animals at Grandfather Mountain receive a special…
Winter Work Behind Welcoming Guests
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…
High Country Charitable Foundation grant makes a splash with new bear pond
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…
Firefly Species on Grandfather
Research on Grandfather Mountain has confirmed the presence of 10 species of fireflies or luminous insects: Photinus carolinus – Synchronous FireflySynchronous firefly males produce a…
Elk
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…
Birding
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…
Mountains of foliage: What does Grandfather Mountain do with its fallen leaves?
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…
Black Bears
The American Black Bear ranges throughout the forested areas of the United States and Canada. At least three quarters of their diet consists of vegetable…
Split Rock & Sphinx Rock
After passing by Half Moon Overlook and the Woods Walk Picnic Area as you drive up Grandfather Mountain, the next popular photo spots near the…
Endangered Squirrels Flying High at Grandfather Mountain
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a Carolina northern flying squirrel! In February 2022, researchers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Division of Parks…
Shopping
There are many options to buy unique items and support the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation – either in the gifts shops during your visit or…
Trinity
Adopt Trinity! Trinity and her brother, Logan, are Western cougars from southeast Idaho. They were discovered orphaned, roaming around a neighborhood in Idaho’s Franklin County….
Blue Bear Painting: A Closer Look
What is the story and inspiration behind the vibrant new bear portrait hung prominently in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery? The project had been…
Logan
Adopt Logan! Logan and his sister, Trinity, are Western cougars from southeast Idaho. They were discovered orphaned, roaming around a neighborhood in Idaho’s Franklin County….
Join Our Team: Job Openings
Are you looking for a “top of the world” place to work? As we continue to expand and welcome more visitors each year from around…
Field Trip Scholarship Fund
In spring 2015, Grandfather Mountain launched its Field Trip Scholarship Fund to benefit school groups in need of financial assistance to defray the cost of…
