Grandfather Mountain
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Trail Overview
The vistas are the payoff for climbing up, on, and over this rocky mountain on the several trail routes.
How to get there
From Johnson City, TN:
- Take US-321 to Elizabethton.
- Continue on US 19-E to Elk Park, NC
- Continue to Newland, NC as highway changes to NC-194.
- Turn left at the second stoplight in Newland to take NC 181 to Linville.
- Continue straight through two stoplights on US-221 for two miles to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain.
The Grandfather Mountain website does not recommend car GPS or website directions as they attempt to take “short cuts” on narrow winding mountain roads.
Route Description
The Grandfather Mountain area offers the following trails to explore. Most are challenging to the average adult, thus choose carefully. Fantastic views can be found at many points.
| Trail | Miles | Blaze | Difficulty | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather Trail | 2.4 | Blue | Difficult | 
|
| Underwood Trail | 0.5 | Yellow | Difficult |
|
| Profile Trail | 3.1 | None | Medium |
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| Calloway Trail | 0.3 | Red | Difficult |
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| Daniel Boone Scout Trail | 3.0 | White | Medium |
|
| Nuwati Trail | 1.2 | Blue | Easy |
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| Cragway Trail | 1.0 | Orange | Difficult |
|
| Asutsi Trail | 0.4 | None | Easy |
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| Black Rock Nature Trail | 1 | Easy |
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| Bridge Trail | 0.4 | Easy |
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| Woods Walk | 0.4 | Easy |
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A suggested 7-mile trip taken by the club back in 1994 would be to start on Highway NC-105, hike up on the Profile Trail, cross the top ridge on Grandfather Mountain Trail, and then descend down to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Daniel Boone Trail. The route has around 2000 ft. elevation gain up to Calloway Peak. This path was done as a day hike and backpacking overnighter at the Hi Balsam shelter.
Typical Conditions
A sturdy pair of hiking boots is recommended since many of the backcountry trails are rocky and steep.
Fees, Permits, etc.
If entering the main park, the fee is $15 per adult (age 13-59) or $13 per senior (60+).
Dogs are allowed, but must be on 6 ft leash. The trails are difficult enough without being tethered, so recommend leaving Fido at home.
Hiking in the Grandfather Mountain State Park from the Blue Ridge Parkway, US-221, or NC-105 is free, but registration required at the trailhead for safety.
Campfires are not permitted on Grandfather Trail or at Hi-Balsam Shelter.
After the Hike
Misc. Information
Grandfather Mountain Trail Map [1] Another good trail map [2]
Maps
Click on the trail line to show its name.
<googlemap lat="36.118" lon="-81.811" type="terrain" zoom="13" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Tanawha_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Asutsi_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Nuwati_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Daniel_Boone_Scout_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Cragway_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Profile_Trail.kml
(A) 36.11678,-81.77828 Parking for Asutsi Trail (A) 36.12184,-81.83014 Parking for Profile Trail (E) 36.11158,-81.81032 Calloway Peak (G) 36.11368,-81.78122 Junction - Tanawha and Daniel Boone Scout Trails (H) 36.11127,-81.80867 Raven's Roost (H) 36.11097,-81.8078 Hi-Balsam shelter (H) 36.10983,-81.80352 Briar Patch (H) 36.1115,-81.79463 Daniel Boone (H) 36.12092,-81.79399 The Refuge (H) 36.11944,-81.79460 Storyteller's Rock (H) 36.11775,-81.79199 Streamside (H) 36.11751,-81.79446 Hermitage
</googlemap>
Photos
- Placeholder.jpg