Name: Grandfather Trail
Rating: 4.8

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Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

This trail is crazy intense, crossing an amazing ridgeline with exposed section on ladders and incredible views. Expect highly technical alpine terrain, multiple ladders on exposed cliffs, cables to help assist you one your way up slick rocks, and lots of scrambling. The trail might be short, but it doesn't lack in adventure and views!

Contacts

Land Manager: North Carolina State Parks: Grandfather Mountain

Shared By:

Brandon Thrower

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.8 from 32 votes

#1

in Grandfather Mountain Attraction Area

#93

Overall

4.8 from 32 votes

5 Star		84%
4 Star		9%
3 Star		3%
2 Star		3%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

17 Views Last Month

3,835 Since Sep 13, 2016

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Photos

Jul 31, 2017 near Linville, NC

The beautiful view right after we climbed the final ladder!! Was a bit challenging trying to overcome my fear of heights but was definitely worth the views

Aug 8, 2019 near Linville, NC

Climbing back down the ladders and Cliffside...

Aug 8, 2019 near Linville, NC

Looking out onto the high country from one of many ladders on the trail.

Jul 31, 2017 near Linville, NC

At the end of grandfather mountain! Great that they have a team up there to keep everyone safe near the edges.

Aug 8, 2019 near Linville, NC

Awesome fog cloud slowly coming into the view

Aug 8, 2019 near Linville, NC

2 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 55 days ago

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Check-Ins

May 24, 2025

Anonymous

parked at Black Rock. 0.4 miles to swinging bridge and from there 2.5 miles to calloway peak. then 2.5 miles back 2.5mi

Apr 13, 2024

Anurag S

Moving time was 3h 13m. Took a 30+lbs backpack. Difficult and at-times dangerous terrain. Lots of ladders and craggy cliffs. Some metal ropes for help 5.1mi — 6h 20m

Sep 4, 2022

Tristan Hamilton

5mi — 5h 00m

Oct 20, 2021

Kirk Larrabee

Up Grandfather to Calloway, back via Underwood. Had a great time! Instant classic! 5.6mi — 4h 40m

Jun 19, 2021

Suzette Gachez Brooks

Beautiful and Intense! 1.9mi — 1h 33m

May 31, 2021

Daniel daniel.ryan.paulsen@gmail.com

May 15, 2021

Dalen Allee

Mar 14, 2021

Paul H

Oct 12, 2020

Rebekah Hartzell

2.4mi

Sep 4, 2020

Hayley Kidd

Jul 4, 2020

Cody Lee

Dreat hike, definitely difficult but doable. take nice hiking boots and probably hiking sticks 3.6mi — 2h 01m

Jun 20, 2020

Brandon Whelan

Grandfather ext. to grandfather trail up to Calloway peak and back the same way. Foggy and raining. 5.8mi

Jun 17, 2020

Howard McGee

Jul 27, 2019

Kevin Tomas

1.4mi — 3h 00m

Jul 1, 2019

eric pulaski

from upper parking lot to Calloway Peak with 30# ruck, back on Underwood. 5.3mi — 4h 36m

Jun 30, 2019

Phil York

Fun!

Jun 17, 2019

Chris Ferrone

Jun 1, 2019

Eason Bryan

Lots of beautiful views but defiantly some challenging hiking.

Sep 21, 2018

Sean Cranmer

Aug 20, 2018

Rebekah Hartzell

2.4mi

Aug 9, 2018

Tom Grego

Jul 27, 2018

Hayden Holbrook

Jul 13, 2018

Baylee Lorraine

Jul 7, 2018

Flynn Carney

Jun 28, 2018

Rayne Britt

4mi

May 12, 2018

Rayne Britt

Apr 13, 2018

Heather Nina

Apr 3, 2018

Jon Robinson

Feb 18, 2018

Sharon Gardner

3mi

Dec 20, 2017

Hannah Slavin

Oct 14, 2017

Dana Ochs

Oct 14, 2017

Heather Farless

Aug 20, 2017

Jonathan M

Aug 16, 2017

Chris McCloud

Done as part of BRP trip 2017. Great views & rugged terrain. Hard work but worth it.

Jul 29, 2017

David McCormick

Jul 25, 2017

Kimberly Pacetti

Jul 3, 2017

Greg F

2mi

Jun 15, 2017

Shelley Johannesson

Nov 17, 2015

Jordan Schelling

Jun 16, 2012

Mike Patel

2mi

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Grandfather Trail

“This trail is, in one word, intense! The trail has super exposed section on ladders, killer views, and is just awesome! ”

2.0

3.3

Point to Point

5,893' 1,796 m

5,255' 1,602 m

1,136' 346 m

503' 153 m

15%

49%

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Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#93

#1

#7

#93

Photos

2 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Price Lake Loop

AT: Carver's Gap to US19E

Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop

Fonta Flora Trail Loop

Laurel Falls Out and Back from Dennis Cove

Mount Mitchell - Black Mountain Crest Trail #179

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