Estimated to be 300 million years old, Grandfather Mountain was originally named “Tanawha” by the Cherokee but got its current name from pioneers who saw the face of an old man in one of its cliffs. The mountain has had many noteworthy visitors through the years, including Andre Michaux in 1794, Asa Gray in 1841, and John Muir in 1898. As the park's history recounts, during these early times, a horseback trail wound its way up the slope of Grandfather to an overlook at “Cliffsides.” In the early 1900s, the trail was widened to a one-lane road that automobiles could travel across, and a wooden platform was constructed for those who wished to drive up and see the view (for a small toll charge, of course).
Mile High Swinging Bridge in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
Hugh MacRae Morton (a passionate environmentalist and dedicated conservationist) became the sole owner of Grandfather Mountain in 1952, and he immediately widened the road to two lanes and extended it to the summit, where he built the Mile High Swinging Bridge—the crown jewel of the state park and America's highest suspension footbridge.
The 228-ft suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than 1 mile in elevation and offers spectacular 360-degree panoramic views atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak (5,305 ft). Other noteworthy attractions within the park include Split Rock & Sphinx Rock, Half Moon Overlook, and the Forrest Gump Curve.
For activities, we recommend one of their Behind-the-Scenes Tours where you can meet the bears, paint with otters, and see where the cougars sleep. For animal lovers young and old, you can actually “Adopt an Animal” through the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. Their website lists the current animals up for adoption, and upon adoption, you'll receive a certificate, plush toy, or park passes for your contribution.
Several Black Bears call Grandfather Mountain State Park home.
The park is also home to 12 miles of Alpine hiking trails, the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, and the Top Shop (a gift shop at the pinnacle of Grandfather Mountain with a photo exhibition of the life and work of the park's founder, Hugh Morton). In between activities, grab a bite at Mildred's Grill, named after the park's first female Black Bear.
Get ready to be inspired by views from the Mile High Swinging Bridge, stand head and shoulders above the surrounding region, and be awestruck by 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge retreating to the horizon in this ancient nature preserve!