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photo by Hugh Morton (1 MB)

The Mile High Swinging Bridge was built in 1952 and renovated in 1999. The bridge rests 5,300 feet above sea level and 80 feet above the ground.

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photo by Helen Hopper (0.9 MB)

Solar-thermal panels on the roof of Grandfather Mountain's eco-friendly fudge shop use the energy of the sun to heat the building and the water used within.

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photo by Hugh Morton (1.65 MB)

Late May and early June bring showy blooms to Catawba rhododendron at Grandfather Mountain, NC.

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photo by Hugh Morton (2.8 MB)

Surveys show that the main reason people visit Grandfather Mountain is to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. The second is to cross the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge.

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photo by Hugh Morton (.56 MB)

The Linn Cove Viaduct carries the Blue Ridge Parkway across Grandfather Mountain.

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photo by Hugh Morton (1.3 MB)

Crossing Grandfather's ridges on the Grandfather Trail is a rigorous challenge that takes hikers in and out of wind-dwarfed spruce and fir, across or around rock walls and pinnacles, and into open spaces with views of mountains unfurling in every direction. The pay-off is the chance to tackle rugged, rocky terrain found nowhere else in the Southeast ...and to see the view from the top of the Blue Ridge.