Calendar of Events
Tickets are sold from 9 am to 4 pm on days when the roads and paths are clear of ice. The park closes at 5 pm. Call ahead for current conditions. 828-733-4337. Check the State Park website for trail conditions. (MORE)
All those that work and reside in Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties, along with guests traveling in the same vehicle, are invited to visit Grandfather Mountain for $2 during the month of April with proof of local employment or residency. (MORE)
Online registration for the 2012 Nature Photography Weekend (to be held June 1-3, 2012) begins at 12 midnight on Monday, April 2nd. It has been changed from April 1st to the first WEEKDAY in April. (MORE)
This brand new 5K race starts in MacRae Meadows and gains more than 900 feet in elevation before ending in the parking lot beside the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Proceeds from the $30 entry fee benefit Grandfather’s eagle habitat renovation fund. Maximum 500 participants. Online registration begins March 1. (MORE)
"Spring to MacRae" is designed to offer participants both the excitement of a trip to MacRae Peak as well as the opportunity to witness life coming back to Grandfather after a long winter slumber. Hikers traverse 0.9 miles, using cables and seven ladders to gain almost 600 feet in elevation. This half-day hike begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday and at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Cost per person: Park admission + $15 guided hike fee.
Space limited and reservations required: 828-737-0833. (MORE)
Joins us for three days filled with guided hikes and special presentations on the birds, wildflowers and nature of Grandfather Mountain. Included with regular admission. Download the 2011 schedule in PDF format. (MORE)
Learn from top nature photographers and photograph nature at its best. On-line registration begins midnight April 2, 2012. (Registration has been changed from April 1 to the first MONDAY in April so we can take the weekend off.) (MORE)
Grandfather Mountain naturalists present a special nature program each day during the summer. The one-hour programs are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and are included in the price of admission. (MORE)
Our staff naturalists can't wait to share their excitement for the showy rose-lavender Catawba Rhododendron that blooms its way up Grandfather’s slopes throughout the month of June. Join us for special programs designed to help you get the most out of this memorable sight.
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Grandfather Mountain celebrates the birthdays of all the animals in the park with games, contests, crafts and surprises. Grandfather’s habitat staff has prepared a fun-filled day for guests as well as programming to celebrate its furry inhabitants. (MORE)
