On our way to the top for leaf peeping, we stopped here for a bit and enjoyed the scenery. Located…read moreat milepost 297 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the part encompasses over 4200 acres of rolling mountainous terrain that include campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic sites and Price Lake. The highlight is the Tanawha Trail that runs 13.5 miles and includes Grandfather Mountain. There are canoes available for rental and the lake is stocked with fish. This time of year with the leaves turning, it was a beautiful spot and we enjoyed our time here. Five stars. [Review 15917 overall - 3132 in North Carolina - 1422 of 2021.]

The trail around Price Lake is an easy walk, ducking in and out of the tickets along the shore…read more If it's rained or snowed recently, make sure to bring footwear that can tolerate a little mud. While trail improvements have eliminated some of the messier areas, the reality is that well worn walking trails also make for welcoming drainage paths. Parking is readily available in a lot adjacent to the dam, or in a larger lot just down from the amputheater (near the boat rentals).

This is such a lovely park. Definitely worth a visit if you're a tourist, and worth being part of…read moreyour weekly fun outdoors if you're a local.

We love walking here. The walkway is paved, but lots of roots make it uneven. They have them all…read moremarked for your safety though. Come for a walk, picnic or a pickup game of soccer.

This was a cute hike. The signage was a bit confusing in late July 2026, but we found the waterfall…read morepretty easily. We didn't have time that day to hang out and enjoy the pools beneath the waterfall, but there were a lot of people down there with their kids playing in the water. If I lived closer, I would gladly make a trip to this trail on a hot day to enjoy the water and nature. Highly recommend this hike. We ended up going left at the start of the trail up the hill - it was a lot of UP haha but it wasn't so bad on the way back because it's all down hill.

When standing at the beginning point, you can go left or you can go right. My group started our…read morewalk towards the right. Walking towards the right was a pretty lengthy & windy walk. The path itself was nice and mostly flat with very few branches. It was an uphill walk but a semi scenic walk. Once you get closer to the top, there are some benches to sit on and once you get basically at the falls, there are steps leading down. The falls themselves are beautiful and the sound of the water is rather peaceful. Walking from the falls back up is rather steep. On the walk back we decided to go the opposite way we initially took. That path was a shorter path but there were tons of rocks and it was just steep and not nearly as scenic as the other path.

You can't pay for views like this, and good news is... you don't have to!…read more Rough Ridge Overlook is a local *and* tourist hot spot for some of the best views in the state! I went there with some GFs for nature and the views, and it didn't dissapoint. Definiteluy put this spot on your map when planning a trip to Grandfather Mountain.

Not Too Bad Of A Hike. Very Rewarding Views At The End! Slippery When Wet. Wear The Proper Shoes!read more

We did the portion of this trail that goes to Rough Ridge Overlook. This hike is very crowded, but…read morethe views are definitely worth it. I recommend waking up early and getting there for sunrise. We got there around 7:45am and the parking lot was already full. We were able to park on the side of the road though. It got way more crowded later in the day. It's only about a 2.5 mile hike round trip from the parking area. We tried to hike further on the trail, but ended up taking a wrong turn that brought us back to where we started. It was recommended to start at Linn Cove Visitor Center and hike the back way there for less crowds. We wanted to do this, but the parking lot was closed so we couldn't. This is a great hike in the fall for gorgeous fall colors. It's hard to beat the views.

My sister and I were researching a new hike in the area that would be easy to medium difficulty and…read morehad a nice view. We wanted something under 3 miles round-trip due to the coming thunderstorms. This trail was easy to spot off the road with a very nice visitors center with lots of fun items and some cute dogs to pet but that's where to good stuff ends. The trailhead marker behind the center took us the wrong direction on the trail that we wanted to head. There was not sufficient signage to indicate which way it was leading. After hiking over 1 mile we realized our mistake and turned back. There was some interesting things to see but not enough for me to ever return. The rain was holding off so we took the trail the correct way which is located on the opposite end of the parking lot from the visitor center. While this part of the trail was more interesting the view point under the bridge was very underwhelming and we would not do it again.

This is a beautiful lake in a beautiful park. The lake is suitable for trout fishing and has…read moreseveral docks. There are covered picnic areas. A small sandy beach is near the parking area.

IF this is the same Wildcat Lake in Banner Elk near Lees McCrae College and Grandfather Mountain…read morehome, it's not permanently closed. I went there multiple times this summer (2019). It does close today, Labor Day 2019, for the Winter months (the water will be way too cold for swimming, so no use to pay lifeguards) but reopens every summer.

Really awesome coffee shop. Has. Try warm vibes, good coffee, a few sandwiches and breakfast items…read more Some merch and quick service, even when busy. Would highly recommend. We went there every day for breakfast and coffee to start the day. Has a cute little dog park attached with a covered patio and plenty of seating. Would 100% recommend if you're in the area.

The wait is ridiculous as was the response we got when we let them know our order was wrong. We've…read morebeen sitting in the drive thru for exactly 27 minutes. We've ordered and paid and have been sitting 11 minutes since. Still no coffee or bagel. They did give us our cinnamon roll at least. Horrible experience. We will never be back!

Worth It 10 Times Over $30.42…read more Grandfather Mountain was the highlight of my trip to the North Carolina mountains and worth every penny. The experience starts the moment you arrive. The staff is organized, friendly, and efficient. They provide a map and a self-guided audio tour that plugs right into your car, making it easy to learn about the mountain as you drive from stop to stop. My advice: arrive before 11 a.m. and check Blue Ridge Parkway closures before you leave. There are still detours and road closures that can add significant time to your drive, and you don't want to miss your entry time. I headed straight to the top for the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The weather was classic mountain weather--cool temperatures in the 50s and 60s with fog drifting across the peaks. Even with the clouds rolling through, the views were absolutely stunning. If stairs are a concern, there's an elevator that takes visitors up to the bridge level. Afterward, I worked my way down the mountain, stopping at Split Rock before exploring the Wildlife Habitats. This area exceeded my expectations. I saw black bears, elk, a cougar, bald eagles, river otters, and plenty of butterflies. The botanical gardens were beautiful and everything was clearly marked and easy to navigate. The entire property is exceptionally well maintained. Clean restrooms at both the summit and wildlife center were an added bonus. I arrived around 10:30 a.m. and left shortly after noon, which gave me plenty of time to see everything at a comfortable pace. You could easily spend longer if you enjoy hiking or lingering at the exhibits. As someone escaping the summer heat in Charlotte, the cool mountain air alone was worth the drive. If you're visiting western North Carolina, put Grandfather Mountain on your bucket list. The scenery, wildlife, organization, and educational experience make it one of the best attractions in the region. There's a big world out there to explore. This is one place that's absolutely worth the trip.

Nice park and mountain, but $37 PER PERSON? With NO…read moresignage/pricing posted anywhere ... yikes I could understand for something like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but just a state park ...tough pill to swallow especially when it's not posted anywhere. I was planning to hike with some friends and we were going to start at one of the other lots but the roads were closed leaving us no choice but to enter the park. I really just wish the pricing/fees were posted somewhere-anywhere- because they weren't online or on the park signs out front. Had to pull up to the gate/window and even then the park ranger seemed to want to withhold that information as long as possible. The actual park is beautiful and well maintained- and you do get an audio guide plus map upon entry. But the lack of transparency here is a hard no for me. @azfitfoodfun

Don't let the name fool you. It's not really a swinging bridge - but it does creak. And those…read moresounds are a bit alarming as you're hiking up Grandfather Mountain. Admission to the mountain is $25/person. And it's highly recommended you pre-pay online, especially during tourist season when spots fill up. To get to Mile High Swinging Bridge, you pay the admission and can park in the various areas. The top of the mountain does have a parking lot, a gift shop, and restrooms; but the top parking lot fills up. So we parked farther down and did the 20-30 minute hike up. Take a lot of pics during your nervous walk across the bridge. Great views as you're 5,280 feet above sea level. Also, do not wear flip flops! I see a lot of people, even little kids, running around the top of the mountain with flip flops. What in the world?!

So totally worth it. The town is wonderful. We enjoyed just the approach to the mountain…read more Grandfather Mountain is very cool with a legendary history. The swinging bridge was just another jewel in their crown of glory. I totally recommend it for young and Old the Vista points are stupendous. And there's a really wonderful video to watch and a nature center, and even some animals to catch up with.

First time visiting Beech Mountain during their summer concert series. Went and seen Lord Huron…read moreperform. We arrived somewhat early and was able to park in the lots at the gate; shuttle options are available as well. I was a little thrown off with how many buildings were closed. One of the breweries, so there was only one with food open and it was super crowded. No other food was accessible without having to wait until the music festival opened up. Once we got inside the venue area, where were a good amount of food trucks lined up. Early is always the key; shorter lines, quicker service. The lawn seating for the concert was first come first serve. You just found a good spot and pitched your chairs. Everyone is pretty nice about not over crowding or moving your items. The speakers from the stage could have been a little better. Sounded like they were going to blow the speakers through some of the songs. Nice chill evening after the rain. Beautiful view behind the stage. Bring a coat cause the mountains are mountains for a reason. Cold and scattered rain

I haven't been skiing in forever, and because our holiday cruise fell through, we chose to do a ski…read moretrip that was within driving distance to Atlanta, GA. Little did I know, or maybe I just forgot, that my girlfriend frequented ski resorts growing up, but hasn't been in over a decade. Having done extensive research, I chose Beech Mountain. This is a resort town and the surrounding areas felt like we weren't in the U.S. The quaint village was so welcoming and relaxing and it was amazing to hear several different languages at this resort - Ukrainian, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and more. We arrived after it had snowed so it was the perfect winter escape. I recommend renting your equipment, if you don't already have yours. We chose White Wolf lodge to rent our skis, poles, and boots and the process was quick and the workers were friendly. Heading to the mountains, we decided to do the twilight and the entire resort and property felt like a real vacation overseas vacation. They had various buildings and houses that operated as standalone restaurants, rental shops, and more. Additionally, we were so excited to be there we didn't realize we got on the wrong lift that took us up to the very top for a black diamond slope. Because I haven't been skiing as much as my girlfriend, I took her lead and followed her, which was a big mistake. Let's just say I have never had more fun then wiping out face first in front of experience skiers and snowboarders. Once we eventually made it down the slope we found a more user friendly slope that we conquered with perfection and then we upgraded to intermediate slope. We continued skiing for several hours and the night time views from the lift were stunning. The pictures here don't begin to reveal how beautiful it was. SIDE NOTE: for any beginning skiers, it is not as intimating as you may think. Just be confident, listen to instructions, and by all means don't be afraid to fall.