About 1.6mi to the end of the trail. Do you need hiking shoe, not really unless the ground is wet…read more There are a lot of rocks so when it is wet you can slip and fall. The are muddy spot too but you can walk around it carefully. Another thing is there are about 500' of elevation change so hiking back to the parking lot will raise your heart rate. These are all the caution I can think off. Now the views, yes it is not a big waterfall but still nice. Glen Marie fall you can walk next to it if water flow is not too heavy. Trails are clean which is good, meaning people pick up after themselves. If you can't find start point, just drive slow on Laurel lane and you will see a small sign for parking.

Beautiful!!!! The falls were so fun. I loved seeing them. Also, this is a really convenient…read morelocation (so close to downtown blowing rock!) and it was not very crowded. This might be a difficult hike, though. If you want to get all the way to the falls, there is a lot of elevation change. It's tiring! We also saw a snake on one of the bridges and had to be extra careful to cross without disturbing the snake.

Very pretty, very easy hike. And we're not hikers…read more Met some kayakers heading down as we headed back. It's way back in the country.

The falls are closed as of late April 2026. Road is blocked about 2 miles out from town.read more

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

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.

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).

It's a park/trail/waterfall, not a business. Hubby and I did the 1.1 mile hike. Falls were…read morebeautiful, uphill on way in, and then double the mileage for back out to parking lot. We were early and parking lot was filling up as we left.

Beautiful! Stopped here on our drive to Asheville…read more It's a nice walk to the waterfall, and next time I'd love to plan to spend a little more time at the falls.

WHAT A TRUE ADVENTURE!! This is no average tour company! Highly recommend! John was our tour guide…read more(other half owner) and words can not explain how amazing this 3 mile hiking, climbing, sliding adventure through a mostly untraveled cave was! Note: we were EXHAUSTED after! John took plenty of breaks and informed us about the cave thoroughly throughout. You can see his love for the cave that he has been showing for 22 years!! This is the most authentic experience you will have! I can't say enough!

Appalachian Underground never fails to deliver a great trip. I've been caving for more than 20…read moreyears and Mel is the best guide I've ever had. She is knowledgeable, passionate about caving and all around fun! She was generous with her time, company and supplies, providing fanny packs full of snacks and bottled water for all and gloves and knee pads to make the experience easier on our bodies. My group of 4 (3 first timers) had a fabulous time exploring Worley's Cave with her. Beginners can feel confident and at ease with how well she obviously knows the cave. Folks with caving experience looking for a little extra challenge will also get lots of opportunities for "side missions" to shimmy and crawl through small spaces, although there is no pressure to participate in those if someone would rather not be in tight spaces. All the stars! I can't wait to book another trip!

Despite the colder than expected weather and the wind, my wife and I had a great time exploring…read moreGrandfather Mountain. The park is so nicely maintained, well mark, and cleared hiking trails for all skill levels. The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is an amazing add on with so much fun, and educational info for all ages. The Wilson center also has a cafe, offering reasonably priced "ball park" cuisine, well maintained bathrooms and a souvenir shop. Next to the Wilson Center is the Mildred The Bear Environmental Habitats where you can get up close and learn about some of the species that call this area home. Consider it a miniature zoo with habitats for some animals needing rehab. We were able to see some bears, bald eagles, river otters, and elk, OH MY! Each area had signs posted for ranger talks, which we caught for the river otters. They tell you about the animals, and and answer any questions people have. After exploring the Wilson Center and habitats, we continued our trek up on the mountain to the swing bridge, and that's when the wind really kicked in...with wind gusts, the temp dropped quickly, with a wind chill of -9degrees, but we trudged on, and made the most of it. In the end, we had a great time, and look forward to returning to explore more of the trails. Based on other reviews, some may feel that the $35 ticket price per person may be a bit much at the main entry, but it's a small cost of maintaining such an amazing resource. If you enjoy being outside, hiking, and exploring, this is a must visit NC destination

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

Gorgeous views! Wonderful hiking…read more We fished at Trout Lake and enjoyed the 1/2 mile hike from the parking lot to the dam. Next time we'll go all the way around. About 1 mile total.

This pull-off from the Blue Ridge Parkway is not far from Boone. It is apparently an abandoned…read moreestate that was once an apple orchard. Signage indicates that lead and arsenic were used as pesticides in the area so staying out of the soil is advised. Still, there is plenty to do, with the estate's house offering a collection of local art and a view of the valley, and numerous trails for both humans and horses. The lake at the bottom was nothing special, but it's all about the journey. Notably, the amount of tree coverage on the trails was high, making them a viable option on a hot day.