Grandfather Mountain State Park NC 28604

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Elias Longenecker

Great views and great facilities but the highlight of the experience was undoubtedly Doug! He is a volunteer at the nature center. He was knowledgeable, fun and friendly! We asked him many questions and he had excellent answers. Great conversationalist, great service. Simply an excellent human. You can’t meet Doug and have a bad day!

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Stephen Chandler

Grandfather Mountain has a beautiful setting, but overall the experience felt underwhelming for the price. The admission cost is a little steep for what you actually get, especially if you’re mainly driving through rather than planning a serious hike. The insertable USB audio tour unfortunately would not work in my car, which took away from part of the experience. The wildlife areas were also disappointing—most of the animals were bedded down and not visible at all. Much of the property felt more like a tourist trap than a natural attraction, with high-priced gift shops scattered throughout. The famous walking bridge was okay, but not nearly as impressive as it’s made out to be. If you’re going specifically to hike, it may be worth the visit. But for those just riding through, the price should really be reduced to better match the experience.

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Trisha Browne

I can’t really say enough about Grandfather Mountain. This was my first time hiking there. I have hiked all over North Carolina. This park was a real treat. There are so many options for hiking. You can hike to the summit which is a strenuous hike or many other options that are not difficult. The suspension bridge was truly spectacular. The view goes on for miles. A walk around the small zoo with animals that lived in the wild are well taken care of in their environmental habitats. You want to start early at this park for it can be a full day adventure.