Only a short drive from Boone, you can drive up this glorious prominence; but really you should hike it if you can–that way you can judge the people who drove it.
Yes. It’s possible to drive up Grandfather Mountain, and plenty of people do it every year while listening to a narration of the mountain’s geological and ecological history and diversity. Stop off at the gift shop. Stare at the caged cougar, the black bear, the otter. There’s even an eagle I think.
OUT AND BACK. 7.1 miles
DIFFICULTY. Moderate to Strenuous (It’s steep, rocky, at points a bit hazardous to your health.)
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. This is a favorite hike in The High Country because of it’s varied terrain, waterfall features, rock outcroppings, majestic overlooks. And because of that, keep special watch over the kids.
How Far is Grandfather Mountain from Boone?
Grandfather Mountain is easily accessible from Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and just about anywhere else in the High Country. From downtown Boone, it’s a short 20 minute drive to the profile trail parking area.
ONLINE GUIDES. HIKE WNC | ALL TRAILS | HIKING PROJECT | ROOTS RATED
Tour the museum. Drive up to the mile high swinging bridge where the wind whips through at world-record speeds and creates an eerie whistle, especially eerie on a misty foggy day. It’s fine! Pay your hard-earned cash. Drive it! It’s kind of fun winding your way up that road and past the lower fields where thousands of people celebrate the Scottish history of the High Country during the annual Highland Games; past the very point at which Tom Hanks, playing Forrest Gump, ran a hundred yards or something; quickly passing through the many climate zones of a mountain that protrudes 5,946 ft into the sky like a bearded grandpa with the ground rising beneath him as he sleeps. Enjoy!
MAP to the Profile Trail
But you know what’s also possible? Hiking it! It was an iconic mountain in North Carolina long before that era when people thought it was a grand idea to run a road up majestic mountains. And when you hike it, it’s very possible you’ll forget you’re at one of the state’s key tourist destinations. There are plenty of points along the way up the Profile Trail when you’ll feel like you’re on a serious adventure, perhaps enveloped in fog, perhaps ever so slightly exposed and dangerous–and no doubt strenuous. And when you reach MacRae’s Peak you’ll thank yourself for the journey you allowed yourself to experience. And don’t forget to maybe scoff a bit at the people in cars and jorts.