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2.0 miles
Distance
1,176 ft
Climb
-545 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
630 ft
Altitude change
5,263 ft
Altitude min
5,263 ft
Altitude start
5,892 ft
Altitude end
5.9%
Grade
-67.3%
Grade max
85.9%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
3,665 ft
Distance down
381 ft
Distance flat
Grandfather Details
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Activities
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaGrandfather Mountain State Park
Banner Elk, North Carolina -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (1 vote)
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Local Popularity95 in Hiking [+]
- 55 in Trail Running
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Global Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT2 Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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DirectionBoth Directions
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Physical RatingHard
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Dogs AllowedYes
The Grandfather Trail runs the length of the summit ridge from the Grandfather Mountain attraction to Calloway Peak. It offers astonishing variety, running in and out of wind-dwarfed spruce and fir, across or around rock walls and pinnacles and into open spaces with mountain views in every direction. It was along this trail two centuries ago that explorer/botanist Andre Michaux broke into song thinking he had arrived at the high point of North America. The pace is often slow. There are chutes where progress is hand-over-hand and extra steep sections where hikers use in-place cables and ladders. An alternative to taking the ladders up MacRae Peak is to opt for the more sheltered Underwood Trail. Not recommended for children, inexperienced hikers, or pets.
source: https://www.ncparks.gov/
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 5 rides
- 7 miles avg distance
All
- 26 rides
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Grandfather Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
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- Snow Cover Partial
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- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- Both Directions
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Directions to grandfather trailhead
(36.096150, -81.831800)
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Nearby Trails
- Bridge Trail 180 ft
- Swinging Bridge 1,276 ft
- Black Rock 1,388 ft
- Grandfather Extension 1,558 ft
- Underwood 3,248 ft
Grandfather Mountain State Park
- By todd
Trailforks & contributors - #241482 - 2,010 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Grandfather
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Where is Grandfather located?
Grandfather is located in Grandfather Mountain State Park, Banner Elk, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Grandfather Mountain State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 36.09615, -81.8318.
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How hard is Grandfather?
Grandfather is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 5.9%.
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What is the elevation gain for Grandfather?
Grandfather has 1,176 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 545 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 5,263 ft to 5,902 ft.
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Is Grandfather a point to point trail?
Grandfather is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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