6 Things to Know about our Short Ways Hike at Grandfather Mountain

Short Ways

Jun 21

BTW.... it wasn't that short!

This Fathers’s Day weekend we decided to take a hike along the Grandfather trail in North Carolina. It was Father’s Day Weekend, and both of my kids were in town. For me, the perfect Father’s Day is a hike, so off we went!

Some advice if you want to visit Grandfather Mountain this summer:

While they sell advance tickets, there is no express lane into the park. So if you are coming in from either the Blue Ridge Parkway or Linville, expect delays getting in since most people will be purchasing tickets on the spot.
Get to the park early - and when you do, go straight to the top. The animal attractions will be there later, but parking is limited at the summit.
During the summer, the lines for the ladders up to the peaks can resemble those for Mount Everest. We highly recommend a counter-clockwise path that takes you first up the ladder to MacRaes Peak, and then back along the Underwood Trail. The Underwood Trail is a rock scramble, and not a lot of fun, but it does help you avoid the lines on the Grandfather Trail ladder.
Water, with electrolytes . It may be cool on the mountain tops, but the sun and wind can definitely deplete your hydration stores. We recommend the Nuun electrolytes, but you can choose your own (see our store for a link!)
Plan your time. This hike takes considerably longer than you would imagine. During peak season, plant for a 3-3.5 hour hike to MacCrae Peak. If you are traveling with kids - you will definitely need to feed them!

Here are some more amazing photos from our trip. So as you can see, it is definitely worth it!