The first time you see his face from Foscoe, just northeast of Grandfather Mountain, you’ll see the silhouette against the sky, etched by nature over millions of years. Like any storied slope, the mountain has many faces, but the most recognizable one, with edges, cracks, and ridges that reminded early European settlers of the old man for whom it was named, emerges here. Those settlers didn’t know it at the time, but Grandfather Mountain would come to embody the role of patriarch, of protector, more than any other natural landmark in the state.
Encompassing less than 5,000 acres, Grandfather Mountain is home to 73 rare or endangered species that live in a variety of distinct ecological communities. Along the 3.6-mile Profile Trail, you can see nest boxes built by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for endangered Carolina northern flying squirrels. Or the freckled orange petals of Gray’s lily, a critically imperiled species named for Harvard botanist Asa Gray, who identified the rare flower in 1841. Or, perhaps, a yellow-bellied magnolia warbler flying overhead as you make your way along the Bridge Trail to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Under the watchful eye of Grandfather, the wild thrives.
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock Highway
Linville, NC 28646
(800) 468-7325
grandfather.com
North Carolinians of Scottish descent have celebrated their heritage at Grandfather Mountain since 1956 (left). Photography courtesy of GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES, FROM THE HUGH MORTON PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMS (P081), NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION, WILSON LIBRARY, UNC CHAPEL HILL, EMILY CHAPLIN
Agnes MacRae Morton. Photography courtesy of GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES, FROM THE HUGH MORTON PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMS (P081), NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION, WILSON LIBRARY, UNC CHAPEL HILL
Dancers wearing tartan kilts and knee-high socks raise their arms above their heads in a stag-like shape, characteristic of the Highland fling, an ancient display of strength by warriors after victory. Some performers at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games don a green, grey, and blue tartan, which was designed to reflect the mountain.
In 1956, Agnes MacRae Morton, a descendant of Highland Scots, cofounded the event, which at the time only consisted of some Scottish dancers and athletic events. Her son Hugh Morton, who bought Grandfather Mountain in 1952, helped make the event what it is today thanks to his influence as one of the state’s most prolific photographers. Now, about 40,000 people come to MacRae Meadows for four days of festivities, including bagpipe bands, whiskey tastings, sheep herding, a Scottish cultural village, and more.
To learn more about the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, visit gmhg.org.
Cougars also have a long history on the mountain, although only rescued siblings Logan and Trinity remain. photograph by GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION/LESLIE RESTIVO
Before Grandfather Mountain became a state icon, eastern cougars roamed the peak freely. European colonization drove these big cats from the Blue Ridge Mountains. But two cougars live at Grandfather Mountain today, and you can meet them — from a safe distance — at the mountain’s wildlife habitats. Logan and Trinity, a brother and sister, were orphaned and found in an Idaho neighborhood. Left on their own, they wouldn’t have survived. The pair were brought to Grandfather by habitat staff. They are now part of the wildlife program where visitors can observe black bears, otters, elk, and bald eagles.
To learn more about the wildlife habitats at Grandfather Mountain, visit grandfather.com/visit/things-to-do/wildlife-habitats.
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