Grandfather Mountain State Park is a North Carolina state park. The Cherokee originally name it Tanawha, meaning fabulous eagle or hawk. The pioneers later named it Grandfather Mountain after thinking the outline resembled an old man. The state park consists of 2,456-acre of backcountry ideal for hiking and backpacking.
Weather can be extreme. Be sure to check weather conditions before heading out.
You can access the park from neighboring trails. However, the main access is at:
Profile Trail Parking Area:
4198 NC Hwy 105 N
Banner Elk, NC 28604
To accommodate early hikes, park gates are not closed on a daily basis. However, they may close due to weather conditions.
November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
March to May:
8:00am to 8:00pm
June to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
Closed Christmas Day
Hiking permits are free and mandatory. Hikers must be able to produce a valid permit when on state park trails. This permit system ensures safety for hikers and helps us protect the natural resource. Hikers must leave the white copy of the permit in the permit box located at or near the trail head and keep the yellow copy in their possession. Permits can be obtained from the Profile Trailhead parking area located off of N.C. 105 and along the Tanawha Trail before accessing the Nuwati and Daniel Boone Scout trails located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Camping permits are also mandatory. Campers must register for a camping permit upon arrival at the Profile trailhead or at the kiosk near the Boone Fork parking lot. The camping permit is required, in addition to making a reservation online.
Event permits. Some events—such as weddings, athletic contests, company parties, etc.—may require a Special Activity Permit. If you're unsure whether such a permit is necessary for your event, call the park office beforehand. You can download a Special Activity Permit application or obtain one from the park office.
Research and collection permits. A permit is required for any project involving the collection, removal or disturbance of any natural or cultural resource of any state park unit and for projects that require placing monitoring equipment in any state park unit. Learn more about research and collection permits or fill out a permit application online.
On a leash. Certain parts of the trail have ladders for access. Be prepared to cope.