Grandfather Mountain State Park

About this park

All 13 individual campsites in the state park are located along the trail system and are hike-in backcountry, primitive sites; there is no car-camping. There are no facilities. The terrain is rugged and can be challenging. Trailheads are near 3,800' in elevation and Calloway Peak reaches 5,946'. Camping is allowed with a reservation and permit at 13 backpack camping sites along the trail system, including the Hi-Balsam Shelter. All campsites must be reserved in advance, which can be made as late as the same day, although we recommend making your reservation prior to your park visit, as cellular service is not reliable in the park. A fee is charged for all campsites, and campers must have a reservation number for their camping permit. Camping fees are listed at the bottom of this page. Camping is permitted in the designated areas only, which are identified by signs at the campsites and with a camping icon on the trail map. There is no dispersed camping (camping off a designated site) on the mountain. All camping regulations apply to hammock campers. Please do not disturb nearby campers and care to protect the terrain and plant and animal life. Always check the weather before heading to the mountains: Rays Weather Center ; click on Avery County, then on Sugar Mountain for lower elevation weather and Sugar Mountain Top for ridgeline weather. The Blue Ridge Parkway may be closed due to rock slides, snow, ice, or other weather-related events. Blue Ridge Parkway Overnight vehicles may not be left in the privately owned ''Grandfather Mountain''; attraction (the developed portion of the mountain with the swinging bridge). Recommended parking is at the Profile Trailhead or the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pets must remain on a 6' leash. The park does not have gate hours, and the gates remain open unless otherwise noted.