Category: Hiking

Grandfather Glows on Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is one of the best places in the Appalachian Mountains to see rare and endanger animals. One of those species of is a species of firefly, known as Photinus carolinus. What makes this firefly so special?

The Photinus carolinus is the only species of firefly in North America whose individuals can synchronize their lighting display, meaning they can flash in unison. Photinus carolinus famously resides in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where it is a major draw for visitors from late May through early June. 

Every summer, Grandfather Mountain hosts a Grandfather Glows nighttime viewing event which take place on the lower half of mountain to view this spectacular phenomenon of millions of fireflies glowing at once.

This year it takes place from June 26, June 29, July 1. 7-11 PM. You can sign up for the waitlist here https://grandfather.com/waitlist/

William Kradel Leave a comment on Grandfather Glows on Grandfather Mountain Boone, Concerts and Events, Hiking, Outdoor Fun

Enjoy Linville Caverns in Banner Elk!

This spring and summer, if you are looking for a unique family day trip, Linville Caverns fit that bill. They are the only show caverns in North Carolina and have been open for tours since the late 1930s.

The Linville Caverns are a limestone cave system which are open from Thursday through Monday each week from 9am – 5pm. Guided tours are offered on site and can’t be pre-booked. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children 5-12 years old, and those 4 and under are free.

The guided tours include a tour guide giving the geological history of the caverns, as well as how different formations such as stalactites and stalagmites were formed. Also included, is descriptions of all of the life found in the caverns such as tricolored bats and little brown bats.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Enjoy Linville Caverns in Banner Elk! Banner Elk, Boone, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Tours

Hiking on Grandfather Mountain

One of the most popular excursions in the Boone area is visiting Grandfather Mountain. The mountain has plenty of activities to do from visiting the museum, multiple animal habitats to observe, and of course trails to hike with the mile high swinging bridge as the highlight.

If you are looking for casual trails to hike, Grandfather Mountain does have those too. The Black Rock Trail is a 1 mile trail which offers lots of stunning mountain views and rock formations. It is a mostly shaded trail and only descends a total of 300 feet so is a not very strenuous walk back to the car.

The Woods Walk & Picnic Area is a 1/2 mile trail which is perfect for all ages, including small children. It is a very wide trail with many benches to sit down and rest. There are also signs along the trail which describe the different plants and animals in the park.

The Bridge Trail is another 1/2 mile trail which ascends 300 feet in elevation and has many rock formations on the side to enjoy. The highlight of the trail is walking under the mile high swinging bridge. This trail is slightly more strenuous than the others but not too bad.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Hiking on Grandfather Mountain Blowing Rock, Boone, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun

Snowshoe Guided Tours at Sugar Mountain

While in most parts of the South, autumn solely means a slightly cooler weather change, in the Boone area, it also means we are nearing the season for winter activities on the nearby ski mountains!

On many of the ski resorts, they offer more than just skiing, for instance on Sugar Mountain, they offer snowshoe guided tours. Starting on December 1, tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3pm. And on Saturday at 9am and 3pm. There is both an adults and children’s tour for those between the ages of 8-11. The tours are 1 hour.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Snowshoe Guided Tours at Sugar Mountain Boone, Hiking, Outdoor Fun, Skiing, Winter Activities Tags , ,

Grandfather Mountain Birdwatching!

In addition to its wonderful scenery and trails, Grandfather Mountain is also home to a large variety of birds to enjoy watching!

Because of the many different microclimates on Grandfather Mountain, over 200 species of birds can be found here! And 100 of those have documented breeding colonies.

One of the surprisingly effective places to watch birds is at the Nature Museum Restaurant. There are many bird feeders outside which the birds enjoy. Some of the birds which can be spotted include Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, and Juncos.

For woodland birds, the Profile Trail offers many opportunities to spot species such as Warblers, Louisiana Water Thrushes, and Scarlet Tangers.

On Black Rock Trail, there are plenty of birds which prefer high elevations. Some of these include Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, and Magnolia Warblers.

A special event in September is the annual southern migration of a variety of raptor species. Throughout the month, visitors can join trained staff to watch the migration and learn more about the passing eagles, peregrine falcons, and more raptor species.

William Kradel Leave a comment on Grandfather Mountain Birdwatching! Blowing Rock, Boone, Hiking, Hiking, Outdoor Fun

The Autumn Air in Boone and Blowing Rock

Despite approaching the end of October, it is still very much autumn here in the Boone area. The fall leaves on the trees are still very much a wonder to behold. It is a wonderful activity to do while we still need to keep our social distance. 

In the Boone and Blowing Rock area, there are plenty of places to view the fall colors on the mountain. In addition to being able to view the mountainside forest from the town of Blowing Rock, on the roads entering and exiting the town there are beautiful overlooks to take pictures from them. 

Grandfather Mountain is another wonderful place to view the fall colors. You do need to make an appointment ahead of time to visit due to the pandemic

Beech Mountain, while well known as a ski resort, also has trails to walk to enjoy the scenery throughout October, and guided tours on Wednesday and Fridays. The ski resort itself is scheduled to open November 21.

William Kradel Leave a comment on The Autumn Air in Boone and Blowing Rock Blowing Rock, Boone, Hiking, Outdoor Fun Tags , , ,