Spring Visits at Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is looking forward to welcoming back the spring season with daily programs and special experiences. “The spring months are such a special time on the mountain,” said Jesse Pope, president and CEO of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “Our programming offers guests unique opportunities to experience the mountain, and it is always wonderful to watch the first blooms of the season pop up after a long, snow-filled winter.”

Check out the ways that you can enjoy springtime on the mountain.

Spring blooms and the leaves beginning to bud on trees is always a welcome sight after winter at Grandfather. Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauties, trout lilies and squirrel corn are just some of the very first wildflowers of the spring.

Visitors hoping to take in the sights, and scents, of the bountiful blooms on the mountain can plan ahead by referencing Grandfather’s Wildflower Bloom Calendar at www.grandfather.com/wildflowers-calendar.

In April, the mountain will begin its annual Spring Color Gallery and provide spring color updates twice a week.

A new facility for young explorers is set to open this April next to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery as a part of the growing Conservation Campus at Grandfather Mountain.

This conservation and education center is designed for children ages 5 to 12 and will host interactive exhibits that focus on pollinators, climate, weather and ecosystems. Educational concepts highlighted in indoor exhibits will come to life outdoors through sensory and pollinator gardens, a nature trail, activities and interpretive signage.

The ADA-accessible space includes a covered porch to support programming, a seek-and-find nature forest mural, glass exhibit habitats for educational animals, a microscope station and so much more.

Learn more about Yonni’s Clubhouse at www.grandfather.com/yonnis-clubhouse.

Grandfather Mountain is kicking off the warmer months with special events for the entire family. Plan to enjoy one of these early-season events during your visit.

Sounds of Nature – Kids’ Music Day
April 25, all day
A fun-filled, nature-themed afternoon of music, where families and kids can groove to the sounds in nature. This interactive concert held in the Williams Outdoor Learning Space celebrates the beauty of the natural world, featuring lively performances, eco-themed songs and hands-on activities that teach kids about conservation. Included with admission.

Rhododendron Ramble
May 23 – May 31, 1 – 1:30 p.m.
Take a daily, short, guided stroll with a park naturalist that highlights Grandfather Mountain’s rhododendron species and blooms. Learn about their history, attributes and roles that they play. Included with admission.

Nature Photography Weekend
June 5 – 7
Grandfather Mountain’s Nature Photography Weekend is a three-day workshop, featuring presentations from renowned photographers, one-of-a-kind shooting opportunities and a friendly, but competitive photo contest. Speakers touch on a variety of photography-related topics, encompassing both the technical and artistic elements of the craft and beyond. This event is an additional cost.

Animal Birthday Party
June 10, all day
Celebrate the birthdays of the resident animals with contests, crafts and surprises throughout the day. The park’s wildlife habitat staff host a fun-filled afternoon for guests, as well as programs to celebrate the park’s furry and feathered friends. Included with admission.

Many more events will be added throughout the season and as the summer months approach. Be sure to check Grandfather Mountain’s event calendar at www.grandfather.com/event-calendar so that you don’t miss any of the 2026 happenings!

In the early spring, Grandfather Mountain’s talented team of educators offer daily programs, included with the price of admission, to showcase the natural wonders of the mountain.

From March 21 to Nov. 8, the mountain will offer daily programming, including Keeper Talks, during which guests can speak with park educators about the habitat animals – black bears, cougars, river otters, bald eagles and elk – and watch them receive an enrichment. Enrichments are special treats, new toys or unfamiliar scents designed to break up the animal’s routines and help keep them active and intellectually stimulated. Keeper talks run between 10 and 15 minutes and are held daily, every half hour from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wildlife Habitats.

Community Science Weather allows guests to participate in one of Grandfather Mountain’s citizen science projects. At this daily program, a park educator will assist guests with recording weather data to be passed to NOAA for continued research. This takes place daily at 11 a.m. at the Weather Station at Yonni’s Clubhouse behind the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.

During Grandfather’s Junior Naturalist program, park educators help younger guests use scientific tools to make observations about natural phenomena.  These 30-minute programs take place at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends from March 21 through May 24 and meet at the Jr. Naturalist Table at Yonni’s Clubhouse. They become daily programs from May 25 to Sept. 7. The Junior Naturalist program is geared toward 5–10-year-olds, but welcomes younger and older students.

For those who are inspired by great heights, the 15-to-20-minute Peaks and Profiles program will be offered daily at 1 and 3 p.m. by the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Grandfather’s educators discuss the mountain’s unique weather, climate, flora and fauna at this program.

Animal Encounters provide guests with a close look at some of the mountain’s off-display educational animal ambassadors while a park educator answers questions about the animal. Encounters last around 30 minutes and are held on weekends at 2 p.m. March 21 through May 24 and daily at 2 p.m. from May 25 to Sept. 7 at the habitat path above the otter habitat (or at the Wilson Center on inclement weather days).

Inside the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, Random Acts of Science allows guests to learn about native plants and animals, use weather instruments to record data, investigate minerals, skulls or even tiny organisms under a microscope and more. Educators host the 30-to-45-minute event at 12 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on weekends.

May Wildlife Rehab Center Animal Talks provide an opportunity to meet some of the ambassador animals from Lees-McRae College’s May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and learn about birds, animal rehabilitation and wildlife protection. These talks are held Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Williams Outdoor Learning Space May 30 through July 25.

To learn more about Grandfather Mountain daily programs and others, visit www.grandfather.com/daily-programs.

April 4 through Nov. 1, Grandfather Mountain will offer behind-the-scenes experiences like Meet the Bears and Keeper for a Day, available at an additional cost.

Paint With a Bear returns in 2026 and allows the unique opportunity to meet a bear, choose non-toxic paint colors for the artwork and watch as a habitat keeper guides the animal through the painting enrichment. Upon completion, participants can select the painting that they like the best to take home. The experience lasts for 30 minutes and is offered on weekends at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required.

Meet-the-Bears Tours take participants behind the scenes to meet some of Grandfather Mountain’s resident black bears and learn all about them, including their names, daily routines, histories and more. Meet-the-Bears Tours are offered on weekends, last approximately 30 minutes and are offered at 11 a.m. Reservations are required for this special experience.

Behind-the-Scenes Habitat Tours allow guests to see where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of caring for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home. Behind-the-Scenes Habitat Tours are offered on weekends, last one hour and are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. Reservations are required.

Keeper for a Day offers the special experience of learning how to care for Grandfather’s resident animals, clean their habitats and prepare their food. Keeper for a Day also includes a painting session with one of the habitat animals. This three-hour “work shift” is offered on Tuesday mornings, through October. Reservations are required.

To learn more about Grandfather Mountain experiences, visit www.grandfather.com/experiences.

Individuals with limited mobility should inquire about availability when booking Meet the Bears or Paint With a Bear. A UTV is available to transport guests with mobility issues if lined up in advance.

As the season progresses, Grandfather Mountain will add many more events to its calendar, including Grandfather Presents, Adult Field Courses, Grandfather Glows events and more. Stay in the know about upcoming events by visiting www.grandfather.com/event-calendar frequently throughout the spring months.

Guests wanting to plan a visit that includes the Blue Ridge Parkway should check the mountain’s Access Updates page at www.grandfather.com/blue-ridge-parkway-access-updates, as closures are slated to begin in mid-March. This is the final phase of work on a $100M+ project, providing vital repaving and rehabilitation. Funding for this project comes from the Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund. Access to Grandfather Mountain via the Parkway will remain open from at least one direction thanks to the careful planning of the National Park Service staff. Information about hiking and camping access for Grandfather Mountain State Park, a separate parcel of backcountry land owned by the state of North Carolina, can also be found at the link above.

More information about these closures and maps that show initial work sites of this project, visit www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm.

Above: Spring at Half Moon_Photo by Skip Sickler_Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation