Full-Day Tours (6+ hours)
The exact length of Full-Day Tours is flexible, we can go from dawn until dusk if you'd like!
Grandfather Mountain is an incredible place. It is home to 16 distinct ecosystems and is one of the most biologically diverse spots on earth! The Profile Trail begins off Hwy 105 and takes you along the Watauga River through Rich Cove and Acid Cove Forests, then it begins to climb through Northern Hardwood, Canadian Hemlock, and Boulder Field Forests as we approach the top! This means we have chances to see an incredible number of different bird species on this hike. The Mountain has at least 118 different species the nest on its slopes, many of which normally nest far to the north. This is one of the only places in the southeast where you can hear the breeding calls of Winter Wrens & Hermit Thrushes!
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This is a strenuous hike, we will climb over 2,000 feet in elevation and the trail can be steep, muddy, and rocky - but it is absolutely worth it! If you want to keep hiking once we get to the top we can go further along the Grandfather Trail to see even more birds.
Grandfather Mountain - Profile Trail (7.6+ miles - strenuous)
Brookshire Park & Clawson-Burnley Park & Greenway (6+ miles - easy)
Brookshire Park sits along the New River, and a paved walkway takes you along the river with created wetlands on the other side. This habitat is a favorite stopover for migrating shorebirds as well as tons of songbirds. From there the trail turns to dirt and gravel and winds up a small mountain with a mix of vegetation including a bramble that is a favorite spot for thrushes and a dead tree with a resident Screech Owl. There is another clearing at the top with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains. From here we drive to Clawson-Brumley Park & Greenway, where there is a beautiful created wetland next to the New River and a paved Greenway Trail that winds along the river and through fields and forests. This is a great way to see a wide variety of birds without a strenuous hike!
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We can hike as long or short on the Greenway as you want.
Grandfather Mountain - Daniel Boone Scout Trail (7+ miles - strenuous)
The Daniel Boone Scout Trail begins at the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and climbs up the northern slope of Grandfather Mountain to Calloway Peak. Climbing through a wide range of habitats much like the Profile Trail, and passing the wreckage of a crashed plane along the way, this trail is home to an incredible variety of birds (over 118 species have been recorded nesting on the Mountain).
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This is a strenuous hike, we will climb over 2,000 feet in elevation and the trail can be steep, muddy, and rocky - but it is absolutely worth it! If you want to keep hiking once we get to the top we can go further along the Grandfather Trail to see even more birds.