Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games

Beautiful pictures

Stunning -- landscape photos can't be any more so than these -- thanks for sharing DFC

Terrific photos!

I wouldn't have guessed that many of those were shot here in the U.S., especially some those first few!

America, the Beautiful!

Incredibly beautiful stuff!

cool, blue sky days are meant to be enjoyed in the great outdoors.

Awesome.

Sure doesn't look like the city! 😛

1. - Trail to top of Hawksbill Mountain looking over Linville Gorge.

2. Naturally almost oriental landscaped foliage found on top of Hawksbill Mountain. The trail is strenuous yet only .8 miles long.

3. North side of the top of Hawksbill Mountain overlooking Linville Gorge.

4. Beacon Heights Trail - Milepost 305 on the Blue Ridge Parkway - overlooks Wilson Creek Gorge with a vista that includes Grandfather Mountain less than a mile to the north and Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock Mountain side-by-side off to the south. In my opinion, the coolest short trail east of the Mississippi - steep yet just .2 miles long.

5. Cool flower on the Chimneys Trail

6. The Chimneys Trail overlooking Linville Gorge. One of the fave trails of those who hike often in the High Country, the Chimneys Trail is wonderful and also less than a mile long. When you find your way to the Table Rock Mountain Trail parking lot - Rt 181 to Ginger Cake road then left on Table Rock Road, once on the parking lot - one way on the trail leads to the top of Table Rock Mountain and the other way on the trail leads to the Chimneys.

7. The Chimneys Trail looking at Table Rock Mountain - Linville Gorge

8. Rock formations on the Chimneys Trail.

9. A rainbow over Wilson Creek Gorge from on top of the Beacon Heights Cliff Trail. On a VERY clear day, you can see the skyline of Charlotte, small and looking like the Land of Oz, on the horizon even though it is 86 miles away.

10 thru 13 - every July, the Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games takes place at 5000 feet on McRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain. Music and ancient competitions and grog and dance and true pride and respect for the 1000 year history life under the British thumb. Here is a video I took of the best moments of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games 2015 -

14 and 15. A wonderful find of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms on the Flat Rock Trail.

16. The monarchs came thru the High Country - Rich Mountain Carriage Trail - Rt. 221- Shulls Mill road exit off the Blue Ridge Parkway

17. Rock face on the Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail, a very challenging trail that climbs 2,000-feet plus to the top of Grandfather Mountain while going through multiple different ecosystems along the way.

18 - 22. - Various shrooms found on the lush lower end of the Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail.

23. Profile Mountain Overlook - Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail.

24. - Sunset on the Flat Rock Trail- Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 308.

25. - Grandfather Mountain at sunset

26 thru 33 - A wonderful sunset after a rain on the Flat Rock Trail and foliage as well including caribou moss and more.

Great shots! You've got skills. Love the shroom shots especially!

I love North Carolina - it is underrated for its beauty.

Wonderful pictures Derek. Is the area hikable in December? Maybe when I come down for XMas Jam...

...sounds cliché, but it depends on the weather........most of this stuff is 3,500 to 6000 feet while Asheville is only at 2,000 feet elevation. That is a big difference in December..........but will keep you posted.....

Great pics. My stepson spent a few weeks in that area this summer, and loved every minute of it.
I would think hiking in the area in December wouldn't be a problem as much as getting through the black ice to get to the area to do said hiking! 😮
So far, it seems that won't be much of an issue this year.

Beautiful Derek,thanks for posting ..I was hiking in Vermont last weekend,talk about gods country..