BANNER ELK, N.C. (828newsNOW) — One of the most iconic hiking trails in Western North Carolina has reached a major restoration milestone since Tropical Storm Helene swept through the region in September 2024. The Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail, a 3.6-mile, 1,775-feet climb up the paternal peak, has partially reopened.
Grandfather Mountain State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Banner Elk, N.C.
What sections of the Profile Trail are back open?
On June 5, 2026, three major components of the Profile Trail reopened, including:
- the Profile Trail parking area, located at 4198 N.C. Hwy 105 N., Banner Elk, N.C.
- the Profile Trail campsite, located around 2.5 miles from the parking area
- the Profile Trail Upper Loop
A lower section of the trail remains closed for restoration.
In a blog post about the reopening, Grandfather Mountain State Park urged visitors to keep out of closed areas.
“The complete repair and restoration project involves a larger effort to strengthen the Profile Trail for long-term sustainability — improving trail alignment, reinforcing structures and ensuring the trail is accessible and safe for visitors — while continuing to protect the mountain’s exceptional biodiversity,” the park wrote. “We want to create a safe, resilient and sustainable trail that can withstand future storms, reduce maintenance needs and ensure a high-quality experience for generations of hikers.”
When did the Profile Trail close?
The Profile Trail was hit hard by Helene in September 2024, when high winds caused extensive tree fall on the northwest side of Grandfather Mountain. The uprooting destroyed large sections of the trail, creating debris and demolishing slopes.
In late 2024, Grandfather Mountain State Park staff and partners began to clear the debris from the area, but “much of the debris and damage [required] specialized skills and equipment beyond what could be addressed during that early phase,” the park wrote. “Most of the debris needed to be professionally removed due to significant fire and safety hazards, as well as erosion and widespread trail damage caused by disrupted water flow.”
It would not be until spring 2026 that debris removal was completed, and shortly thereafter that temporary repairs were completed on the upper portions of the Profile Trail.
“There was a lot of temporary stabilization at areas where they were washed out. The upper section of the Profile Trail did not have as much damage as the lower section because portions of the lower section just washed away into the stream,” said Kris Anne Bonifacio, North Carolina State Parks public information officer. “I think there were a couple areas where there were a lot of larger root balls from trees that fell, and I believe we were able to kind of shore those up, but the larger project is actually going to take a look at the entire trail as a whole, figure out if we need to reroute it. Basically, improve the trail alignment, so that it’s more sustainable moving forward.”
What comes next for Grandfather Mountain?
The lower section of the Profile Trail connected to the Watauga River remains under restoration. While temporary fixes have permitted access to the other parts of the trail, permanent solutions are in development.
According to Grandfather Mountain State Park, there are three criteria to consider while designing permanent repairs on the Profile Trail:
First, “permanent repairs must minimize disturbance to rare plant communities and wildlife habitat.”
Second, “construction techniques must follow best-practice sustainability standards to protect the environment.”
Last, “long-term durability is essential to reduce future impacts from heavy foot traffic and severe weather.”
“I think the biggest challenge is that the work just requires professional work, professional trail builders. Even the debris removal needed to be done by professionals,” said Bonifacio. “But, the challenge also is that it’s a very ecologically sensitive area, so there’s a lot of permits and red tape, and working with other organizations to try to make sure that any work that we’re doing is okay with our conservation partners.”
For the time being, Grandfather Mountain State Park visitors are welcome back on the trail, and are invited to visit attractions like the Mile High Swinging Bridge and Wilson Center for Nature Discovery at Grandfather Mountain, 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, N.C., owned and operated by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
“We have our regular summer program events going on,” said Will Bennett, GMSF research coordinator. “We have our Keeper Talks, we do four of those every day, and then we have two Naturalist Talks up by the Swinging Bridge every day. Around the Wilson Center, the museum, we also have Random Acts of Science, and then lots of other programs for kids.”
For more information about visiting Grandfather Mountain State Park, visit www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/grandfather-mountain-state-park.
For more information about visiting Grandfather Mountain, visit www.grandfather.com.