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New Access To Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park Opens Saturday, July 1

The highway access for the new Profile Trail parking lot at Grandfather Mountain State Park. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

The new access to the Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park is nearing completion. Since our last report, the guardrails have been installed, highway access is paved and striping on the road leading to the parking lot was marked.

This improvement project for the Profile Trail access includes construction of a restroom facility, new trailhead, parking area for 100 cars and N.C. 105 access.

Pilot Mountain-based Garanco is the contractor on the project. This was initially contracted to be complete by Thanksgiving, and on Saturday, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. Grandfather Mountain State Park’s new Profile Trail access area will be open to the public. 

The current project is the first of two phases of improvements slated at Grandfather Mountain State Park. This second phase won’t begin until at least 2018 and includes an on-site park office, visitor contact station and possibly a maintenance facility.

The second phase of improvements will include an extension of the trail that will create an upper loop for visitors that don’t want to spend all day hiking across Grandfather Mountain State Park.

Both phases have construction budgets of $1.4 million and are funded through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the $2 billion Connect NC Public Improvement Bond voters approved in May 2016.

For more information about Grandfather Mountain State Park, click here or call 828-963-9522.  

The road leading into the 100-plus-vehicle parking area, where the new restroom facility and trailhead are located.
The parking area and new restroom facility and trailhead in the distance.
The new restroom facility.
Rangers put the final touches on the new restroom facility.
The access from N.C. 105.
This project included making way for a turning lane, guard rails and retention wall.
A new turning lane was built for safe access to the parking area.