Grandfather Mountain — Mile High Swinging Bridge

Grandfather Mountain, rising to 5,946 feet in Avery County, North Carolina, is home to the Mile High Swinging Bridge — a 228-foot suspension bridge connecting the main summit attraction building to the highest accessible point, Linville Peak, at 5,305 feet above sea level. The bridge itself is one of the most photographed man-made structures in the Southern Appalachians, framed against layers of Blue Ridge peaks receding to the north and south with no obstructions between the span and the horizon. Wide-angle compositions from the approach path to the bridge capture the span suspended in midair with mountain ridgelines as the full backdrop. Alternatively, photographers can cross to the far side and shoot back toward the bridge with the Grandfather Mountain massif rising behind it. In October, the deciduous forest on the flanks below the summit blazes in red and gold, creating vivid contrast with the gray granite outcrops and steel bridge cables. In winter, rime ice formations encrust the bridge railings and cables following freezing fog events, creating a surreal sculptural foreground of crystalline white against a blue or gray winter sky. The mountain is subject to sudden severe weather; cloud cover and fog can eliminate visibility entirely within minutes of a clear arrival, but clearing fog can also produce dramatic below-cloud photography from the summit. Grandfather Mountain is a private attraction with an admission fee of approximately USD $28-32 for adults. Tripods are permitted throughout the summit complex. Drone flights are prohibited on the property. A shuttle bus operates from the main parking area to the summit building, reducing the walking distance for photographers carrying heavy gear. Restrooms are available at the summit complex.