Don’t Miss This Niche Adventure Trail in Charlotte, North Carolina💪

Difficulty Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fun Factor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💥💥💥💥 For those who love adventure, you must try this trail. Although it’s not as high in elevation as our famous mountains in China, the thrill and fun are truly unmatched. In just 2.5 hours (official time, but it took me much longer), you’ll experience: climbing over rugged rocks, navigating through narrow cave gaps, using ropes to scale cliffs, and ascending vertical wooden ladders on the edges of cliffs… You’ll also witness spectacular views and capture countless thrilling photos. 🔻 Recommended Seasons: ✅Summer, late spring, and early autumn: Beautiful scenery, perfect temperature, and safe hiking. ❎Not recommended in winter/early spring: It’s too cold, which diminishes the experience; the mountain is wet and snowy, increasing the risk factor. I tried to visit once in early spring but was turned away. The park was concerned about slippery, uncleared snow, posing a danger. (So, my friends and I went skiing at Sugar Mountain instead, which was also fun! 🔻 Recommended Hiking Time: Start early, suggest 11 a.m. (park hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Alternatively, you can enter the park in the morning, visit the zoo inside, walk the suspension bridge, and start hiking at noon to make the most of your ticket. Make sure to allocate extra time. AllTrails says it’s a 2.5-hour hike, but it took us over 5 hours… And the park has a rule that you must return to the parking lot by 5 p.m., or rescuers will come looking for you. We started hiking around 1 p.m. and took nearly 5 hours round trip, getting back at 6 p.m. The rescuers were already in position at the foot of the mountain, ready to climb up to get us.幸好 we met them at the base and not on the mountain…😬 🔻 Recommended Route: After buying your ticket, drive to the upper parking lot on the left side of the mountain (next to the suspension bridge): Grandfather Mountain upper parking. 💥Remember, Macrae Peak is not the end; keep climbing! The most exciting route is after Macrae Peak. 💥Don’t climb to Calloway Peak; you can turn back at that intersection (I’ve marked it on the map). You’ll have seen the most beautiful scenery and completed the most thrilling part of the hike. The section towards Calloway after the fork is boring, and so is Calloway – just a big rock surrounded by vegetation and fog, with nothing to see. It can’t compare to the thrilling and magnificent views on the journey. 💥💥Most Important: Stick to the blue line. The blue line is a cliffside climb with boulders, wooden ladders, and ropes. The left side is the jungle, and the right side is the beautiful cliff scenery. Avoid the yellow line! It winds through the jungle, and the footing is roots and rubble, easy to twist an ankle, and the scenery isn’t as interesting. 🕺🏼Download the map in advance! Have fun🕺🏼 #Charlotte #Sightseeing #WeekendGetaway