"The top of Grandfather Mountain is a long ridge with a series of rugged peaks extending west from Linville Peak 5300’ to MacRae 5939’, Attic Window 5949 and Calloway 5964’ peaks. Many unnamed peaks and scattered mountain balds lie in between. Adjoining leading ridges form the Eastern Continental Divide.

The plant communities attain different elevational limits on various sides of the mountain. This causes some overlap in community position. From 2200 to 4400 feet are mixed mesopphytic forests. They are composed mostly of hardwoods but along stream margins are Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), White Pine (Pinus strobus), and Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum). Forest composition shifts with elevation, but dominant trees include yellow birch (Betula lutea), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanium), Beech (Fagus grandiflora), cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), Rock Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) and Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). An understory of various viburnums and sprouts of American Chesnuts (Castanea dentata) is present, although in many places there is little subcanopy or shrub layer. The ground cover consists of scattered fallen logs, Shining Clubmoss (Lycopodium lucidulum), Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and various shade tolerant herbs. Other major species that are most prevalent at the lower elevations include Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Black Oak (Q. velutina), White Oak (Q. alba), and Southern Red Oak (Q. falcata) with the last two species occurring below 3000’. Plant communities growing in the upper portion of this zone of the mountain are generally more dense but less diverse.

The hemlock-rhododendron community is confined to a relatively narrow, usually rocky zone from 4400 to 4700 feet on the northwest side of the mountain and from 3800 to 4000 feet on the south side of the slope. The dominant plants are Canada Hemlock and Great Laurel. Scattered Red Spruce (Picea rubens), Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia), Umbrella Tree (Magnolia fraseri), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), and Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) are also present.

The Glades occupy scattered sties between 4700 and 5000 feet on the northwest side of the mountain and about 4300 to 4400 feet on the south slope. These glades have an open understory with grass covering the forest floor. The overstory is composed mostly of hardwoods, the most abundant being Red Oak, White Ash (Fraxinus americana), and Fire Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica). Scattered Beech, Canada Hemlock and Red Spruce are also present.

Between 5000 and 5400 feet (again, lower on the south slope) is a broad transition area less open than the Glades, however, conspicuous trees are similar with a scattering of Fraser’s Fir (Abies fraseri) and with Red Spruce becoming abundant. Yellow Birch, Sugar Maple, and Striped Maple are more common than at lower elevations, and various viburnums dominate the understory. Scattered throughout are partial openings claimed by Rubus and various saplings.

The Spruce/Fir forest 5400 to 5964 feet (starting at about 5000 feet on the south slope) is dominated by lichen-covered Fraser’s Fir and Red Spruce, but Yellow Birch, Red-berried Elder (Sambucus pubens), and Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) are also common. An undergrowth of Mountain Rosebay (Rhododendron catawbiense) or Spineless Blackberry (Rubus canadensis) predominate in many areas. A dense, damp ground cover of various ferns, Mountain Fern Moss (Hylocomium spendens), Bluebeadlily (Clintonia borealis), False Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum canadense), and Common Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) occurs throughout this zone. Standing dead spruce and firs are common but seem to be little used by cavity nesters. At high sites the trees obtain stunted and bannered growth forms from prevailing winter winds. These areas are similar to the sub alpine zones of The Rockies and other higher mountain chains.

The Balds occur on scattered open rocky areas and in windswept gaps between peaks. They are dominated by either grasses and sedges or low trees and shrubs such as Mountain Rosebay, spruce, fir, Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sand Myrtle (Leiophyllum buxifolium) and alder (Alnus sp). Most balds are small and completely surrounded by forest." (Lee et al 1985)

Land Use:  Wildlife Conservation, recreation/tourism, suburban development

Primary Threats:  The primary threat to habitats on Grandfather Mountain are acid rain and disease.

Protection Status: The core of the site is protected as private lands with various agencies and conservation organizations advising oweners of management issues. Much of the private land is under conservation easement and is protected. Blue Ridge Parkway receives federal protection.  

Conservation Issues: The key conservation issue is the loss of spruce-fir forest due to disease and acid rain.

Birds: The diversity of breeding birds at this site is probably the highest of any site in North Carolina and probably the second highest in the US.  At least 118 breeding season species have been recorded and other are expected (Criteria 4g).  The site is significant for species of conservation concern, such as Coopers Hawk, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Brown Creeper (Criteria 2).  It is one of North Carolina's key sites for Northern Saw-whet Owl (Criteria 4a).  Significant spruce-fir forest exists on Grandfather Mountain and supports the suite of species associated with this habitat type (Critieria 3).