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        • Grandfather Mountain
        • Tweetsie Railroad
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        • Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park
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      • Museums & History
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        • Climb the Highest Peaks by Car
        • Fishing
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        • Linn Cove Viaduct
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        • Picnic on the Parkway
        • Top Ten Overlooks
        • Visitor Centers and Cabins
      • Grandfather Mountain
      • Hiking
        • Backpacking
        • Bass Lake
        • Boone Greenway
        • Cascade Falls
        • Crabtree Falls
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        • Glen Burney Trail
        • Linville Falls
        • Mount Mitchell
        • Price Lake Trail
        • Roan Mountain / Appalachian Trail in Summer
        • Rough Ridge
      • Winter Sports & Activities
        • Skiing
        • Snowboarding
        • Ice Skating
        • Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing
        • Snow Tubing
        • Appalachian Ski Mountain
        • Beech Mountain Resort
        • Sugar Mountain Resort
      • Water Activities
        • Whitewater Rafting
        • Canoeing & Kayaking
        • Lakes
        • Swimming
        • Tubing
        • Waterfalls
      • Golf & Tennis
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The Catawba Rhododendron

The Catawba Rhododendron

The Catawba Rhododendron covers more than 1,000 feet in elevation on Grandfather Mountain. This wide range of elevation provides a long window of opportunity for guests to see this showy blooming plant.
Credit: Helen Moss Davis | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Rhododendron bloom atop Grandfather Mountain

Rhododendron bloom atop Grandfather Mountain

Rhododendron atop Grandfather Mountain
Credit: Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Catawba Rhododendron cluster

Catawba Rhododendron cluster

The Catawba rhododendron blooms annually in flashy tones of lilac and magenta.
Credit: Helen Moss Davis | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble

Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble

A Grandfather Mountain staff naturalist discusses the parts of a rhododendron with a Rhodo Ramble participant. The annual Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble will occur at 1 pm daily June 1-12.
Credit: Taylor Adams | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Naturalists lead the annual Rhododendron Ramble daily program

Naturalists lead the annual Rhododendron Ramble daily program

Chief Naturalist Katie Gray leads participants on a Rhododendron Ramble along the Bridge Trail. The start location of the rhododendron-focused programs depends on where the plant's peak blooms are occurring at the time.
Credit: Helen Moss Davis | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Catawba rhododendron colors range from purple to magenta

Catawba rhododendron colors range from purple to magenta

Credit: Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Naturalist Gabe Taylor and participants study the single flower of a Catawba rhododendron cluster

Naturalist Gabe Taylor and participants study the single flower of a Catawba rhododendron cluster

Credit: Catherine Morton | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Native Appalachian Catawba Rhododendron

Native Appalachian Catawba Rhododendron

Catawba rhododendron are native to the Southern Appalachians. They are cultivated as ornamental plants because of their beauty.
Credit: Sharon Glatthorn | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Tall rhododendron frame a great picnic spot

Tall rhododendron frame a great picnic spot

During late May and early June, visitors to Grandfather Mountain and MacRae Meadows can picnic surrounded by large rhododendron shrubs in bloom.
Credit: Sharon Glatthorn | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Linn Cove Viaduct in Spring | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 304

Linn Cove Viaduct in Spring | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 304

The Linn Cove Viaduct is one of the most photographed spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Credit: Hugh Morton | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
A showy Catawba rhododendron in full bloom

A showy Catawba rhododendron in full bloom

Catawba Rhododendrons are already blooming at the lower elevations of Grandfather Mountain, around MacRae Meadows. Due to this year's unseasonably mild winter and spring many of the Mountain's plants are blooming early.
Credit: Helen Moss Davis | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
Catawba rhododendron in Daniel Boone Native Gardens

Catawba rhododendron in Daniel Boone Native Gardens

A Catawba rhododendron in Daniel Boone Native Gardens in Boone, North Carolina.
Tubing on the New River | Boone, NC

Tubing on the New River | Boone, NC

A group of friends enjoy a leisurely float on the New River in Boone NC.
Credit: Craig Distl
Crabtree Falls | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 338

Crabtree Falls | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 338

A young girl cools off at Crabtree Falls near Boone NC.
Credit: Randy Johnson
Elk River Falls

Elk River Falls

Two young girls prepare to jump from a large boulder into the pool below at Elk River Falls.
Summer Concerts at the Jones House

Summer Concerts at the Jones House | Boone, NC

Summer View on Grandfather Mountain | Linville

Summer View on Grandfather Mountain | Linville

The top of Grandfather Mountain is the perfect place to relax and enjoy cool summer temperatures.
Credit: Watauga TDA
The Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron bloom atop Grandfather Mountain
Catawba Rhododendron cluster
Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble
Naturalists lead the annual Rhododendron Ramble daily program
Catawba rhododendron colors range from purple to magenta
Naturalist Gabe Taylor and participants study the single flower of a Catawba rhododendron cluster
Native Appalachian Catawba Rhododendron
Tall rhododendron frame a great picnic spot
Linn Cove Viaduct in Spring | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 304
A showy Catawba rhododendron in full bloom
Catawba rhododendron in Daniel Boone Native Gardens
Tubing on the New River | Boone, NC
Crabtree Falls | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 338
Elk River Falls
Summer Concerts at the Jones House
Summer View on Grandfather Mountain | Linville
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Boone

331 QUEEN STREET, SUITE 101
BOONE, NC 28607
T: (828) 266-1345
 

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