Profile trail is gorgeous and fun for those that like boulder hopping but it is pretty strenuous and I would rate it as hard.

Great trail up to Grandfather. We made it over to the suspension bridge and back which was a haul but worth it.

This is the way.

Hard hike. View at the top is unbelievable.

We took the Profile Trail up into the park. When we arrived at 6 am, The gate was locked with a sign that says opens at 8. Online it said different times and the signs in the park are conficting also. The trail head parking lot was a good size and there is a bathroom and boot mud cleaning area. We happened to hit a dry week and saw little mud. The trail starts off pretty tame. A nice trail through the woods that kind of runs along the road. It's mostly out of sight but you can hear the vehicles. It split into the lower and upper trail. We took the lower out and the upper back. They are basically a split in the trail that joins again soon there after. The lower is the older trail and slightly longer. The upper is newer, shorter, and a little wider. After they meet back up the trail gets steeper. Rocky and rooty fun. We hike most weekends and I will say this one gets hard. Worth it but hard at times. You'll find yourself winded. Foscoe Overview is along the way. I caught my first view of the profile of Grandfather Mountain. It really does look like an old man's face sticking out of the side of the mountain. So cool. The pink and purple flowers are scattered along the way of the whole trail. We watched them go from closed to open as the day warmed. After Foscoe you come up on the camping sights. Only a few were being used. Not sure if it gets busier. You continue up (still winded) on to Shanty Springs. After that the stone staircase starts. Large slabs of stone set to large stairs. At first I saw the stairs and thought cool, shouldn't be to bad. Until you realize that they never end. Each switch back reviels a new set up until the next switch back and then another up. A half mile or more. Maybe more, felt like it. My legs were so tight I plucked one and it made a banjo sound. Keep in mind I said large stone set to large stairs. Each "stair" is a good step up. When the stairs end you intersect with Grandfather Trail. If you go left you are headed to Calloway Peak. To the right and you'll end up towards Macrae Peak and the Swinging Bridge. If you want to save the money on parking at Grandfather then you can take this trail for free. It adds mileage, elevation, work, and a great experience. You'll be saving money in exchange for fun labor and time. Do it!