Grandfather Mountain Blue Ridge National Heritage Area of North Carolina (one of the oldest mountains in North America) Photo by Jackie O / Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution).
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area spans 11,000 square miles of North Carolina's mountains and foothills.
The oldest river in North America is partially located within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area; the New River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is believed to be 320 million years old. Grandfather Mountain is also located within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area; one of the oldest mountains in North America and a globally recognized nature preserve.