Three words to keep in mind when crossing the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain - mile high and swinging. The former applies only to overall elevation. The bridge is indeed a mile high above sea level, but as far as actual distance from ground it's about 80 feet high

The swinging comes into play as one approaches the middle of the 228-foot bridge. Exaggerated a bit by both imagination and wind, one can feel a sway to the lay of your steel land. Its severity differs person to person. Some find it relaxing, other can't stop gripping the rails. And others, it's an opportunity to show off nerves of steel much stronger than the bridge itself.