Blue Ridge Parkway

Scenic beauty will greet you while riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some spectacular views are seen riding this stretch of almost 500 miles along the Appalachian Mountains. It borders the Great Smoky Mountains on the south, and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia at its endpoints. You will ride to elevations of over 6000 feet at some places along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Near Waynesville North Carolina is the highest along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are almost 200 bridges that you will cross as you are riding this beautiful byway.

It began as the Appalachian Scenic Highway back in 1935. Construction began at Cumberland Knob in North Carolina. It took over 50 years to finish construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Construction ended near Grandfather Mountain in 1987.The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the North Carolina-Virginia state line at mile 217.

Ride through over 20 tunnels that were blasted through the rocks as you ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Depending on the time of year that your ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, you might find some of the tunnels closed. With the lack of sunshine, and water flowing toward the tunnels, the water can drip from inside them and even freezes when it's above the freezing mark.

Some of the towns you will ride nearby along the Blue Ridge Parkway include Galax, Waynesboro, and Roanoke in Virginia as well as Boone and Ashville in North Carolina. If you have the time, stop by the Biltmore estates in Ashville. It's just a short ride from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Another place you can stop for a great view is Mount Mitchell - the highest point in the East.

Springtime greets you with flowers, and dogwoods, while the fall blankets the landscape with fantastic fall colors. At certain times of the year, you can ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway taking in the turning of the leaves to autumn. Looking downward toward the valley, you can see all of the seasons. Late April though early October is a great time to catch this phenomenon.

The Blue Ridge Parkway closes portions at times for repairs and damage from weather and snowfall. It is not hard to catch one of the marked detours in the event of a closure.

Here are a few of the highlights along the Blue Ridge Parkway

In order from North to South

Virginia:

    * Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, Virginia - the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    * Humpback Rock - A self-guiding hiking trail (less than 1 mile) takes you to the rocks. See the old Appalachian farm buildings along the trail.
    * Ravens Roost - rock-climbing or hang-gliding, anyone?
     * Sherando Lake - In the George Washington National Forest. Swimming, camping, and picnicking. There is a fee.
    * Yankee Horse Ridge  - Did the Union soldier's horse really fall here? The Wigwam Falls are not far.
    * Fallingwater Cascades - A trail just over a mile and a half to get there.
    * Peaks of Otter - Very popular views. There is a shuttle (fee) to Sharp Top.
    * Roanoke Mountain - A 4 mile detour. A one-way loop road over the mountain - the views are awesome.
    * Smart View - Go the the Trail Cabin for a "smart view"
    * Rocky Knob - rises to overlook Rock Castle Gorge.
    * Mabry Mill - Take a trail to the gristmill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop.
    * Aunt Orelena Puckett Cabin
    * Music Center near Galax - Concerts, a 17,000-square-foot museum dedicated to music.

North Carolina:

    * Pilot Mountain
    * Cumberland Knob - almost 3000 feet
    * Brinegar Cabin
    * Doughton Park - Good place to see deer - there is a campground here.
    * Northwest Trading Post - Crafts
    * Jumpinoff Rock
    * Jeffress Park - Trails to the cascades, cabin and church.
    * Moses H. Cone Memorial Park - Hiking, Horseback Riding and fishing.
    * Julian Price Memorial Park - Several walking trails.
    * Linn Cove Viaduct - on the side of Grandfather Mountain
     * Flat Rock - great view of Grandfather Mountain.
    * Linville Falls - through Linville Gorge. Take a trail to one of the overlooks.
    * Crabtree Meadows & Crabtree Falls - Campground, Giftshop & Hiking Trails to Crabtree Falls.
    * Mount Mitchell State Park - Take Highway 128 - picnic area and lookout tower - highest point east of the Mississippi River.
    * Glassmine Falls - See this 800-foot waterfall from an overlook on the side of the parkway.
    * The Folk Art Center - Crafts of the Appalachia
    * The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center - A theater showing films about the region. A shop with books, clothing and more. Exhibits, including a huge map of the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.
    * Mount Pisgah - Used to be part of the Biltmore Estate.
    * Looking Glass Rock - Can be seen starting at Mount Pisgah.
    * East Fork Overlook - Yellowstone Falls is a not far away.
    * Black Balsam Knob - A grassy bald with panoramic views near Shining Rock Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest.
    * Waterrock Knob - A great view of the Great Smoky Mountains.
    * The Southern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway intersects with U.S. 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I you get the chance to ride at least part of the Blue Ridge Parkway - take it! This is one road you don't want to miss!