Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a special road in the United States known for its beautiful views. It is the longest straight park in the country, stretching 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina. It connects Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, running along the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the larger Appalachian Mountains.

This parkway is very popular and has been the most visited part of the National Park System almost every year since 1946. The land on both sides of the road is cared for by the National Park Service, and there is no charge to drive on it. However, big commercial vehicles need special permission to use it.

There are many places to stop along the way, like a folk art center and a visitor center near Asheville, North Carolina. You can also find places to park for hiking trails and campgrounds to stay overnight. The road can be closed in winter because of snow, so it’s best to check the weather before visiting.

Route description

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful road that runs for 469 miles (755 km) through Virginia and North Carolina in the United States. It connects Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, following the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most of the road is a two-lane expressway with controlled access, meaning there are interchanges with local roads but no direct access to interstate highways. The road features many bridges, pull-offs, rest areas, and scenic overlooks. It avoids big cities and towns, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains and wildlife without heavy traffic.

The parkway has mileposts starting at zero in Virginia and ending at 469 in North Carolina. Along the way, you can find interesting spots like old farms, mountains, waterfalls, and forests. Some areas have short side roads to connect to other highways, so you can stop and enjoy the scenery without dealing with cross-traffic. The road was built to let people enjoy the views, with interchanges and grade separations designed to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Cold weather

Because much of the parkway is at high elevation, the weather can be colder, wetter, and windier than in the areas around it. The highest point on the parkway is 6,053 feet (1,845 m) above sea level. Some parts of the road may close temporarily during winter due to ice or for maintenance. The parkway limits the use of certain chemicals to melt ice, so some areas might stay closed for longer periods. During closures, alternative routes are used, but short-term closures might not have signed detours.

Highlights in Virginia

• Mile 0 at Rockfish Gap is the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, connecting directly to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
• Between miles 5 to 9.3, Humpback Rock has a trail through old farm buildings and a hiking trail to The Rocks.
• At mile 10.7, Ravens Roost offers views of Torry Mountain and the Shenandoah Valley, with a spot for rock climbing and hang gliding.
• Sherando Lake at mile 16 is a recreation area with swimming, picnicking, and camping.
• Whetstone Ridge at mile 29 provided sharpening stones for mountain people.
• Yankee Horse Ridge at mile 34.4 is where a soldier’s horse fell and had to be helped.
• Otter Creek from miles 58 to 63.6 has a lake for fishing and a trail along the river.
• The James River and Kanawha Canal at mile 63.8 has a footbridge to restored canal locks and exhibits.
• Onion Mountain at mile 71 has a short loop trail through rhododendron and mountain laurel.
• Fallingwater Cascades at mile 83.4 can be seen along a loop trail.
• Peaks of Otter from miles 84 to 87 are popular viewing sites, with a shuttle bus to Sharp Top.
• The Roanoke River Gorge is visible after a short walk from mile 114.9.
• Roanoke Mountain at mile 120.4 has a side trip road over the mountain.
• Roanoke Valley Overlook at mile 129.6 gives a view of the largest city along the parkway.
• Smart View at mile 154.5 is named for its great view and has a cabin from the 1890s.
• Rocky Knob Recreation Area from miles 167 to 174 overlooks Rock Castle Gorge.
• Mabry Mill at mile 176.1 was a working mill from 1910 to 1935, with demonstrations of old skills in the summer and fall.
• Groundhog Mountain at miles 188.8 and 189.1 has various types of fences and picnic grounds.
• Aunt Orelena Puckett Cabin Exhibit at mile 189.9 was the home of a local midwife.

Highlights in North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses into North Carolina at mile 216.9.

• Cumberland Knob at mile 217.5 is the centerpiece of a small recreation area.
• Fox Hunters Paradise at mile 218.6 is where hunters could listen to their hounds.
• Brinegar Cabin at mile 238.5 is an old homestead built around 1880.
• Doughton Park from miles 238.5 to 244.7 has hiking trails, a lodge, and a campground.
• Northwest Trading Post at mile 258.6 offers crafts from North Carolina’s northwestern counties.
• Jumpinoff Rock at mile 260.6 is at the end of a short woodland trail.
• The Lump at mile 264.4 is a grassy hill with views of the foothills.
• E. B. Jeffress Park at mile 272 has trails to a waterfall, an old cabin, and a church.
• Daniel Boone’s Trace at mile 285.1 marks where Boone blazed a trail to the West.
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Park from miles 292 to 295 has hiking, fishing, and horse trails, with Flat Top Manor used as a craft center.
• Julian Price Memorial Park from miles 295.1 to 298 has hiking trails, a campground, and Price Lake, the only lake on the parkway where paddling is allowed.
• Linn Cove Viaduct at mile 304.4 is the last segment of the parkway built, skirting Grandfather Mountain.
• Flat Rock at mile 308.3 offers views of Grandfather Mountain and Linville Valley.
• Linville Falls Recreation Area at mile 316.3 has trails with overlooks of Linville Falls and the Linville Gorge, along with a campground and picnic area.
• The Museum of North Carolina Minerals at mile 331 interprets the state’s mineral wealth.
• Crabtree Meadows & Crabtree Falls from mile 339.5 has a picnic area, campground, gift shop, and hiking trails.
• Laurel Knob at mile 349.2 provides views of several mountains.
• Mount Mitchell State Park at mile 355.4 is the highest point east of the Mississippi River.
• Walker Knob at mile 359.8 is where the Black Mountains and the Great Craggy Mountains meet.
• Glassmine Falls at mile 361.2 is an 800-foot waterfall visible from an overlook.
• Craggy Gardens from miles 363.4 to 369.6 are covered with purple rhododendron in mid-to-late June.
• The Folk Art Center at mile 382 is the main facility of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, offering sales and exhibits of traditional and contemporary crafts.
• The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at mile 384 is the newest along the parkway, with exhibits about its history and heritage.
• Mount Pisgah at mile 408.6 was part of the Biltmore Estate and home to the first forestry school in America.
• Looking Glass Rock at mile 417 can be seen from many spots on the parkway.
• East Fork Overlook at mile 418 has the headwaters of the Pigeon River.
• Shining Rock Wilderness at mile 420.2 is the largest wilderness area in North Carolina, with many trails and high peaks.
• Black Balsam Knob at mile 420.2 is a grassy area with panoramic views.
• Devil’s Courthouse at mile 422.4 is a mountaintop rich in Cherokee traditions.
• Herrin Knob Overlook at mile 423.5 has a hiking trail around Tanasee Bald.
• Richland Balsam at mile 431 is the highest point on the parkway, with a trail through a spruce-fir forest.
• Licklog Ridge at mile 435.7 was once used by cattlemen.
• Waterrock Knob at mile 451.2 offers views of the Great Smokies and has a visitor center.
• Heintooga Ridge Road at mile 458.2 leads to Heintooga Overlook in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Mile 469 is the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, intersecting with U.S. Route 441 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina.

History

The Blue Ridge Parkway began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the idea, called the Appalachian Scenic Highway. The plan was to connect Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some wanted it to go into Tennessee, but Josephus Daniels helped choose the route through North Carolina instead.

Construction started in 1935 in North Carolina and soon after in Virginia. The National Park Service took charge in 1936. Many people helped build it, including workers from different government programs. The parkway created jobs but also changed life for local residents, who had new rules about building and using their land.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians lived on some of the land where the parkway was built. They worked to keep good terms with the government and got some benefits.

Building the parkway took more than 52 years, finishing in 1966 except for one part that opened in 1987. Storms caused closures in later years.

Proposed extension

In 1961, a plan was made to extend the parkway from North Carolina toward Atlanta, Georgia. The idea was to go through beautiful spots like Whiteside Mountain and Bridal Veil Falls. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill for this extension in 1967, but problems with costs and environmental worries stopped the project. It was officially cancelled in 1985, and no building ever started.

Ecology

The Blue Ridge Parkway is full of beautiful plants. In spring, you can see many colorful shrubs and wildflowers like rhododendrons and dogwoods. These flowers start in the valleys and move up the mountains as it gets warmer. Smaller flowers such as the daisy and aster bloom throughout the summer.

In autumn, the leaves on the mountaintops turn brilliant colors in September, and by October, the colors move down to the valleys. During October, the colorful leaves look very beautiful.

The parkway has many kinds of trees. At lower areas, you’ll find oak, hickory, and tulip tree. Middle areas have buckeye and ash, and higher up, there are conifers like fir and spruce. Trees near the ridges and peaks often look twisted because of the strong wind.

Unfortunately, the parkway has also been a path for some plants that are not native, like oriental bittersweet.

Major intersections

Tunnels

There are 26 tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway. One tunnel, the Bluff Mountain Tunnel, is in Virginia, and twenty-five are in North Carolina.

These tunnels were built to fit the land and protect the scenery. They were mainly dug in hilly areas where the road needed to go straight. Most of the work was done by hand in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Special tools were used to drill holes, and dynamite helped break the rock.

The Pine Mountain Tunnel is the longest, stretching 1,434 feet (437 meters). The Ferrin Knob Tunnels are three tunnels close together.

Gallery

Tunnel construction 1930s

Bluff Mountain Tunnel

Craggy Flats Tunnel

Devil's Courthouse Tunnel

Young Pisgah Ridge Tunnel

Fryingpan Tunnel

Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel

Twin Tunnels

Grassy Knob Tunnel

Bunche's Bald Tunnel

Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel

Little Switzerland Tunnel

Rough Ridge Tunnel