Travel the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited park within the National Park System, with over six hundred million visitors since April 1939. The Parkway runs 469 miles from Rockfish Gap at the southern end of the Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive and ends in the Great Smoky Mountains. For 355 miles the Parkway runs through the Appalachians in Virginia, south through the Black Mountains, the Craggies, the Pisgah's, the Balsams and the Smokies for the remaining 114 miles.

In 1933 plans for the Blue Ridge Parkway were in place and the surveying had begun. This was an amazing undertaking as there were few roads where equipment could approach the construction area. The Parkway was to be constructed leaving as few scars upon the land as possible and was meant to blend it to the mountains. There are 26 tunnels and dozens of bridges on the Parkway. The road climbs to over 6000 ft. at the Richard Balsam Overlook, in North Carolina. The lowest point above sea level that the Parkway travels is just over 600 ft. at the James River Visitors Center in Virginia.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is free to travel and with its natural beauty and pioneering history, it is the perfect place to vacation and get away from the everyday worries of the hi-tech life that so many of us live these days. The gristmills split rail fences, weathered cabins and all of its history will send you back to more simple times. Wildlife is plentiful and wildflowers bloom from April until first frost.

Along the Parkway there are nine sites developed to provide the traveler with information, restrooms, lodging, food, and hiking. Fees are charged on a pay per night basis for camping and campgrounds are open from May to November with winter camping occasionally available. There are no electrical hook-ups or showers available, however, restrooms, drinking water and RV dump stations are provided. While you may reserve rooms at the lodges, campsites are on a first come first serve basis.

Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway from north to south the first developed area that you will come to will be Humpback Rocks Visitors Center at milepost 5.8. Here, you will find information pertaining to the Parkway and events in the surrounding areas. Humpback Rocks has an excellent exhibit displaying some of the day to day events of pioneering times where, on occasion there will be programs relating to the same with park rangers wearing period costumes. Approximately 3 miles south of Humpback Rocks you will come to the picnic area (milepost 8.5).

Next at milepost 60.8 is Otter Creek. Here you will find a campground, hiking trails, restaurant and gift shop. The campground is divided in to a tent section and RV section. From Memorial Day until till Labor Day there are nightly campfire programs with story telling singing and programs on mountain life, wildlife and wildflowers. No reservations are taken for camping as it is on a first come basis. There is a charge, per night, per site of $12.00 for 2 adults and $2.00 for additional adult and children camp for free (accompanied by an adult). The Otter Creek runs parallel the campground south to the James River Visitors Center on the banks of the James River. At the restaurant you can enjoy beautiful views of Otter Creek, some good country cooking and friendly employees. There is also a small gift shop where you can pickup mementos of your visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As we continue our journey south on the parkway, at milepost 86 you’ll find the Peaks Of Otter. Here the Peaks Of Otter Lodge sits on a small lake. The lodge has a restaurant, which overlooks the lake, as do most of the sixty-four rooms. The restaurant is known for its wonderful meals and friendly atmosphere. There is a gift shop at the entrance of the restaurant filled with works by local artisans. It is best to call ahead for reservations, especially during holidays and the fall color season. Across the lake hidden in the trees is the campground with 92 tent sites and 52 sites for trailers and RV’s. There’s a short trail from the campground to the camp-store where you will find camping supplies and snacks. Here there is also a concession run bus that will take you to within 1500 ft. of the summit of Sharp Top Mountain. The bus runs from late spring through early fall. For the young and adventuress, there is a rugged trail to the top. Within an easy walk from the lodge or campground is the visitor’s center with exhibits information and books for sale some of which are by local writers, concerning local folklore, mountain cooking and recipes and old folk songs among other subjects. Next to the visitors center is a gas station, which is the only gas station that you will find on the parkway.

Roanoke Mountain, at milepost 120.3, offers camping with 74 sites for tents and 31 sites for trailers. Spring through fall at the campground offers Sunday evening mountain music programs and stories told by a ranger. The interpretive programs run through the summer. There are various trails here that are easily walked by most folks. Nearby, there is the Explorer Park. Opened year-round, this living history and wilderness park, holds events that the entire family can get evolved in. You can access Explorer Park from the parkway at milepost 115.

Continuing south, at milepost 167.1, you come to Rocky Knob. With a visitors center and campground which host 81 tent sites and 28 trailer sites. On summer weekends there are interpretive programs around the 100- capacity campfire circle. At milepost 174.1 there are several concession-run housekeeping cabins. The “Rocky Knob” cabins - as they are known - are fully furnished and has electric kitchens. From there at milepost at milepost 176.2 is Mabry Mill with a restaurant and coffee and gift shops. Mabry Mill has an old whiskey still, black smithy and a wheelwright’s Shop. In the summer months there are special events, educational demonstrations and the traditional Sunday afternoon gathering for music and dance.

Leaving Rocky Knob, you will soon reach milepost 217.5 where you will find, Cumberland Knob. There is no lodging here however, exiting the parkway at milepost 215.8 or 217.3 will lead to nearby towns with food and lodging. There is a visitor’s center and bookstore a picnic area with 33 sites and the Blue Ridge Music Center. There are 2 trails and fishing in the Chestnut Creek area, milepost 215 - 217. A Virginia or North Carolina fishing license is needed. You should also check with a ranger as to any special regulations.

As you continue to travel south on the parkway, you will come to, Doughton Park. Here you will find, Bluffs Lodge, a concession-operated, 24-room lodge with private baths, food service and small shop. The campgrounds near the lodge at milepost 239. host 110 tent sites and 24 trailer sites. As most campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are interpretive talks around the campfire. There is a visitor’s center, with a small coffee shop and store nearby. There is fishing in the, Basin Cove complex (milepost 238 - 244) which is stoked with Brook and Rainbow Trout. A North Carolina or Virginia fishing license is required and you should check with a ranger for any special regulations. There are many hiking trails in the area of Doughton Park, some more difficult than others are. Just south of Doughton Park at milepost 258 you will find the Northwest Trading Post. This is a craft store filled with handicrafts of the Appalachian Mountain culture. This is a place where you must stop on your Blue Ridge Parkway adventure.

Beginning at milepost 292.7 you will enter the Moses H Cone/ Julian Price parks, which encompasses the largest developed area along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many recreational activities such as, camping and picnic areas, hiking and horse trails, daily guided walks, fishing and boating, evening campfire programs and mountain handicraft demonstrations. The campground at Julian Price Memorial Park, (milepost 297) is the largest campground on the parkway. The visitor’s center (milepost 304) is located in Flat Top Manor; (the estate of Moses H. Cone) houses a bookstore, craft center and information desk. There is a picnic area with 100 sites at milepost 296.4. There are many hiking and horse trails within the Price/Cone parks. Some of the hiking trails are quite rugged.

At milepost 316.4 is Linville Falls, which is a sequence of beautiful and very impressive waterfalls that conclude deep in Linville Gorge. There is a trail leading down into the gorge. In this area you are in an extremely scarce virgin forest of Hemlocks and White Pines. There is a campground that offers 50 tent sites and 20 trailer sites. During the summer there are interpretive talks around the campfire circle. Across the river there is a picnic area with 100 sites. There is a visitor’s center at milepost 316.4 with trail maps, information and publications. You will find a number of good trails here. Some of the trails are extremely strenuous and some are a casual walk in the woods. Fishing is allowed in, Camp Creek (milepost 313 - 317) and in the Linville River at milepost 317. A North Carolina or Virginia is accepted and as always check with a ranger for special regulations.

Leaving Linville Falls, we find Crabtree Meadows (milepost 339.5). Crabtree Meadows is the last stop while you are in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Near milepost 354 you enter the Black Mountains. The parkway runs through the Black Mountain range the, Great Craggies and ends in the Smoky Mountains. At Crabtree Meadows, there is a campground with 71 tent sites and 22 trailer sites. You will also find a restaurant and gift shop, and during the summer, the Crabtree Meadows Coffee Shop, with a camp store and souvenir shop is open. There is a picnic area at milepost 340.2. There are also the traditional interpretive programs at the amphitheater throughout the summer. The Crabtree Falls loop trail to beautiful Crabtree Falls and back, though this is a laborious walk, it is well worth it. Prior to reaching Crabtree Meadows, there is another place worth checking out, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals with a visitors center and exhibits.

Craggy Gardens at milepost 364.6 has a small visitor’s center with a bookstore and exhibits telling the natural history of the Craggy Gardens area. At milepost 367.6 there is a picnic area with 86 sites. In mid too late June Craggy Gardens emerges into a purple haze with the rhododendron in bloom. There are many trails for hikers big and small to take advantage of. Some of the trails are fairly short and easy to hike and others are somewhat longer and more difficult. One trail of note that passes through the Craggy Gardens area is the Mountains to Sea Trail. The Mountains to Sea Trail, when completed will run from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Next stop along the Parkway is Ashville North Carolina, milepost 380. Ashville is where park headquarters are located. There is plenty of lodging in Ashville, however there are none in this area on the parkway. A must visit here at milepost 382 is The Folk Art Center. Featured here are exhibits and demonstrations, National Park Service information desk and bookstore and craft sales. The Folk Art Center is open year-round. Another place to visit is the Southern Highlands Folk Art Center. The Allanstand gift shop, operated by The Southern Highland Craft Guild and sponsors year-round demonstrations of traditional and contemporary crafts.

Nearly 28.5 miles south we come to Mount Pisgah at milepost 408.6. With 52 rooms a gift shop and restaurant the Pisgah Inn sets at near 5000 ft. above sea level. The serenity and views from the Pisgah Inn are unsurpassed on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is a campground at milepost 408.7. There are 70 tent sites and 67 sites for trailers and in the summer months there are interpretive programs. There is a camp store with a gift shop. The picnic area is at milepost 407.8 with 50 sites. There are numerous trails some easy and some rather strenuous. If you have an interest in forestry or history, you need to visit the Cradle of Forestry in America; it is only 4 miles off the Parkway on U.S. 276 - milepost 411.8.

Waterrock Knob, milepost 451.2, offers a beautiful panorama of the Great Smoky Mountains. There is a visitor’s center with exhibits and a trail. At milepost 458.2 is, Heintooga Overlook. The overlook can be found of a spur road 1.3 miles from the parkway and is a mile high. Milepost 469 marks the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains. This is also the Cherokee Reservation.

If you ever have the time to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway at any point you will not be disappointed and if you ever have the time to leisurely drive the entire Parkway you will not want to leave and you will come back time after time...