I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, near the Blue Ridge Parkway. On weekends my family would take drives through the mountains, to waterfalls or for picnics at scenic overlooks.
On these trips, I sieved mud to find tiny, colorful stones at tourist gem mines, drank hot chocolate at the chilly summit of Mount Mitchell, and tilted my head to try to see the old man’s profile on Grandfather Mountain.
When I was twelve, we moved. Ever since, I’ve come to associate my childhood with the parkway and its hazy ridges, stretching on and on into a blue infinity.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited national park site in the United States, most years just edging out another popular roadway, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The parkway is easily accessible and breathtakingly beautiful.
Though the entire parkway is only 469 miles, they are slow, meandering miles that you will want to take your time to explore. While you could blow through the entire parkway in a few days, I would recommend taking 10-14 days to explore it entirely.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is meant to be savored; its curves and countless scenic overlooks were designed to slow visitors down and mesmerize them with natural beauty.
The parkway twists through the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. There are plenty of breathtaking stops along the North Carolina stretch of the parkway, but below are ten of my personal favorites, starting at the bottom and heading north.
Stop 1: Mile 469, Southern End
The southern end (or beginning of the parkway, depending on which direction you’re headed), is adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This visitor center is the southeastern terminus of the park, nestled in a wooded valley, where you can find a tiny historic farm, a robust herd of elk, and access to the nearby Cherokee Reservation.
From the visitor center, take the turnoff for the Blue Ridge Parkway, and stop to photograph the sign marking its end, at Mile 469.
The southernmost section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the highest in elevation, the most remote, and boasts the most spectacular scenery. It’s also less trafficked, so a great place to enjoy some alone time in nature.
Stop 2: Mile 451.2, Waterrock Knob
Waterrock Knob at 6,273 ft (1912 meters) is the highest point along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a short hike, only about a mile (1.6 km) roundtrip, from the visitor center parking lot to the summit, though the trail is steep. In spring the trail is lined with blooming azaleas, rhododendrons, and wildflowers.
The visitor center itself is the highest on the parkway and doesn’t have running water. The views from both the visitor center and Knob summit are stunning, making it a great place to stop for a break and take in the scenery.
Stop 3: Mile 431, Richland Balsam
Richard Balsam is the highest point you can drive to on the parkway, so stop and take a photo at the stone sign. This section of road–between Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Mount Pisgah–features the most iconic views of the parkway mountains. Endless ridges, all varying shades of slate blue, receding into the distance–this is by far the most spectacular section of the entire parkway.
Take your time, stop at overlooks, snap dozens of pictures that all look the same. This is the part of the parkway that feels the most like you have left civilization entirely and been transported to another planet. It’s difficult to find such remote, mountainous, natural beauty in the eastern United States. Don’t take it for granted.
Stop 4: Mile 408.6, Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah has a hotel, restaurant, store, picnic area, and numerous trails, both short and long. It’s the most developed area of the parkway south of Asheville, and it’s a lovely spot to spend some time, especially if you like your mountain views with a side of clean sheets or a glass of wine.
Stop 5: Around Mile 408-390, Tunnels south of Asheville
Snaking your way north of Mount Pisgah toward Asheville, you will pass through a collection of 25 short stone tunnels. Like much of the stonework along the parkway, these tunnels are works of art inspired by the unique culture and rustic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And they are a rare treat: these 25 tunnels make up about a third of all stone tunnels maintained across the entire US National Park Service.
Stop 6: Mile 355.4, Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, making it the highest among the ancient peaks of the Appalachian Range. You can drive or hike to its top by venturing off the parkway into Mount Mitchell State Park, north of Asheville.
Asheville itself is a special city, full of art, creativity, and good food and drink. I would recommend spending some time here, including a stop at the main Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Mile 384.
Stop 7: Mile 316.3, Linville Falls
Linville Falls is one of the most thunderous and pretty waterfalls along the parkway, and it’s not a long hike either. A few forested trails take you out to various views of the falls. It’s one of my favorite spots–if you like waterfalls or misty hikes through wet, green woods, don’t miss a trip to Linville Falls.
Stop 8: Mile 304.4, Linn Cove Viaduct
The Linn Cove Viaduct is an iconic parkway sight, and you’ll want to stop to appreciate the view. It’s a National Civil Engineering Landmark, so complicated a challenge that it wasn’t completed until 1983, nearly fifty years after construction of the parkway was first begun. The Viaduct is a massive bridge, built to protect the environment of Grandfather Mountain, which it arcs around.
Stop 9: Around Mile 300, Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain stretches out like an elderly man reclining on his back. The mountain is one of the most popular sights along the parkway, as everyone wants to twist their neck to view the old man’s profile.
To visit the mountain, exit the parkway and follow signs to Grandfather Mountain Nature Park, where the mountain’s summit and small visitor center, trails, and mile-high swinging bridge are accessible for a fee. There is also a state park nearby with good hiking.
Stop 10: Mile 295-298, Julian Price Memorial Park
Price Lake at Julian Price Memorial Park is a lovely place to take a short hike or paddle. This section of the parkway has many trails of varying lengths–it’s one of the most popular stretches of the parkway for day hikes, with its proximity to the picturesque mountain town of Boone.
I would recommend spending a day or two in Boone, and exploring the trails along this section of parkway, before venturing north to the Virginia half of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
