I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway was my backyard; I spent my childhood exploring its misty mountains, blue like faded denim.
As an adult, I was fortunate enough to land a job in the Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I hiked its mountains and taught other people to love them as I did. Here is some of what I learned.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a roadway that snakes through some of the oldest mountains on Earth. Once as high and sharp as the Himalayas, time has smoothed these peaks into rolling ridges.
That much time will alter living things too: the Blue Ridge Mountains are among the most biodiverse of any mountain range. Time and isolation has given the species living here the opportunity to diverge along their own paths.
For example, there are at least 43 distinct species of salamander living along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most diverse array of salamanders on the planet.
The Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t as high in elevation as the North Carolina section, and it’s a little more developed in places. It is still beautiful and packed with hidden treasures.
These are my top ten favorite stops on the Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Note: Stops are listed south to north, but the parkway can be driven and enjoyed from either direction.
Stop 1: Mile 213, Blue Ridge Music Center
There are many cultural sites managed by the parkway, and the Blue Ridge Music Center is a popular one. Located in Virginia just across the state border from North Carolina, the museum celebrates the music that blossomed in these mountains.
The Blue Ridge Music Center is open seasonally and hosts concerts at its outdoor amphitheater; check the park website for a schedule. Most days when the center is open you’ll find musicians jamming on the covered patio outside, and the museum itself is fascinating window into mountain culture, even if you aren’t a mountain music fan.
Stop 2: Mile 176.1, Mabry Mill
The Mabry Mill village is a scattering of historic buildings plucked from nearby mountains and organized into a tiny settlement. Once a working gristmill, the historic mill by a pond is a favorite parkway photo.
Stop and take pictures, and explore the various buildings, which in summer and fall house craftspeople demonstrating traditional skills, like blacksmithing.
Just north past Mabry Mill, at Mile 170, is Rocky Knob Visitor Center, open seasonally, and offering a stunning view of Rock Castle Gorge below (a valley full of beautiful hiking trails).
Stop 3: Mile 129.6, Roanoke Valley Overlook
Roanoke is the largest community along the parkway. As you coast down into Roanoke Valley, stop at any of the overlooks to get a picturesque view of the city from above. This is one of my favorite regions of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as the roadway is edged with rocks and trees that make it feel hidden and natural, even with the city in view.
Stop 4: Mile 115.1, Explore Park
Explore Park is a county park just off the parkway near Roanoke. It’s braided with hiking trails, which take you on a casual stroll past historic cabins and along the Roanoke River. There’s a zipline, abundant camping, and the visitor center is open year-round and houses a replica map of the entire parkway.
Stop 5: Mile 100-90, Appalachian Trail
North of Roanoke, the parkway spirals up in elevation again. The roadway intertwines with the Appalachian Trail here; look for the white triangular signs marking AT crossings at overlooks. You can venture out along the top of the ridge for miles in either direction on one of these AT crossings; making them a beautiful place to stretch your legs.
Stop 6: Mile 95.4, Harvey’s Knob
In late summer and throughout the fall, thousands of migrating hawks and butterflies glide over Harvey’s Knob. For decades, bird enthusiasts have set up chairs at this overlook to count the birds soaring south to their wintering grounds.
In autumn, here you will see a cluster of cars and people with binoculars in camping chairs, even on bad weather days. Stop and chat with them about what they’ve seen, and wait a while–you may catch a glimpse of a hawk or eagle wheeling overhead.
Stop 7: Mile 84-87, Peaks of Otter
Peaks of Otter boasts a small visitor center with an interesting natural history collection, a lakeside lodge with restaurant, and plenty of hiking. It’s a short, fairly flat hike around Abbott Lake. Johnson Farm, with a historically furnished farmhouse and vegetable garden in summer, is a 1.8 mile (2.9 km) loop hike from the lodge.
Nearby Sharp Top, a popular viewpoint, is accessible via a steep mountain hike or a shuttle.
Stop 8: Mile 78, Apple Orchard Falls
If you’re looking for a moderately difficult hike to a beautiful waterfall, add Apple Orchard Falls to your itinerary. The falls are accessible from a few different trailheads and can be combined into a longer loop hike, but the easiest access point is from the Sunset Field Overlook at Mile 78.
The trail winds down, with plenty of slippery rock steps, which makes coming back up a grind. The falls are some of the prettiest along the parkway, though, and wildflowers line the trail in spring.
Stop 9: Mile 63.8, James River
James River and its neighbor Otter Creek just to the north are beautiful spots to stop and enjoy the waterways along the parkway. Explore a short nature trail above the river, and cross the James River via a pedestrian bridge.
The parkway in this region of Virginia is nestled within national forest, keeping it green and wild. Take time to hike, camp, or take photos of one of the most forested areas of Virginia.
Stop 10: Mile 5-9.3, Humpback Rocks
At the top of the parkway are a small visitor center, more historic buildings, and some stunning views. Hike the steep but less-than-a-mile trail to view The Rocks from above.
At the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway is Shenandoah National Park, a can’t miss patch of mountain greenery not far from the bustle of Washington, DC. Here the Blue Ridge Mountains end, but the next Appalachian range, the Shenandoahs, is just beginning.
Check out Where to Stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway: North Carolina for more parkway tips.