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A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is slow paced and relaxing. Almost any overlook or trail will reveal much of the natural and cultural history here. Explore the many communities along the route that make our region so special. Enjoy the view, but watch the road!
Generally, the Parkway sections of North Carolina are higher in elevation and more rugged in their beauty. The road itself reaches over 6,000 feet south of Asheville. From Milepost 355 south, the Parkway leaves the Blue Ridge and follows other mountain chains into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park headquarters is in Asheville, NC and there are five campgrounds, six visitor centers, two lodges and three restaurants thoughout the North Carolina section. From north to south, here are the major developed areas that offer opportunities for Parkway visitors.
Cumberland Knob - Located near the state line, Cumberland Knob was the site where construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began in 1935. It was the the first recreation area to be opened to the public, and is still a favorite destination for both locals and visitors. The mixture of lush woodlands and open fields, housing a variety of birds and other wildlife, is ideal for leisurely walks or a more demanding hike to nearby Gully Creek. Visitor Center, Picnic Area, and close proximity to Sparta, NC and Galax, VA.
Doughton Park - This landscape of open meadows is a place to view wildlife and get a feel for the lives of those who lived here long ago. Doughton Park is one of the best places along the motor road to view white-tailed deer, raccoons, red and grey foxes, and bobcats, as well as spectacular shows of flame azalea and rhododendron in the late spring. Bluffs Lodge is open during the summer season along with a restaurant and gas station. For reservations at the lodge call (336) 372-4499 or click here to check out their web site. There is a campground with ranger talks during the summer season. Hiking opportunities range from a short hike at Fodder Stack Trail to the strenuous 7.5 mile Bluff Mountain Trail. Visit the Brinegar Cabin to see craft demonstrations or hike into Basin Cove to view the Caudill Family Homestead. The Northwest Trading Post at Milepost 258 has a wide variety of craft items and souvenirs for sale from this part of North Carolina.
Moses H. Cone and Julian Price Memorial Parks - The late 19th century saw the emergence of a new upper class, composed of those men who had made their fortunes in the Gilded Age. Textile entrepreneur Moses H. Cone purchased 3,600 acres of land near Blowing Rock and built one of North Carolina's premier turn-of-the-century country estates. Julian Price, an insurance executive, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, bought thousands of acres of land to create a retreat for the employees of the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. Both the Cone and Price lands were later given to the Parkway. Today the combined parkland comprises the largest developed area along the Parkway. It offers a wide variety of recreational activities, including miles of hiking and horse trails, boating and fishing, camping and picnic areas, mountain handicraft demonstrations and sales, and daily guided walks and evening campfire programs.
The largest campground on the Parkway is located at Julian Price Memorial Park along with one of the more popular picnic areas. Interpretive programs, fishing, boat rentals for Pice Lake, and an extensive trail system including the Tanawha Trail across the face of Grandfather Mountain make for a delightful Parkway visit.
The Moses Cone estate, Flat Top Manor, houses the Parkway's official craft center, along with a book sales area. A family cemetery, carriage and apple barn, and an extensive system of carriage trails offer opportunity for a unique Parkway visit.
The Linn Cove Viaduct hugs the face of Grandfather Mountain and is recognized internationally as an engineering marvel. This was the last section of the Parkway to be completed and a model of the construction technique highlights a visit to the Linn Cove Visitor Center.
Several motels and bed-and-breakfast inns are located in or near Boone and Blowing Rock, just off of the Parkway.
Linville Falls - Linville Falls is a beautiful series of dramatic falls that drop to a deep gorge, accessed by a trail lined with rare virgin stands of white pine, and hemlock. The area around the Falls is one of the few places in these mountains where the Rosebay, Catawba, and Carolina Rhododendron grow side by side. A campground and picnic area along the Linville River are among the most popular on the Parkway. The various trails here include the short walk up Duggers Creek and more strenuous walks along the Linville Gorge. There is a visitor center here and a number of off-the-Parkway motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, and campgrounds.
Crabtree Meadows & Museum of North Carolina Minerals - Crabtree Meadows marks the last stretch of the Parkway through the Blue Ridge Mountains before it turns westward into the Blacks, Craggies, Pisgahs and Balsams before entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In the early summer, the Meadows becomes a showplace of wildflowers, including the hawthorne, beard tongue, mountain laurel, and gentian. The enterprising visitor can even hike the steep trail down to Crabtree Falls - as long as they are prepared for the quite strenuous climb back up! Campground, Picnic area, restaurant and gift shop, and a number of off-Parkway motels and bed-and-breakfast inns are available.
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals has been recently renovated and provides educational and exciting exhibits about the geology of the region and the history of mining in the Spruce Pine, NC area.
Craggy Gardens - June and July are the months to visit this spectacular showplace of Catawba rhododendron and other late-blooming wildflowers. Long after the blooms have been spent on the lower elevations, the violets, blackberry, May-apple, and Turkscap lily come into their own in this high-altitude portion of the Parkway. This heath bald is only one of many throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains; the name refers to the bald appearance of the mountaintop, which is in reality covered with grasses or mountain shrubbery. There is a visitor center, picnic area, and a variety of trails including the Craggy Pinnacle Trail, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding heath bald and rhododendron display.
Asheville - Asheville can be said to be the "home" of the Parkway since the park headquarters is located here at Milepost 382. Asheville is also one of the more scenic cities along the road, and is a favorite destination for visitors who want a taste of town life while on their mountain holiday. Many accomodations, ranging from bed-and-breakfast inns to luxury hotels are available in Asheville, along with the Biltmore Estate. The Parkway's Folk Art Center is open year round and features craft sales, exhibits, and demonstrations. Access to the Mountains-to-the-Sea trail is also available.
Mount Pisgah - In the late 1800's industrialist George Washington Vanderbilt, while building his grand Biltmore Estate in Asheville, purchased Mount Pisgah and thousands of surrounding acres for a private hunting retreat for family and friends. The nearby 16-mile Shut-In Trail (a National Recreation Trail) is part of a longer route that Vanderbilt originally created for his hunting parties. Today the area adjoining the Parkway is part of the Pisgah National Forest and is still playing host to nature enthusiasts. Mount Pisgah has the distinction of having by far the highest elevation of any developed area along the Parkway. Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions. Campground, picnic area, an extensive trail system, and closeby to the US Forest Service's Cradle of Forestry. Pisgah Inn, at almost 5,000 feet elevation, offers views and solitude like no other place on the Parkway. Click here for more information or for reservations.
Waterrock Knob - An ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunsets across the rugged mountains, Waterrock Knob Visitor Center sits at almost 6,000 feet elevation. Exhibits, book sales, and a trail leading to the summit of Waterrock Knob await the Parkway visitor.
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