Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia and North Carolina National Park S e r v i c e / U . S . Department of the Interior William A Bake The Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles along the crests of the Southern Appalachians and links two eastern national parks—Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. Parkway Information Parkway Highlights in Virginia How to Use this Folder The major points of interest along the parkway are listed at the right by milepost from the northern end in Virginia to the southern end in North Carolina. In this column, for the length of the folder, are informational notes pertaining to the whole parkway. A chart showing visitor services is located in the central part of the folder. Mile 0 Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, Virginia, is t h e n o r t h e r n e n d of t h e B l u e R i d g e Parkway. To t h e n o r t h t h e p a r k w a y c o n n e c t s d i r e c t l y to S k y l i n e Drive, w h i c h w i n d s 105 miles t h r o u g h S h e n a n d o a h N a t i o n a l Park. U.S. 2 5 0 and I-64 take y o u to C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e to t h e east and S t a u n t o n to t h e west. white pine 5 to 9.3 Humpback Rocks has a selfg u i d i n g trail t h r o u g h a r e c o n s t r u c t e d m o u n tain f a r m s t e a d . A h i k i n g trail f r o m t h e parking area (at m i l e 6.1) leads 0.75 mile to T h e Rocks, w h o s e h u m p e d appearance gives t h e area its n a m e . G r e e n s t o n e s e l f - g u i d i n g trail (8.8). fire cherry Trees, trees, trees are nearly everywhere. And come fall, many of them burst into color. Dogwood, sourwood, and blackgum turn deep red in late September. Tulip-trees and hickories turn bright yellow, sassafras a vivid orange, and red maples add their multi-colored brilliance. Finally various oaks put on a dash of russet and maroon. Evergreen trees include Virginia pine, white pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir. 10.7 Ravens Roost offers vistas of Torry M o u n t a i n and t h e S h e n a n d o a h to t h e w e s t . 16 Sherando Lake is a r e c r e a t i o n area in G e o r g e Washington National Forest 4.5 miles f r o m t h e p a r k w a y v i a Va. 8 1 4 . S w i m m i n g , picnicking, camping. 2 9 Whetstone Ridge p r o v i d e d m a n y a mountain man with a fine-grained sharpening s t o n e . 3 4 . 4 Yankee Horse s u p p o s e d l y is w h e r e a h a r d - r i d i n g U n i o n man's horse fell and had to be shot. S e e a r e c o n s t r u c t e d spur of an o l d l o g g i n g railroad by w a l k i n g to W i g w a m Falls. daisy and rose day lily 5 8 to 6 3 . 6 Otter Creek runs 10 miles d o w n t h e B l u e R i d g e to t h e J a m e s River. O t t e r s don't play h e r e a n y m o r e , but p e o p l e d o . O t t e r Lake (63.1), f i s h i n g , trail. 6 3 . 8 A t t h e J a m e s River and Kanawha Canal a f o o t b r i d g e leads across t h e river to t h e restored canal locks and e x h i b i t s . A selfg u i d i n g trail g o e s a l o n g t h e river bluff. 7 1 Petites Gap is n a m e d for a local family. T h e road to t h e w e s t g o e s to Cave M o u n t a i n Lake, 7 miles away, in J e f f e r s o n N a t i o n a l Forest. S w i m m i n g , p i c n i c k i n g , c a m p i n g . 79.7 Onion Mountain's short loop trail takes y o u t h r o u g h r h o d o d e n d r o n and m o u n t a i n laurel, w h i c h b l o o m in early J u n e . black-eyed susan mountain laurel flame azalea ^ 4P "" wild bergamot Flowering shrubs put on a springtime show that rivals the display of trees in fall. Because of the range in elevation from 649 to 6,053 feet, peak blooming occurs at different times and p l a c e s somewhat earlier in Virginia than North Carolina. Flame azalea is at its best south of Roanoke to Rocky Knob about mid-May and in the high mountains west of Asheville about mid-June. Mountain laurel blooms along Otter Creek in mid-May and elsewhere on the parkway in the first two weeks of June. Dense thickets of catawba rhododendron turn purple north of Peaks of Otter to Onion Mountain and along the bluffs of Doughton Park the first week of June and in Craggy Gardens and through the Balsams after mid-June. Various wildflowers begin to bloom in April and continue into fall. meadow salsify turkeybeard 8 3 . 4 Fallingwater Cascades c a n be s e e n a l o n g a 1.6-mile l o o p trail. 8 4 to 8 7 Peaks of Otter has b e e n a p o p u l a r l o c a t i o n to s e e s p e c t a c u l a r v i e w s and s u n rises s i n c e t h e days of T h o m a s J e f f e r s o n . A s h u t t l e bus p r o v i d e s p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e to S h a r p Top. 1 1 4 . 9 Roanoke River Gorge o p e n s b e f o r e y o u f r o m t h e o v e r l o o k at t h e e n d of a 10m i n u t e walk. 1 2 9 . 6 Roanoke Overlook p r o v i d e s a p a n o ramic v i e w of t h e largest c o m m u n i t y a l o n g t h e p a r k w a y . T h e c i t y c a n be r e a c h e d via U.S. 2 2 0 (at 121), Va. 2 4 (at 112), and U.S. 4 6 0 (at 105). 154.5 Smart View is j u s t that; go to t h e Trail C a b i n b u i l t in t h e 1890s and y o u ' l l see "a right s m a r t v i e w , " e s p e c i a l l y in early M a y when the dogwoods bloom. 1 6 5 Flame Azaleas set t h e plateau ablaze in t o n e s f r o m y e l l o w to d e e p red in m i d - M a y . 1 2 0 . 3 Roanoke Mountain is a 3.7-mile side trip. T h e o n e - w a y l o o p road takes y o u o v e r t h e m o u n t a i n for i m p r e s s i v e v i e w s . S t e e p grades; towed vehicles prohibited. 167 to 174 Rocky Knob rises like the c r e s t ing of a w a v e to o v e r l o o k R o c k Castle G o r g e . Mabry Mill ox yoke 176.1 Mabry Mill was o p e r a t e d by E.B. M a b r y f r o m 1 9 1 0 to 1 9 3 5 . A trail takes y o u to his g r i s t m i l l , s a w m i l l , b l a c k s m i t h s h o p , and to o t h e r o u t d o o r e x h i b i t s . O l d - t i m e skills are d e m o n s t r a t e d in s u m m e r and fall. 1 8 8 . 8 Groundhog Mountain is a g o o d place to see d i f f e r e n t kinds of c o u n t r y f e n c e s snake, post a n d rail, p i c k e t , and b u c k . Picnic g r o u n d s and o b s e r v a t i o n t o w e r . The stories of the independent mountain people are told at many overlooks and facilities along the parkway, including Humpback Rocks, Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Brinegar Cabin, Northwest Trading Post, and the Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone Memorial Park. In the Asheville area, be sure to stop at the Folk Art Center for craft demonstrations and for general parkway information and trip planning. Visiting the Park The Blue Ridge Parkway, designed for motor recreation, is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, with headquarters at 200 BB&T Building, Asheville, NC 28801. The table, right, lists facilities and services for 22 primary sites. Most services are available from May 1 through October; limited campground facilities in winter. Sections of the parkway may be closed by snow or ice. Lodging. This service is provided along the parkway from May through October (except year round at Peaks of Otter Lodge). Reservations for lodging are advisable: Peaks of Otter Lodge—Virginia Peaks of Otter Co., Box 489, Bedford, VA 24523; Rocky Knob Cabins (June through Labor Day) —National Park Concessions, Inc., Meadows of Dan, VA 24120; Bluffs Lodge, Doughton Park—National Park Concessions, Inc., Laurel Springs, NC 286449716; and Pisgah Inn — Drawer 749, Waynesville, NC 28786. A wide range of accommodations also is available in nearby communities. Walks and Talks. You are invited to attend campfire programs and conducted walks at points of interest. These activities are listed on the Visitor Activities bulletin boards and in the parkway newspaper, "The Milepost," available free at any visitor center. Camping. The nine campgrounds are open from about May 1 through October or into early November, depending on weather conditions. Facilities are limited in winter. Fees are charged and length of stay may be limited. Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds. Drinking water and comfort stations are provided; shower and laundry facilities are not. Sites in each campground are designated for trailers, but none is equipped for utility connections. Campgrounds have sanitary dumping stations. Each campsite has a table and fireplace. Limited supplies may be purchased at most parkway gasoline stations and camp stores. TV-ails. The hiker symbol under an overlook-ahead sign is your invitation to leave your vehicle for a walk through the woods. Some trails are short legstretchers and take only 10 minutes roundtrip; others take 30 minutes or an hour. Many miles of excellent trails are at Peaks of Otter, Rocky Knob, Doughton Park, and Cone and Price Memorial Parks. The Appalachian Trail roughly parallels the parkway from mile 0 at Rockfish Gap to mile 103. 5.8 Humpback Rocks 29.0 Whetstone Ridge 60.9 Otter Creek 63.8 James River 86.0 Peaks of Otter 120.4 Roanoke Mountain 154.5 Smart View 169.0 Rocky Knob 176.1 Mabry Mill 217.5 Cumberland Knob 238.5 Brinegar Cabin 241.1 Doughton Park 258.6 Northwest Trading Post 272.0 E. B. Jeffress Park 294.1 Moses H. Cone Mem. Park 297.1 Julian Price Mem. Park 304.4 Linn Cove Viaduct 316.4 Linville Falls 331.0 Museum of N.C. Minerals 339.5 Crabtree Meadows 364.6 Craggy Gardens 382.0 Folk Art Center 408.6 Mount Pisgah <" 2 Picnic grounds. Along the parkway are several picnic grounds with tables, fireplaces, drinking water, trash cans, and comfort stations. Several parking overlooks also have picnic tables. ra <n c. I %% s * s . is c2 «i •£ 2 » a ? i ? „ I » % I 2 8 i . 8 < 3 ! ! 5 S i i a 1 f i > a j Q O u . _ i o . w a : o : O l u . o The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the North Carolina and Virginia state line at mile 216.9. The 1749 party that surveyed the boundary included Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas. Parkway Information Parkway Highlights in North Carolina Regulations and Safety Tips • Drive carefully. The maximum speed limit is 45 miles per hour. Mountainous terrain and sightseeing, however, often require slower speeds. Allow 30 miles per hour when figuring actual travel time. Report all accidents to a park ranger. • Commercial vehicles are not permitted. • Remember to fasten seat belts. • Parking on the shoulder is permitted where safe and where such parking will not damage the turf or plants. • Prevent forest fires. Fires, including charcoal, are permitted only in campgrounds and picnic areas. • All plants and animals on the parkway are protected. Please watch for animals as you drive. You may gather edible fruits, nuts, and berries for your personal consumption only. Hunting is prohibited. ePets must be kept on a leash or otherwise under physical control. «Do not litter; use trash containers at parking and picnic areas. »Do not swim in parkway lakes and ponds. Swimming areas are available in the nearby U.S. Forest Service recreation areas, state parks, and resorts. eOnly boats without motors or sails are permitted on Price Lake. Mile 2 1 7 . 5 Cumberland Knob, at 2,885 feet, is a d e l i g h t f u l s p o t to walk t h r o u g h f i e l d s a n d woodlands. 2 1 8 . 6 Fox Hunters Paradise, a 1 0 - m i n u t e walk, is w h e r e h u n t e r s c o u l d listen to t h e i r h o u n d s b a y i n g in t h e v a l l e y below. 2 3 8 . 5 Brinegar Cabin was b u i l t by M a r t i n B r i n e g a r a b o u t 1 8 8 0 and lived in until t h e 1 9 3 0 s w h e n t h e h o m e s t e a d was p u r c h a s e d for t h e p a r k w a y f r o m his widow. T h e o r i g i nal c a b i n stands here today. 2 3 8 . 5 to 2 4 4 . 7 Doughton Park was n a m e d f o r C o n g r e s s m a n R o b e r t L. D o u g h t o n , a s t a u n c h s u p p o r t e r and n e i g h b o r of t h e parkway. O n e of t h e best l o c a t i o n s to s e e deer. Campground 258.6 Northwest Trading Post is s p o n s o r e d by t h e N o r t h w e s t D e v e l o p m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n to k e e p alive t h e o l d crafts w i t h i n N o r t h Carolina's 11 n o r t h w e s t e r n c o u n t i e s . 2 6 0 . 6 Jumpinoff Rocks, at t h e e n d of a s h o r t w o o d l a n d trail, offers a b e a u t i f u l vista. 2 6 4 . 4 T h e Lump p r o v i d e s s w e e p i n g v i e w s of t h e f o r e s t e d f o o t h i l l s . 2 7 2 E. B. Jeffress Park has a s e l f - g u i d i n g trail to t h e Cascades a n d a n o t h e r trail g o e s to t h e o l d c a b i n a n d c h u r c h . 2 8 5 . 1 Boone's Trace, w h i c h Daniel B o o n e blazed to t h e west, crosses near here. The parkway follows the Appalachian Mountain chain and provides seemingly endless views of many parallel ranges connected by cross ranges and scattered hills. From Shenandoah National Park the parkway follows the Blue Ridge, eastern rampart of the Appalachians, for 355 miles. Then, for the remaining 114 miles, it skirts the southern end of the massive Black Mountains, named for the dark green spruce and fir that cover them, weaves through the Craggies, the Pisgahs, the Balsams, and ends in the Great Smokies. William A Bake 2 9 2 to 2 9 5 M o s e s H. C o n e M e m o r i a l Park has 25 miles of c a r r i a g e roads, ideal for hiking and h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g . Flat Top M a n o r h o u s e s t h e Parkway Craft Center. F i s h i n g . 295.1 to 2 9 8 J u l i a n Price M e m o r i a l P a r k , t h e f o r m e r retreat of an i n s u r a n c e e x e c u t i v e , offers a v a r i e t y of short trails and a lake. 3 0 4 . 4 Linn Cove Viaduct, a d e s i g n a n d e n g i n e e r i n g m a r v e l , skirts t h e side of G r a n d f a t h e r M o u n t a i n . Visitor c e n t e r and trails. Wildlife is a delight to see along the parkway. When the sun is high, groundhogs sit erect and chipmunks and squirrels chitter and chatter. At night, skunks, bobcats, foxes, opossums, and raccoons may be seen along the roadsides. Whitetail deer and black bears are present but seldom seen. Look for them in the early morning or evening. More than 100 bird species can be seen during the spring migration season. whitetail deer 3 0 8 . 3 Flat Rock is w o r t h t h e w a l k for t h e s u p e r b v i e w of G r a n d f a t h e r M o u n t a i n and L i n v i l l e Valley. 3 1 6 . 3 Linville Falls roars t h r o u g h a d r a matic, r u g g e d g o r g e . Trails to o v e r l o o k s . 3 2 0 . 7 C h e s t o a s V i e w trail p r o v i d e s s p e c tacular s c e n e r y . 3 3 9 Crabtree Meadows t u r n pink in May. Walk to C r a b t r e e Falls. C a m p g r o u n d . 355.4 Mount Mitchell State Park, r e a c h e d via N.C. 128, has a p i c n i c area, l o o k o u t t o w e r , and t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t east of t h e Mississippi River. 3 6 3 . 4 to 3 6 9 . 6 Craggy Gardens s e e m c o v e r e d w i t h p u r p l e r h o d o d e n d r o n in m i d - J u n e . C r a g g y Pinnacle Trail and o t h e r trails (364.1 and 364.6); road to p i c n i c area a n d trails (367.6). 3 8 2 The Folk Art Center offers a look at t r a d i t i o n a l and c o n t e m p o r a r y crafts of t h e Appalachian Region through interpretive p r o g r a m s , a m u s e u m , and library. raccoon opossum 4 0 8 . 6 Mount Pisgah was part of t h e G e o r g e V a n d e r b i l t estate. T h e estate b e c a m e h o m e of t h e first U.S. f o r e s t r y s c h o o l a n d t h e n u c l e u s of t h e Pisgah National Forest. 4 5 1 . 2 Waterrock Knob p r o v i d e s a p a n o rama of t h e G r e a t S m o k i e s . Trail, e x h i b i t s , comfort station. 4 2 2 . 4 Devil's Courthouse is a r u g g e d exp o s e d m o u n t a i n t o p rich in C h e r o k e e lege n d s . A walk to t h e bare rock s u m m i t y i e l d s a spectacular v i e w of Pisgah National Forest. The Park Watch Program allows you to help protect the Blue Ridge Parkway, yourself, and other visitors. To report criminal activity, fires, accidents, or other emergencies, call 1-800-PARKWATCH. For Parkway information call 704-259-0701 or TDD 704-259-0702 3 3 1 Museum of North Carolina Minerals i n t e r p r e t s t h e state's m i n e r a l w e a l t h . 4 3 1 Richland Balsam's s e l f - g u i d i n g trail takes y o u t h r o u g h a r e m n a n t s p r u c e - f i r forest. H i g h e s t p o i n t on t h e parkway, 6 , 0 5 3 feet. ft GPO: 1992-312-248/40187 Reprint 1992 4 5 8 . 2 Heintooga Ridge s p u r road g o e s to a m i l e - h i g h o v e r l o o k 1.3 m i l e s f r o m t h e parkway. Mile 4 6 9 Southern End of t h e B l u e R i d g e Parkway intersects w i t h U.S. 441 in the Great S m o k y M o u n t a i n s N a t i o n a l Park a n d t h e Cherokee Reservation. Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia and North Carolina National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior