The Scenic Highway the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic highway that winds along the Appalachian Mountains. It stretches from Virginia in the Shenandoah National Park through the NC mountains to the south entrance of The Great Smoky Mountains in Cherokee, NC. Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway with breath taking mountain views. A 469 mile long scenic highway mostly along the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Its a 2 lane highway with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour specifically set for site seeing. It is closed to commercial traffic.
It enter NC in the Yadkin Valley, continues down to the High Country in the far left north corner of the state and passes such places as Boone, Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mountain and Linville. The most photographed part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is The Linn Cove Viaduct at MP 304. The Blue Ridge Asheville section include Little Switzerland, Black Mountain and Asheville. After passing though Balsam and Maggie Valley the parkway ends at Cherokee near the entrance to The Great Smoky Mountains.
Blue Ridge Parkway is marked by milepost. Milepost are designated stops that offer scenic overlooks, glimpses of mountain farm life, scenes of natural wonder, spectacular views, hiking trails, caverns, tunnels and beautiful scenes of nature and wildlife. A ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway at any time is a scenic adventure but in the fall when the NC fall foliage show takes place it is truely an awe inspiring highway to travel.
A new weather service is available to help visitors that travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in the winter season. The weather site monitors the weather on the 469-mile Parkway from Waynesboro, Virginia to Cherokee, NC. Along with a live weather report the site will have a 7 day forecast and reports of weather conditions that cause closing of the parkway for winter related weather conditions. Check out BRPweather.com and Blue Ridge Parkway web cams for up to date weather conditions for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Highlights by Milepost
MP 241 Doughton Park-picnic area,comfort station, Brinegar Cabin and Wildcat Rocks
MP258 NW Trading Post-crafts, country gift shop and store.
MP 294 Moses H. Cone Memorial Park-Country Estate, hiking, horse trails, bookstore and craft center.
MP 304 Linn Cove Viaduct. The most recognized site on the parkway. Where the highway wraps around the side of Grandfather mountain in a way to retain the natural beauty of the landscape. A must tour during autumn when the leaves change colors or in the winter when snow covers the scenic mountain vistas.
MP 316 Linville Falls Grandfather Mountains, mile-high swinging bridge. Linville Caverns, Linville Falls
MP 364 Craggy Gardens A spectacular display of rhododendrons in the spring and fall seasons. View the twisted rocky and jagged or “craggy” landscape of this region of The Blue Ridge Mountains.
MP 382 Fold rt Center Headquarters of Southern Highland Craft Guild. Crafts, exhibits and demonstrations. Gift store.
MP 384 Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center Information desk, interactive map, exhibits and Blue Ridge Parkway movie.
MP 408 Mount Pisgah Campground, picnic tables, hiking trails, The Pisgah Inn overnight accommodations with panoramic views of the NC mountains.
MP 451 Waterrock Knob Visitor information, comfort stop, hiking trail. A 4 state view including The Great Smoky Mountains.
MP 469 Cherokee, NC Home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Museum, family attractions, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, outdoor dram “Unto These Hills”, shops and more.
