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Malia's
Miles Blue Ridge Parkway Plan
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The Parkway runs 469
miles between Shenandoah
and Great Smoky
Mountains National Parks. The zero milepost marker is south
of Shenandoah National Park (VA). Each mile is numbered progressively
toward the south end of the Parkway at the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park (NC). Since I'm heading north, plan below starts at
469.
Note:
Low clearance tunnels (10'6" to 11'3") are on 3 mile stretch
from mileposts 461-458. See Parkway
Tunnel Clearance page. Explore that part in toad while staying
at Smokemont. When leaving in RV, go south to Hwy. 19 for the 9
mile stretch that meets up with the parkway at Soco Gap.
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|
Date
|
Mile
Post |
Miles
since
last stop
|
Campground
|
Attraction
/ Info
|
6/18
|
469 |
4
|
Smokemont CG
Great
Smoky Mt. NP
865-436-1200
|
4
miles from CG to Southern end of Parkway. Per website 5/27, res. system
not working, so all 1st come, 1st served. |
| 451 |
|
Waterock
Knob - Panorama of the Great Smokies, visitor center, trail |
| 6/19 |
408 |
61
|
Mount Pisgah
CG
(1 night)
(828) 456-8829
|
70
RV sites. Highest, coolest and most secluded CG on Parkway. A granite
rock base forms a bowl in this gap, so there is little run-off and
the area remains wet creating the 85-acre Flat Laurel Gap Bog. A rare
example of the southern Appalachian bog and its ecosystem. |
|
6/20-23
|
390
|
18
|
Asheville: (4
nights)
|
|
|
Must
see:
Biltmore Estate
(800) 624-1575
Chimney
Rock (828)
625-9611 |
| 6/24 |
364 |
|
|
Craggy
Gardens Visitors Ctr. - covered with purple rhododendron mid to late
June. |
| 355 |
Mt.
Mitchell SP (no rv sites) - A feast for the eyes—breathtaking
views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys.
Forested and forever misty, 1,855-acre Mount Mitchell State Park
will provide you with some of the most tranquil moments you'll ever
experience.
|
|
6/24-25
|
340 |
50
|
Crabtree
Meadows CG
(2 nights)
(22 RV sites) |
Hiking
trails, wildflowers. Crabtree Falls Loop Trail is 40 min., 2.5-mile,
strenuous hike to the 70-foot-tall falls. Explore Mt. Mitchell
SP while staying here. |
| 331 |
Roan
Mountain - (TN
state park): 1 - 3 hrs: Located on the NC/Tennessee line, Roan
Mountain offers spectacular views, beautiful rhododendron gardens
and great folklore - a definite must-see. |
| 320 |
Chestoa
View Trail & Overlook - Great view from Humpback Mountain. Easy
30 minute loop |
|
6/26-28
|
317 |
23
|
Linville Falls CG
(828) 765-7818
(3 nights)
(20 RV sites)
or
Linville
Falls Trailer Lodge & CG
(828-765-2681)
|
On
the banks of the Linville River - the Parkway’s smallest and
most popular campground. |
|
Visitor Center - Start
of trails to overlook two falls and gorge. Linville
Falls is the most famous waterfall in the Blue Ridge. Allow
1 - 3 hours - Upper Falls (Linville Falls Trail) - 10-12' high into
a pool; Lower Falls (Linville Gorge Trail) - 80' into the gorge.
Plan on 45 min. to hike to those 2 falls.
|
| Linville
River Bridge - A leg-stretcher trail to view an unusual bridge. 0.1
mile, easy. |
| Linville
Caverns - Inside Humpback Mountain - magnificent icicle-like sculptures.
Guided tour; crystal-clear streams with trout running below the caverns.
800-419-0540 - $ |
| Dugger's
Creek Trail - .5 mile loop to view of Dugger's Falls. Strenuous. |
| 308 |
Flat
Rock Trail - An easy self-guiding loop - .63 miles |
|
6/29
|
306 |
|
|
Grandfather
Mountain Overlook - One of the best southern views of Grandfather
Mountain. You might notice how the mountain also resembles the head
of a hawk--which also explains the Cherokee name "Tanawa"
meaning hawk. |
| 305 |
Rough
Ridge - Overlook Trail - see plant life - boardwalks cover much of
the trail. |
| 304 |
Linn
Cove Viaduct - 30 min-1 hour - Perhaps the most photographed section
of the entire Parkway is this marvel of modern engineering. A key
factor in the decision to construct the viaduct was environmental
--they did not want to cut into a mountain, but rather, to wrap a
bridge around one! The most complicated concrete bridge ever built,
the Viaduct snakes around Linn Cover in an s-shaped curve. Visitors
can get out at the Linn Cove visitor's center and hike down on a handicapped-accessible
trail to a beautiful view of the Viaduct. |
|
6/29
- 7/4
|
300 |
24
|
Grandfather
Mountain RV Park
800-468-7325 or... |
|
|
31
|
Julian Price
CG
(5 nights)
(828) 963-5911
or... |
Largest
CG - 68 RV sites (No reservations) Dump station - Loop "A"
is located near Price Lake. Several hikes from CG. RVer
comment: This campground will always be our favorite... restores
my soul just being there. In late June Rhododendrons are beautiful.
Great hiking trails nearby - lovely wooded one around Price Lake.
|
|
46
|
KOA
Boone
(828-264-7250)
|
Boone
- A nice drive up 221 and 105 from Marion, Boone is worth the stop.
Make sure you eat at the Daniel Boone Restaurant - they have the best
Country Ham Biscuits! |
| |
|
Damascus:
Virginia
Creeper Trail - bike ride (276-475-6262) |
| The
Village of Blowing Rock - 1.5 to 3 hrs.- Quaint little village,
unique shops and restaurants in a picture-perfect setting complete
with a Main Street Park. Breakfast at the Blowing Rock Cafe: fantastic
strawberry muffins, huge fluffy pancakes and a mountain of eggs, cheese,
potatoes and veggies all mixed together. |
|
7/4
|
290 |
|
|
Thunder
Hill Overlook: Great views overlook Yadkin River valley, seeing Hickory
& Lenoir. |
| 289 |
|
|
Raven's
Rock: Overlook w/ views of valley surrounding Watauga River. |
| 282 |
|
|
Grandview
Overlook: Gorgeous view--as the name implies! |
| 276 |
|
|
Rendezvous
Mountain: 1-2 hrs. - Follow the "Talking Tree Trail," where
the trees talk and tell story of the forest's history. |
| 272 |
|
|
Tompkins
Knob Trail: To Jesse Brown Cabin; Easy .6 Mile
EB Jeffress Park: Picnic area, trail to Cascades Waterfall; Cascades
Trail loop to view of falls; Moderate .5 Mile |
| 264 |
|
|
The
Lump Trail: Easy .3 mile trail to hill top view |
| 261 |
|
|
| Downtown
West Jefferson |
Quaint town set
against a picturesque mountain backdrop. Sally Mae's Emporium;
Todd General Store - A true mercantile of days gone by; in operation
since 1914. Displayed throughout are memorabilia from the early
1900s. |
Mount
Jefferson State Park
336-246-9653 |
The highest peak
in the county. Picnic areas, hiking trails and beautiful panoramic
views of the New River. Mid to late June rhododendron are in
bloom. Once part of the Underground Railroad for Runaway Slaves. |
| New
River State Park |
Second oldest river
in the world. Picknicking and picturesque scenery. |
| Shatley
Springs |
Spring "radium"
water believed to possess healing power. Can be purchased or
collected for free in your own container. |
|
| 260 |
|
|
Rocks
Trail: A forest path to a great view. 1 mile, Easy. |
| 259 |
|
|
|
Churches
of the Frescoes
Turn toward
Glendale Springs, pass the first stop sign, turn right and
drive for ½ block to the Holy Trinity Church. (open
24 hours; free).
|
The "Last
Supper" covers an entire wall of the Church. The 3 fresco
paintings are the "Mystery of Faith", "John,
the Baptist" and "Mary, Great with Child".
Notice that the beams of the church are incorporated into
the fresco. Also, notice that there is a bumble bee that is
immortalized in the John the Baptist fresco because it "bugged"
the artist so much while he was painting!
|
| NW
Trading Post |
Handmade
crafts, homemade jams and goodies, quilts, etc. |
| Glendale
Springs |
Cozy
mountain corner - Hospitality and relaxation. |
|
| 246 |
|
|
|
Thistle
Meadow Winery
Take
Elk Knob Road (SR 1143), 3 miles to the Burgiss Farm.
|
A winery
that allows you to see just how wine is made daily and how you
can make wine to YOUR taste. |
|
|
7/4-5
|
245 |
55+
|
Doughton
Park CG
(2 nights)
(25 sites)
(336) 372-8568 or...
|
RVer
Comment: Our favorite camping, where host told us about the "Honeymoon
Suite" (isolated campsite T9, where the sunset was stupendous
and we were alone with the parkway and our RV).
7,000 acres of land with picnic areas and 30 miles of hiking trails.
Visit the restored Brinegar Cabin and, in summer, watch hand-weaving
demonstrations. |
|
7/6
|
241 |
|
|
Wildcat
Rocks: See homestead of Caudill family, a dramatic exhibit of isolated
mountain life. |
| 235 |
Mahogany
Rock Mountain: A prime place to view hawks sailing the updraft and
thermals along the Blue Ridge on their southern migration (late August
and early September). |
| 229 |
71
|
Stone
Mountain SP
(336) 957-8185 |
Camping
- no reservations.
Several hiking trails, including one to summit of the 600-foot granite
dome. |
| 219 |
|
|
Fox
Hunter's Paradise: Overlook & parking area |
| 217 |
Cumberland
Knob: 1,000 acres park. Picnic areas and trails. 15 minute loop trail
to Cumberland Knob - ideal lazy-day walk. |
|
|
|
7/6
|
200 |
|
|
Mount
Airy off highway here (Mayberry like) |
| |
|
Mabry
Mill: One of several NPS historic sites here |
|
7/6-7
|
169 |
60 -
76
|
Rocky
Knob Campground
(2 nights) |
25
RV sites & campfire circle (540) 745-9660
To the west, Bluffs Coffee Shop, service station, and information
center. |
|
7/8
|
161 |
|
|
Visitor
Center with Picnic Area - To the east is Wildcat Rocks Overlook. A
short trail leads up to the overlook where a sign describes the homestead
of Martin Caudill, which can be seen in the valley below the overlook.
|
| 154 |
The
Trail Cabin, circa 19th-century - Represents the isolation of mountain
residents. The location has been described as spectacular. |
| 130 |
Roanake
Valley Overlook - View of the largest community along the parkway. |
| 121 |
Roanoke Mountain
Campground |
30
RV sites. 6 miles of hiking along Roanoke River (two miles of which
abut the park).
(540) 767-2492 |
| 115 |
|
Virginia’s
Explore Park - 1100-acre outdoor living history museum and
recreation park offering visitors a bevy of opportunities for leisure
activity, learning and fun. Costumed interpreters teach visitors about
life in western Virginia from the pre-contact Native American. |
| Roanoke
River - Roanoke River Gorge opens before you from the overlook, after
a 10 minute walk. |
| |
100 |
|
Sherando
Lake |
USFS
CG - 65 sites; 30 with electric ($20) - first come, first served.
540-291-2188 |
|
7/8-9
|
85 |
84 or...
|
Peaks of Otter
CG
(2 nights)
62 RV sites
(540) 586-4357 or... |
Visitor
Center, Restaurant; behind the lodge is Abbott Lake, a 24-acre lake
featuring a one-mile loop trail. Forum
comment: We camped here and enjoyed it. No hook-ups but the scenery
made up for it. The City of Bedford, down the mountain from the Peaks
of Otter, has several sites designed for overnight camping at their
visitor center. |
|
7/10
|
83 |
|
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Fallingwater
Cascades: Seen along a 1.6 mile loop trail. |
| 75 |
|
Thunder
Hill: Overlook offers an exceptional view of the valley &
other mountain ranges. A wonderful opportunity to access the Appalachian
Trail which passes directly through the overlook area. |
| 64 |
105
|
Otter
Creek CG
24 RV sites
(434) 299-5941
or... |
Natural
Bridge: One of 7 natural wonders of the world - 540-291-2121
- $12.00
Monacan
Village: What life would have been in a typical Monacan Village
300 years ago. |
| James
River - Visitors Center, CG, restaurant |
| |
Many
of the campsites are along the banks of Otter Creek. Explore
Natural Bridge from here. |
| 61 |
RVer
comment: Otter Creek Restaurant yummy. Nearby Wildwood
CG good; 434-299-5228 |
| |
|
KOA
Natural Bridge
540-291-2770 |
|
| 15 |
Sherando
Lake CG |
In
George Washington National Forest about 4.5 miles off the Parkway
on Highway 814. |
| 10 |
|
Humpback
Rocks - Visitors Center, then start of Skyline Drive |
|
7/10-11
|
|
89
|
Big
Meadows CG |
Shenandoah
NP |