North Carolina Mountains Attractions
Blue Ridge Parkway © National Park Service
Blue Ridge Parkway
Designed as a scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile
(755km) road connecting the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North
Carolina-Tennessee border. Running through the Southern
Appalachians, most of the roadway follows the spine of the Blue
Ridge Range providing stunning scenery and magnificent vistas of
distant mountain peaks, twisting through mountainous country that
would otherwise be inaccessible. It was begun in 1935 to link the
parks and also to provide employment during the Great Depression,
and today the parkway attracts more than 20 million visitors
annually. Its main attraction is the endless dramatic viewpoints
overlooking forested mountains and valleys, and the rich autumn
colours that blaze in October that are the highlight of the year,
drawing crowds of motorists. The parkway’s highest elevation
of 6,047ft (1,843m) at Richland Balsam Overlook has magnificent
views. The road provides access to many hiking trails, including a
section of the Appalachian Trail that follows the parkway from Mile
0 to Mile 103, as well as unusual rock formations, impressive
waterfalls, wild flowers, lakes, and camping and picnic sites.
Along the way are visitor centres, food and modern lodgings nestled
in striking mountain scenery.
Website: www.nps.gov/blri;
Telephone: (828) 298 0398 or (828) 271 4779;
Transport: As no commercial traffic is permitted, private transport is essential. The road is marked every mile beginning at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (Mile 0) and ending at Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Mile 469);
Opening time: The Folk Art Center is the Parkway’s only year-round visitor centre at MP 382 in Asheville. During extreme weather conditions sections of the road may be closed (daily updates available on the park information line +1 828 298 0398), but campgrounds, visitor centres and picnic areas are generally opened from May to October;
Admission: There is no fee for using the parkway
