Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile drive between Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. This 252-mile segment is in western North Carolina and travels between the Virginia state line and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Blue Ridge Parkway is a two-lane paved road that is suitable for most vehicles. Portions of the byway pass through small tunnels cut into the rock and may prohibit trailer traffic. The byway is generally open year-round but portions may temporarily close during winter.
The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the Appalachian Mountain chain, twisting and turning through the beautiful mountains. From the Shenandoah National Park, the scenic drive travels along the Blue Ridge Mountains for 355 miles. Then, for the remaining 114 miles, it skirts the southern end of the Black Mountains, weaves through the Craggies, the Pisgahs, and the Balsams before finally ending in the Great Smokies. The Blue Ridge Parkway was authorized in 1933 and became a unit of the National Park Service in 1936.
This portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful drive across western North Carolina. Cumberland Knob is the first stopping point when traveling the route from north to south. This is a good place to walk through fields and woodlands on a loop trail to Cumberland Knob or enjoy a picnic lunch. A longer trail here will take you into Gully Creek Gorge. Allow two hours to complete the walk. A visitor center is also located here and has information on the parkway.
Doughton Park, near the northern end of the byway, is a 7,000-acre recreation area with miles of hiking trails. Those interested in staying overnight will find camping facilities for tents and trailers in addition to a lodge, complete with food service and gasoline. Picnicking facilities can also be found here.
Another large re-creation area is the 4,344-acre Julian Price Memorial Park. Camping, picnicking, fishing, and hiking are among the recreational opportunities here. Located just north of this park is Moses H. Cone Memorial Park which has many miles of horse and carriage trails. The historic Cone Manor House and Parkway Craft Center are also located near here.
The National Park Service has also developed several smaller recreation areas along the byway. At Linville Falls Recreation Area, visitors will find a walking trail that leads to scenic overlooks. The falls plummet through a dramatic, rugged gorge; an area that was donated by John D. Rockefeller. A visitor center, campground, and picnic facilities are also available.
Crabtree Meadows is a 250-acre recreation area that is painted a beautiful pink in the spring. A picnic area provides a pleasant setting for enjoying a lunch. Scenic waterfalls are reached by a short hiking trail. There is also camping facilities.
The Blue Ridge Parkway ends at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which preserves over 500,000 acres of heavily forested Appalachian Mountain land. For hikers, the Appalachian Trail runs through the park as do numerous other trails. Visitors will also find short, self-guided nature trails. There are ten developed camping areas in the park. The campgrounds have tent sites, limited trailer space, drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, and restrooms. No hookups or shower facilities are provided.
Fall is a special time of the year to be traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway. Dogwood, sourwood, and blackgum turn a deep red in late September. Tulip-trees and hickories turn bright yellow, sassafras a vivid orange. The various oak trees add russet and maroon while the red maples proudly display their fall colors. All of this vivid color is set against a back-drop of the evergreen Virginia pine, white pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir.
Wildlife is abundant along the route. Woodchucks, chipmunks, raccoon, and opossum are the more commonly seen among wildlife. White-tailed deer and black bears are also present in the woods.