Explorations of the first 216 miles of the very scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is usually the most visited National Park Service unit every year, save a few. It’s no surprise since it’s 469 miles (755 km) long and spans two states. Connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, brings the park to past some fairly large cities, such as Roanoke, Virginia and Asheville, North Carolina. There are also a ton of recreational opportunities and campgrounds along the parkway to draw visitors in.
My goal was to drive the entire 469 miles, from Shenandoah to the Smokies. Except for a few detours due to construction, I drove the entire route in about four days. I wish I had more time to hike more trails than I did but I had a good experience exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A little bit more about the Blue Ridge Parkway before I show you some pictures. Plans to build the parkway started during the administration of FDR. The parkway was to follow the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and then cut west towards the Smokies. Construction began at Cumberland Knob, just south of the North Carolina and Virginia border, in 1935. The parkway was constructed in sections and not from one end to the other, leaving gaps in the parkway’s route. The parkway was mostly complete in 1966, except for one section in North Carolina, 7.7 miles at Linn Cove. That section was not completed until 1987 when the Linn Cove Viaduct was built.
Now for the pictures. My first stop was at Mile 5.9 for the Mountain Farm Trail for some history. A collection of original buildings was placed to here to form an outdoor museum. They were moved here to replace buildings that are long gone on this old homestead.
The cabin is on the left and other outbuildings on the left.
A small barn, or cow shed, typical of the time.
First overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway that I stopped at. I have no idea what mile this was at.
Views from the Greenstone Overlook at Mile 8.8. There is a small interpretive trail here, but a lot of the signs are broken.
The view from 20-Minute Cliff (Mile 19). In June and July, twenty minutes after sunlight strikes the cliff face, dusk will set in the valley below.
Yankee Horse Overlook (Mile 34.4) has a section of the old narrow gauge railroad bed that went through the area to facilitate logging.
There is also a small waterfall to be seen here, Wigwam Falls. Not a great name.
Very hazy blue mountains at this overlook.
A very green Rice Mountain (Mile 53.6).
The Lower Otter Creek (Mile 59ish) overlook offers a lovely stream and picnic benches. A trail follows Otter Creek from the Otter Creek Campground to the James River.
A two-level bridge crosses the James River, which flows across Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay.
The James River is super calm here due to a dam that was built to collect water for a nearby canal. I really like the mirror effect here.
Active farm fields can be found on either side of the parkway.
Why did I cross the bridge? Well, there was an old lock on the other side, of course. The Battery Creek Lock, part of Kanawha Canal, was built in 1848 and allowed boats to move upstream the James River and bypass rough conditions. It is much like the ones on the C&O Canal.
I returned the next morning for this great foggy view.
Early morning foggy mountain views.
The valleys were full of low-lying fog. I’m in love. Seen at Thunder Ridge Overlook (Mile 74.7).
I just couldn’t get over this fog. Seen at the Arnold Valley Overlook (Mile 75).
Waterfall time on the Fallingwater Cascades Trail (Mile 83.1),
Fallingwater is the perfect name for this waterfall.
A quick stop at Abbot Lake to see Sharp Top Mountain (Mile 85.7). Abbot Lake is situated in the Peaks of Otter area of the park, which has a ton of great trails.
If you take the trail around Abbot Lake, you can find Polly Wood’s Ordinary, a very small inn that started in 1850. Ordinaries fulfilled the ordinary needs of a traveler, such as a hot meal, a bed and place to stable a horse.
No idea what overlook this is, but I liked the view.
Iron Mine Hollow Overlook (Mile 96.2).
A typical cabin overlooking the Blue Ridge skyline. Trail’s Cabin at the Smart View Recreation Area.
Pretty view from across road from the Saddle Overlook (Mile 168).
The official and wonderful view of the Saddle. The area below was settled by homesteaders before the Revolutionary War.
Now of the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mabry Mill built in 1910 by Edwin B. Mabry and operated until 1935.
The mill had quite a long feeder channel.
Mabry Mill and its surroundings have been turned into another open-air museum featuring multiple buildings, including this home. On the Mountain Industry Trail at Mile 176.2.
Much of the haze from the last few days had finally lifted, leading to some better views of the distant mountains.
The hills and mountains near the Virginia-North Carolina border aren’t very tall, but they sure are pretty.
Another pretty view taken the next day.
My last stop in Virginia, the Puckett Cabin.
The Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is fantastic. There are mountains, trails, old log cabins and waterfalls! So much to see and do. I barely scratched the surface of what the Blue Ridge Parkway has to offer, especially the area around Roanoke that I had to bypass.
Check out my next update where I will finish driving the Blue Ridge Parkway through North Carolina!
or
Start at the beginning of my adventure through the Appalachian Mountains!
