Where is the blue ridge pkwy

Search form Search. Blue Ridge Parkway Top 50, Asheville. See our Moses Cone Park Guide. See our Julian Price Park Guide.

Milepost See more in our Rough Ridge Hiking Guide. Stop at the Visitor Center and walk under this marvel. See our Linn Cove Viaduct Guide. Milepost , Grandfather Mountain: Exit onto U. See our Grandfather Mountain Guide. The great town of Banner Elk is 12 miles northwest. See our Beacon Heights Hiking Guide. Milespot See our Flat Rock Trail Guide. Or go south 5. Visitors Center and picnic area. See our Linville Falls Guide. Also see Duggers Creek Falls. Nearby is Linville Gorge. Linville Caverns is four miles south of the Parkway.

Elevation 4, ft. See our Chestoa View Guide. See our Orchard at Altapass Guide. Milepost , Museum of North Carolina Minerals Highway : See many local minerals and learn about regional geology and nice restroom stop! Travel north on Highway for six miles to Spruce Pine. Milepost , Little Switzerland: Stop in this tiny village along the Parkway for food and a little shopping.

See our Little Switzerland Guide. Adjacent to the Parkway is the hike to Grassy Creek Falls. Picnic area and campground. See our Guide to Crabtree Falls. This is the route to Mt. Mitchell during the winter months, weather permitting. Part of the Mount Mitchell Scenic Byway. Hike through Alpine forests to Mt.

Craig or pick up some food at the restaurant and have a mile-high picnic. No admission fee. See our guide to Mount Mitchell State Park. See our Big Butt Trail Guide. During drier periods, the waterfall almost dries up. Elevation 5, feet. See our Glassmine Falls Guide. Enjoy the crisp air, summer rhododendron, and hiking trails. Also a great place for stargazing. You can hike on the Mountains to Sea trail from the small parking area there. Hiking: The Blue Ridge Parkway is known for providing access to some of the best hiking trails in the nation.

Whether you're looking for a short, easy hike or a more challenging trek, you'll find it on the Parkway. The forested trails lead to everything from degree views to thundering waterfalls. See our guide to the best Blue Ridge Parkway hikes. Find your perfect Asheville hiking trail! Use our Asheville Hike Finder to easily filter by distance from downtown, trail length and difficulty level.

Picnicking: The dramatic views found on the Blue Ridge Parkway make for unforgettable picnic spots. Biking: Bike the Blue Ridge Parkway for an outdoor adventure, and workout, like no other. See our guide to road biking adventures. Distances from downtown Asheville are shown in parenthesis. In the Asheville area, there are four main entrances to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

There are roadside signs before and at each of these entrances. Pick up maps, ask questions, see interactive exhibits or purchase a souvenir. After debate over the route, namely whether or not it would go through Asheville, plans were finalized. With architects Gilmore Clark and Stanley Abbot at the helm, construction soon began on September 11, The architects put a major emphasis on preserving nature and Appalachian culture and history.

A year development plan in the s helped spur the remaining construction. And by , all but 7. To finish the project, the Linn Cove Viaduct was constructed. This engineering feat, a 1,foot concrete bridge, was constructed from the top down to limit effects on the natural environment.

With the Viaduct in place, the Blue Ridge Parkway was finally complete. The Parkway officially opened on September 11, —exactly 52 after construction began. Severe weather can cause temporary closures along the Parkway. Check for current closures. Explore This Park. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Reserve. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts. America's Favorite Drive A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands.

Plan Your Visit. Basic Information.