Blue Ridge Parkway - America's Favorite Drive
Just 20 minute from the cabin is the N.C. entrance to Blue Ridge Pkwy - a stunning roadway that provides gorgeous, sweeping vistas of the mountains & valleys of the Blue Ridge region, hiking trails, a collection of inspiring places & prime picnic spots. Pack a lunch in the large cooler bag provided at the cabin & spend your day exploring stunning Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a slow paced, relaxing drive that you can spend a couple hours experiencing or easily fill the entire day with adventures.
Blue Ridge Parkway is a collection of diverse & inspiring places. The 469-mile road links Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Like a long beautiful ribbon connecting distinctive gems, the Parkway joins high mountain peaks to deep gorges, Appalachian culture to modern visitors, and rural landscapes to isolated wilderness.
There are over 50 stunning overlooks (roadside pullouts) and 6 tunnels along the Parkway from Playin' Hooky Cabin to Ashville which were carefully located to showcase the best views the Parkway has to offer. There are many hiking trails along the Parkway too.
As you begin your drive, the first of many noteworthy pullouts is Raven Fork Overlook. Sunrises here are magnificent, with the mountains painted in sunlight. Just past this overlook are a couple of tunnels: Sherrill Cove Tunnel & Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel. Try to resist the urge to Honk! (I dare you!)
As you continue your drive & gradual climb, you'll want to pause to take in the view at milepost 463.9 - the Thomas Divide Overlook, elevation 3,735. If you like ghost stories, you'll love the one surrounding this part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read about it here.
"Unbelievable beauty. Breathtaking views."
At an elevation of 4,160, Big Witch Overlook offers a panoramic view that does not disappoint! You'll surely want to take the camera out for this one! There are picnic tables located at either end of a large parking lot at this overlook. During the fall, this is a great location to view the colors of the changing leaves. A few minutes past Big Witch Overlook is an equally impressive long range overlook - Bunches Bald.
Surely at this point you want to keep going! Continue your drive to Plott Balsam Overlook - 5,000 FT elevation! With long range mountain views, this location is prime for photos. (Not sharing a photo of this one because I don't want to spoil the surprise!) In the early 1800's, German immigrant Henry Plott raised hunting dogs to work this game-filled frontier. The famous Plott Bear Hounds are descendants of his hunting dogs. In the spring and summer, the area is covered in wildflowers and butterflies. In the fall, you'll enjoy the vibrant changing leaf colors along with...ladybugs!
If you're visiting during the winter,
you wont want to miss the chance
to go snow sledding at Soco Gap
Overlook! Elk are often spotted in
this area as well. (Remember to
keep your distance from wildlife!)
You're almost at our favorite spot on the Parkway - WATERROCK KNOB!
Waterrock Knob (below), located at mile post 451, is a favorite of many Parkway visitors for its ideal location to catch stunning sunrises & sunsets, a visitor center and a trail that takes you to the highest point on the parkway! The trail is 1.2 miles round-trip. The Waterrock Knob summit, at 6,273 feet in elevation, offers incredible 360 degree views. The temperature is usually much cooler here, so it is recommended to bring a jacket.
9 visitor centers are located along the Parkway. Most are open seasonally, May - October. The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384), the Folk Art Center (MP 382) and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals (MP 331), are open year round and only closed on Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st. Stop in, chat with a Park Ranger, grab a map and check out the exhibits.
When it's time to stretch your legs and have lunch or dinner, choose from one of 14 picnic areas along your drive. They all have restrooms and most are open daily until sunset, mid-spring through the fall. Many overlooks have picnic tables also.
Directions - From Playin' Hooky Cabin head southwest on Coopers Creek Rd. Turn left on Goose Creek Rd. Turn left on US-19N. Turn left onto US-19/Bird Town Rd. Turn left onto US-441N. Turn right onto Blue Ridge Pkwy.
コメント