Escape to the Blue Ridge Parkway

At 468 miles long, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway with the designation of All-American Road, the highest classification in the National Scenic Byway system.  Starting at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the Parkway follows the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains, winding its way through North Carolina before terminating at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park's Cherokee entrance. At its highest point, the Blue Ridge Parkway reaches 6053 feet in elevation near Mount Pisgah in North Carolina and at its lowest 649 feet along the James River in Virginia. Along the way, you will see spectacular mountain and valley vistas, quiet pastoral scenes, sparkling waterfalls, and colorful flower and foliage displays.

289.5 Raven Rocks Overlook
Sunset from Raven Rock Overlook in the North Carolina High Country of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone and Blowing Rock. The clouds puddle around the mountains, creating little mountain islands in the sky while the sunset reflects on tops of the clouds.

Both this image and the one above were captured from Raven Rock Overlook. It is widely considered one of the top sunset locations along the Parkway.

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At the end of 2019, I was beyond excited when we received an assignment in Roanoke, Virginia.  The Blue Ridge Parkway had long been on my bucket list, and Roanoke is located right on it! I was happily researching hike trails, planning weekend trips, and impatiently waiting for Spring to arrive when COVID hit.

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274.3 Elk Mountain Overlook
One of the most popular Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks, Elk Mountain Overlook at an elevation of 3795, provides a dramatic sweeping view of the Yadkin Valley. The valley takes its name from an Indian village that was near the river here.

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During the lockdown, the Blue Ridge Parkway became my escape. When I could not stand to be in the house a moment longer, I would go up to a nearby overlook where I could be entirely by myself and photograph these magnificent views. I couldn't have asked for a better location to spend that time. It was such a blessing!

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A country pastoral landscape with breathtaking rays of sunlight shining down on the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. I pulled off on the roadside for this image, this view was not at a specific overlook.

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I mistakenly thought I would be the only one up on the Parkway, but all the locals were sneaking up there too. There was always a "deer in headlights" moment from the people at the overlooks when I would pull in in the early days of lockdown. So many times, they would grab their things and run to their cars even when we had 50 feet of space between us.

As restrictions began to loosen up, the trails became packed. As a result, I didn't complete any of those hikes I'd planned, but I did manage to drive the entire Parkway and visit all the overlooks.

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361.2 Glassmine Falls Overlook
Golden hour in the Blue Ridge Mountains is pure magic! Dramatic sunlit clouds filter rays of light down into the valley below. The overlook is actually behind me in this shot.

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Virginia left their trails open while North Carolina gated the entrances to locations when they could. Unfortunately, I was off to another assignment before most of the significant Parkway sites reopened.

I missed out on so much of the Parkway because of closures that I'm hesitant to consider this one of my travel blog posts. Although, I did add a few of my favorite Parkway trip planning links and some very basic information at the end of the post. I think the title sums it up nicely; it's a photographic escape to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Tuck this post away for when you need a virtual retreat to the mountains.

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364.5 Craggy Garden Overlook
Golden hour at the Craggy Gardens Visitors Center Overlook produced some of the craziest rays of light, with a 360-degree ring of sunrays radiating out from the sun.

364.5 Craggy Garden Overlook
The same day as the above image, as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Craggy Gardens is considered one of the best sunset locations near Ashville.

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A Little History

U.S. Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia initially presented President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the idea for a Parkway through the Appalachian Mountain Range connecting Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains when Roosevelt visited the newly completed Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park. 

Roosevelt loved the idea. America was in the midst of the Depression. The opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park had been an enormous success. Another scenic drive through the most impoverished economic area of the country would help put Americans back to work and eventually put tourism dollars where it was desperately needed.

99.6 Great Valley Overlook
The Great Valley stretches through the Appalachians from New York to Alabama. Known as the Great Warrior Path, it was the route for trade and travel for the Iroquois and Cherokee and also the migration path of the Scotch-Irish and German's that migrated from Pennsylvania to the valley to settle from 1730-50.

The original name for the Parkway was the Appalachian Scenic Highway.

Stanley Abbott, the Parkway's Chief Landscape Architect's design concept:

"to fit the Parkway into the mountains as if nature had put it there."

After two years in the planning stage, construction began on September 11, 1935. At the time, I don't believe anyone could fully comprehend what an enormous undertaking the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway would be.

349.2 Laurel Knob Overlook
I was utterly fascinated with this cool dead tree perched on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Laurel Knob. I can just imagine him yelling for someone to grab hold of that branch and straighten him back up.

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Private contractors working under federal contracts were hired to do most of the road construction. Italian and Spanish stonemasons completed the stonework on the bridges and overlooks, while the Civilian Conservation Corps completed most landscaping and trails.

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63.7 The James River
I arrived at the James River bridge at the exact moment the sun dipped below the mountain ridge. Illuminating the sky, it created an amazing mirror-like reflection of the clouds on the water.

At 650 feet above sea level, the river is the Blue Ridge Parkway's lowest elevation. The James River was a historic transportation route through the mountains.

97 Taylors Mountain Overlook
That last moment as the sun slipped behind the mountain.

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Progress on the Blue Ridge Parkway was slow. The CCC crews had to survey deep into mountains that had never been mapped. Landowners were often reluctant to sell their property. There were extreme weather conditions at the highest elevations, and the terrain was rocky along the entire route. Snakes were encountered frequently. It was difficult getting the construction equipment to the top of the mountain since the roads were little more than ruts and retaining the natural beauty of the surroundings without doing more damage was a significant concern. Construction took place in sections as the right-of-way was approved and land purchases secured.

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243.4 Bluff Mountain Overlook
It was purely the luck of being in the right place at the right time when I captured this smoky view down into Basin Cove. We had pulled off at the Overlook to wait out a passing rainstorm. As the storm gave way to sprinkles and the sun came out, a magnificent double rainbow appeared.

Work on the Parkway was slow but steady until World War II began.

With approximately 170 miles of the drive completed, construction halted when funds were diverted for the war effort.

243.4 Bluff Mountain Overlook

42.2 Irish Creek Overlook
The Irish and Scottish immigrants that settled along the creek down below in the mid-1700s gave this area its name.

Usually, you can see for miles across the rolling mountains and down into the scenic countryside, but on this day, the view was all about these breathtaking low hanging smoky clouds on the mountainside.

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By 1966, the Parkway was almost complete. The missing link was a seven-mile stretch around Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.  Known as the Linn Cove Viaduct, it is regarded as an engineering marvel and considered one of the most successful fusions of the road and landscape on the Parkway.

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303.9 Yonahlossee Overlook
A panoramic view of the Linn Cove Viaduct from the Yonahlossee Overlook.

The Linn Cove Viaduct is an internationally recognized engineering marvel by Figg and Muller Engineers. This award-winning 1243 foot long bridge is free-standing and shaped in an S-and-a-half figure designed to follow the contour of Grandfather Mountain without damaging its fragile and ecologically sensitive slopes. The Viaduct was precast in 153 segments, with all but one having a slight curve. Construction started from the south end, with each 50-ton segment being lifted into place one at a time by crane. The only work completed on the ground was drilling footings for the piers, this was completed in segments as each piece was ready to be placed.

430.7 Cowee Mountain Overlook
Blue ridges as far as the eye can see as the storm clouds roll in! At an elevation of 5950 feet, this overlook offers breathtaking long-range views of the Blue Ridge Mountain ridges.

451.2 Waterrock Knob Visitor Center
The rhododendrons in these upper elevations have budded out and are just starting to bloom.

This is a MUST STOP location along the NC section. At an elevation of 5820, this is the highest Visitor Center on the Parkway and has nearly a 360-degree view! From here, you are at the heart of the Southern Highlands with views of all the major southern mountain ranges: the Great Balsams, Smokies, Cowees, Nantahalas, Blue Ridge Mountains, Newfound Mountains, Blacks, and Craggy.

While sections of the Parkway had been in use for decades, it took fifty-two years for the Blue Ridge Parkway to be opened entirely for continuous, uninterrupted travel from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its official dedication took place on September 11, 1987.  Today, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited National Park site.

451.2 Waterrock Knob Visitor Center

296.7 Price Lake Overlook

This rhododendron tunnel is just off the parking lot at the Price Lake Overlook, and is the beginning of a hike around the lake.

Julian Price owned the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, which was the largest corporation in North Carolina in the first part of the twentieth century. He purchased the 4,200 acres, planning to make it into a retreat for his employees. When he died unexpectedly in an automobile accident, the land was donated, and the Julian Price Memorial Park was created in his memory.

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The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful at any time of year, but I would recommend planning your visit for either mid-June or mid-October.

From June through early July, the rhododendron and mountain laurel bloom is like nothing you have ever seen before. In some Parkway sections, you will drive through walls of flowers on both sides of the road, and there are many hikes through rhododendron.

Autumn is a little harder to predict because of the extreme elevation changes along the Parkway. Color change above 5000 feet begins in early October and works its way down into the valley by the end of the month. Peak time is usually around mid-October, but Mother Nature does what she wants. In 2020, color didn't peak until the end of the month. The North Carolina section of the drive has higher elevations and colors up before the Virginia section. The color will vary significantly along the Parkway.

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10.7 Ravens Roost Overlook
Beautiful sun rays beam down upon the Blue Ridge Mountains as the iconic lone pine tree stands on the rocky cliff at Ravens Roost Overlook.

Views from Ravens Roost Overlook are always spectacular! In one direction, you can see the Blue Ridge Mountain's Torrey Ridge and to the other the Shenandoah Valley. The sweeping 180-degree views from this overlook are some of the best on the northern end of the Parkway.

It is common to see ravens and buzzards here since the broad rock ledge is a typical raven roost. These rocks make it a popular spot for rock climbers too. The ruins of the Torrey iron furnace, last in use in 1884, are at the base of the ridge.

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Living History of the Blue Ridge

While the Blue Ridge Parkway is best known for its natural beauty, don't miss out on the Appalachian mountain history sites that can be found along the way.

176.2 Mabry Mill
The picturesque Mabry Mill, located in the small community of Meadows of Dan, Virginia, is a restored gristmill and sawmill. It is widely considered one of the most photographed historic sites in the United States.

Ed Mabry, the mill's owner, had worked as a blacksmith in the coalfields of West Virginia before he returned home and began construction on the mill in 1903. Ed could do just about anything. He first ran it as a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and then it later turned it into a sawmill. By 1905, Ed was operating as a gristmill. The front part of the mill was completed and included a lathe for turning out wheel hubs, a tongue and groove lathe, a planer, and a jig-saw in 1910. Ed passed away in 1936, two years before planning for the Blue Ridge Parkway began, and the decision was made to save his mill as a cultural site.

190 Puckett Cabin
Sitting on Groundhog Mountain is the Appalachian mountain home of Orlean Hawks Puckett. This historic site pays tribute to the strength of the Appalachian woman.

Orlean Puckett, married at 16, had little to no formal education, and in her life, gave birth to and lost 24 children. Many were stillborn, but the rest died in infancy. In her 50s, she became a midwife, successfully delivering more than 1,000 babies, never losing a mother or child, and never charging for her services. Orlean was 94 years old when she delivered her last baby; she died in 1939. This cabin was her last home.

238.5 Brinegar Cabin
This authentic Appalachian mountain home was built in 1880 by Martin Brinegar for his family. His widow lived here until the 1930s, when the Parkway purchased it. This one-story log house is covered with lapped siding and rests on a stacked fieldstone foundation. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I love the crooked log holding up the front porch of this rustic old cabin. It adds so much character to the home. At the same time, I can just imagine the fight that took place over it! I can hear Mrs. Brinegar saying, "I don't want that crooked post," and her husband replying, "it's good enough, Woman, I'm not chopping down another tree. It took me all day just to hew that one!" LOL

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Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Basics

There is a 45 mph speed limit on the Parkway.  It's even slower in the steep, curvy stretches of road and locations that are busy with pedestrians. Parking on the side of the road is permitted as long as you are entirely off the road. Watch out for bicyclists. There are quite a few of them on the Parkway.

Plan for a leisurely trip with a lot of stops at overlooks. There are multiple overlooks in a one-mile stretch of road in some areas, so it takes a lot of time for the miles to add up. I would recommend allowing at least four days to do just the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially if you want to do a few hikes along the way. 

It is easy to get "beauty overload" on this drive. I recommend planning for a midday off-parkway excursion to break up the day and then stay up in the mountains for sunset. The early morning and late afternoon sun gives you the prettiest light to enjoy the mountains.

The temperature varies greatly with the elevation changes, dress light, and bring layers.

There are many Parkway areas where you will not have internet on your cell phone, so plan and don't rely on your phone for information.

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372.1 Lane Pinnacle Overlook
An early evening sweeping panoramic view from Lane Pinnacle Overlook, the elevation here is 3890.

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Useful Planning Links

Always check the National Park Services Blue Ridge Parkway website for  Parkway closures before traveling.  The Blue Ridge Parkway Map is easily found along the Parkway but, here is a link to it for planning purposes.

I found Virtual Blue Ridge to be one of my favorite websites for Blue Ridge Parkway planning.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Planner was the one reference guide I wanted with me on every trip down the Parkway. You can access the online version here or request one by mail. I found it most helpful in finding food, gas and for those off-Parkway excursions.

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Susan's photography is available for purchase as fine art prints and wall art in various sizes and many different print substrates. It is also available on home decor, gift items, and apparel in her Photo Gallery.

Check out the Virginia and North Carolina Collections for more Blue Ridge Parkway photography.

"Raven Rocks Sunset" Canvas Print - Size 48x32

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About the Photographer
Susan Rissi Tregoning is the 8th photographer in the past four generations of professional photographers in her family. After a long career as an art buyer and interior designer, she put her career on hold in 2006 to travel with her husband and his job. In the process, she found her roots again,  developing a photography obsession far beyond casual

snapshots that evolved into a desire to capture every location and object as “art.” By meshing her two loves, photography and design, she has come full circle.

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Escape to the Blue Ridge Parkway | A photographic journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway with travel information. | A Susan Tregoning Photography Travel Blog Post #NorthCarolina #Virginia #BlueRidgeParkway