The Blue Ridge Parkway
One of the most scenic roads in America The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road. Noted for its scenic beauty, it runs for 469 miles through the Carolina Blue Ridge. Land on either side of the road is maintained by the National Park Service. It is the longest, narrowest National Park in the world and is the most visited unit in the United States National Park System.The Blue Ridge Parkway offers plenty of spots for roadside picnics, breathtaking vistas, easy to difficult hiking, and a reprieve from the “every day” . With the use of the Milepost system (the numbers increase as you drive south), you can easily find points of interest along the way.
Plan your visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway
Overlooks and trails offer breaks during a drive, and there are ranger programs at most developed areas during the summer and autumn months. The Parkway provides wonderful opportunities for:
Hiking - The Parkway offers 100 trails ranging from short "leg-stretcher" walks to the Appalachian Trail.
Wildflowers & Fall Colors - The Parkway provides an excellent location for both wildflower walks in the springtime and brilliant leaf color in the autumn. May is probably the best month for wildflowers. Look for Rhododendron in mid June!
