Blue Ridge Parkway ⓘ

The Parkway conserves diverse and important examples of architecture, industry, and transportation associated with the people and communities of the mountains in southern Appalachia. T he Parkway contains, and is challenged to manage , a diverse range of cultural resources, including 91 buildings , 2 sites, and 133 other structures that contribute to the Parkway's eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

Explore hundreds of historic photographs of the parkway and Blue Ridge region on NPGallery or Driving Through Time .

The parkway preserves a variety of historic buildings, either as interpretive exhibits or as picturesque roadside features. With the exception of the imposing neoclassical estate of textile magnate Moses Cone, the structures tend to be modest structures, mostly simple log cabins. The early parkway planners thought the log cabin symbolized pioneer Appalachia, and preserved or relocated a good number of log structures to points along the road. Ironically, they removed a number of earlier frame houses because they did not meet their stereotypical vision of the Appalachian past.

Parkway planners adopted their own variant of the prevailing "rustic style" of architecture adopted in the national parks. They wanted their own structures to reflect the architecture of the region, and consequently took on the forms of cabins, sheds, and barns in order to enchance a "backwoods feeling." Structures employed timber beam construction, shake roofs, stone chimneys and exterior porches. Even the "driftwood gray" color was specified to present a weathered appearance. With few expections, even modern structures along the parkway, such as the 1989 Linn Cove Visitor Center or the 1999 Everhardt Headquarters Building at Asheville continue to reflect "pioneer" architecture through their use of native materials, allowing them to harmonize with the rugged landscape.

Text excerpted from "Highways in Harmony" publication produced by Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), in cooperation with the National Park Foundation.

Blue Ridge Parkway Digital Archives are accessible online through the NPGallery Digital Asset Management System. The digital archives include the Blue Ridge Parkway Historic Photograph Collection, which contains digital copies of photos documenting construction of the parkway, ranger-led programs, special events, staff portraits, general tourism, scenic views, and recreational activities from the 1930s to 1970s. Parkway Land Use Maps (PLUMs) and drawings are also available. All digital assets can be downloaded free of charge. Driving through Time: The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway is an extensive digital history collection that features thousands of historic photographs, maps, postcards, government documents, oral history interviews, and newspaper clippings documenting the parkway's more than 75-year history. The site, hosted at the University of North Carolina libraries, will eventually include nearly all of the historic parkway photograph collection now held by the Blue Ridge Parkway headquarters, as well as many other historical documents from the park's archive that were digitized especially for the project. Everything is fully searchable.

Each digitized item is also assigned geographic coordinates so that it can be viewed on a map, enabling users to visualize and analyze the impact of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the people and landscape of western North Carolina and southwest Virginia. Many historic maps (including North Carolina Parkway Land Acquisition Maps and the Park Service's Parkway Land Use Maps for North Carolina) are "georeferenced" (aligned with present landscapes so past and present can be compared). Interpretive essays, called "overlooks," introduce viewers to new research on parkway history, and K-12 lesson plans invite teachers to use the site's primary source collections in teaching.

Western North Carolina and southwest Virginia are known internationally for their traditional old-time stringband music, ballad singing and bluegrass. Traditional music can be heard throughout the region–from hometown oprys and informal jam sessions to concert stages. Festivals and old-time music conventions, some dating back almost a century, provide opportunities for enjoying traditional music and dance in family-friendly settings.

Special events and concerts take place all along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Schedules are posted on the calendar of events . The Blue Ridge Music Center at Milepost 213 celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge. The Music Center includes an outdoor amphitheater, an indoor interpretive center/theater, and The Roots of American Music, a free interactive exhibition highlighting the historical significance of the region's music. Go to the Blue Ridge Music Center concert schedule to find out who is playing. The sounds of the fiddle , banjo , and guitar are likely to welcome you when you visit the Blue Ridge Music Center. Experience regional traditional music each day of the week with free, local Midday Mountain Musicians playing on the breezeway of the Blue Ridge Music Center from noon - 3:00 PM.

Both North Carolina and Virginia have routes that celebrate the local music and can connect you to jam sessions and concerts. Many of these shows are found in communities adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out The Crooked Road in Virginia and the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina for more information.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, unlike most national park areas, is a planned landscape: planned down to the smallest detail in ways that most visitors do not notice at first glance. Landscape architects and engineers dovetailed their skills and creative genius for the benefit of the millions who have enjoyed this drive for more than eight decades.

Stanley W. Abbott, a Cornell-educated landscape architect, was the first employee on the scene in 1933. He was given the broad, initial task to "lone-wolf it" down through the mountains to get to know the region and begin to think about how to build a graceful road through the rugged Blue Ridge Mountains.

Over the ensuing months and years, there were long reconnaissance trips through the region, meetings on the verandas of country hotels, or informal gatherings over rough sketches on dining room tables. The principles that defined the parkway, and still guide management today, slowly began to come into focus.

The "most important" of many criteria, according to Stan Abbott, was variety; something he called "the spice" of the parkway.

The already completed Skyline Drive hugged the ridgetops through Shenandoah National Park for 105 miles and those whose task it was to design the parkway felt that more variation in the road would yield a better experience for the visitors. In his typical poetic style, Abbott compared viewing "one panorama following right on another" to fortissimo in music, and observed that "fortissimo mixed with a little pianissimo" creates a more interesting song.

One of the practical-minded and plain spoken engineers involved in the early stages of planning, put it more bluntly. "One can get gorged on scenery!" So, "intimate glimpses" such as moss on a shake-roofed building would stand in contrast to the "heroic panorama that looks out forever." Each element added its own variety and charm.

The delight of the parkway, again quoting Abbott, "lies with ever-changing location, in variety." He described engineers, with their practical "how-to-build" perspective incorporating the artistic viewpoint of the landscape architects to design a road capable of "following a mountain stream for a while, then climbing up on the slope of a hill pasture, then dipping down into the open bottom lands and back into the woodlands."

Today's visitor may marvel at the up close details or find the sweeping views breathtaking. And that is how early planners of the parkway meant for it to be. The variety of experiences is unmatched, and all designed as part of the "rhythm of the road" that makes the parkway so special for all that enjoy it today.

Tourism in the mountains is not new. In fact, it dates back into the mid-19th century and earlier, although it was certainly reserved for the wealthy in the early days. Many people, including those who pushed for mountain parks, spoke of the healthful or "salubrious" climate of the mountains. Many of the "healing springs" or resorts in the Virginia and North Carolina mountains date to this time period as well.

The Peaks of Otter , at Milepost 86 north of Roanoke, has a long history of attracting visitors. A hotel was built here in the 1850s and was remodeled numerous times before the current modern lodge was constructed.

Thomas Jefferson wrote of the Peaks of Otter in his Notes on the State of Virginia which he finished in 1781. We can forgive him for thinking that the Peaks were "of a greater height, measured from their base, than any others in our country, and perhaps in North America."

In 1864, Civil War Union soldiers from Hunters' Raid crossed the mountains at the Peaks, climbed up Sharp Top, and sounding like the modern visitor, noted "As far as the eyes can reach, a fine undulating country is seen. The Peaks of Otter is the finest sight for mountain scenery." Hunter's artillery commander, Capt. Henry A. du Pont , later wrote that "one of the most superb views on the whole American Continent lay before us." Two years after the end of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee and his youngest daughter Mildred took a vacation that included a ride up Sharp Top Mountain. Lee rode Traveler, the horse that had carried him through most of the battles of the war, and Mildred rode Lucy Long, a family steed that had also been battle tested. "We sat for a long time on a great rock," Mildred recalled, "gazing down on the glorious prospect beneath." She noted that her father seemed lost in thought, very sad, and spoke few words.

Further south, the lure of these mountains is also evidenced by numerous summer and vacation homes built in the area. Two wealthy Americans of the Gilded Age, George Vanderbilt and Moses Cone , chose locations in the North Carolina mountains for their homes. Today's visitors can see the Cone's Flat Top Manor at Milepost 294. And a short hike from the Pisgah Inn at Milepost 408 will take you to the former site of George Vanderbilt's hunting lodge at Buck Spring. Nearby, in Asheville, you can also visit Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate.

As one of the nation's most-visited national parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway doesn't fit into Robert Frost's idea of the "less traveled road." Millions of visitors from throughout the world find the graceful curves and smooth surface of the parkway a convenient and pleasurable way to enjoy the mountains from Shenandoah to the Great Smokies.

Constructing a beautifully engineered motor road in the rugged Appalachians was a remarkable feat, but roads have existed in many parts of these mountains as long as people have lived here. In fact, roads and transportation can always be closely linked to the history of a region and its people. Obviously created for more practical needs than the parkway, these historic, "less traveled" byways across the Blue Ridge reveal much about the region's past.

Mountain passes and low-lying swags provided the easiest and most practical routes across the mountains first for animals such as deer and buffalo, and later for humans. These mountain "gaps" are lower areas with gentler slopes which occur at irregular intervals along the crest of the ridges. Native Americans used paths originally worn by animals, and these in turn became the obvious choices for early European settlers looking for convenient ways to cross the Blue Ridge .

America 's population drifted west after 1790. Many of the western counties of Maryland and Virginia lost populations as families moved toward cheaper land and new opportunities. A map of the nation during this time period shows a network of roads heading west. In the Blue Ridge region, the primary ones were the Great Wagon Road through the Shenandoah Valley; the Richmond Road ; and the Jonesboro Road across North Carolina . All of these routes crossed the mountains through strategic passes. These roads were little more than ten to thirty foot wide paths where most of the trees had been removed. But for thousands of settlers headed for Kentucky , Tennessee , and other choice places on the "frontier," these served as the interstate system of the day.

Nationally, and within the various states, the concept of "internal improvements" gained momentum during the 1830s and 1840s. In the mountainous western regions of Virginia and North Carolina , this popular idea resulted in the establishment of dozens of "turnpike companies" that built localized roads connected with the major thoroughfares. The turnpike movement was especially active in Virginia 's Shenandoah Valley where more than a dozen turnpikes were built from 1830-1840.

Travel was always difficult in the southern mountains, as it was in other parts of rural America . The heart of the limited transportation and communication system here was a network of trails and dirt roads connecting mountain communities with larger markets down off of the mountains. This matrix of roads helped facilitate a regional market system, and as the new turnpike companies improved, widened, or constructed better roads, a fairly constant stream of traffic east and west kept many mountain communities in touch with national markets. Asheville , North Carolina was a small community in the nineteenth century when drovers annually herded hundreds of thousands of hogs from Tennessee and Kentucky to markets in the low country of South Carolina and Georgia .

Those who lived closest to the turnpikes had the obvious economic advantage of being able to sell surplus livestock to passing drovers or raising extra corn and produce to feed travelers and animals. Stockades, taverns, and country stores were bound to do better business if located close to the nearest turnpike. In an 1856 letter from Sherando , VA , a young Jane Lewis discusses her husband's insistence on moving the family to a convenient location along the Howardsville Turnpike at the foot of Humpback Mountain . She acknowledges that this relocation "suits his business friends and he will make money," although she confides to her friend that making money "is not everything in this world."

The Howardsville Turnpike was a classic example of the mid nineteenth century attempts to create economic advantages by tying east to west across the Blue Ridge . Howardsville , VA was located on the east side of the Blue Ridge along the James River . The first section of the turnpike authorized by the state legislature in 1847 would, when completed, "connect with other important lines of roads" and facilitate transportation of clover seed gypsum, lime as well as connecting across the Blue Ridge to "regions abounding in iron ore. "Pleading their case for a new extension of the turnpike, the Howardsville and Rockfish Turnpike Company reported to state lawmakers that this new road would provide an easier grade "than any other road in the state crossing the Blue Ridge ." They also reported that they had been "assured" of stage coach service along the new road. When completed, the Howardsville Turnpike was carrying a daily caravan of several wagons of iron, one wagon of whiskey, and ten wagons of flour and corn from the Shenandoah Valley across the Blue Ridge to Howardsville for transportation to coastal markets along the James River . By 1850, the Howardsville and Rockfish Turnpike Company was keeping a full-time hired force with a superintendent "employed in thoroughly repairing the road for fall and winter travel."

The demise of the turnpikes movement, especially the localized operations that crossed the mountains, was the hastened by the development of the railroads across the states. By the late 1850s, many of the markets across the Blue Ridge were connected by rail with the coastal ports of Baltimore , Richmond , Charleston , and Savannah . Rail traffic was faster and much less susceptible to delays due to bad weather. Legislatures were much more willing to invest funds in rail than in roads.

Many of the nineteenth century turnpikes that crossed the Blue Ridge still exist, although they have usually lost their original names and are referenced only by a road number. Occasionally, however, while roaming the back roads of rural mountain counties or thumbing through your state gazetteer, you may come across references to turnpikes or stockroads lingering from past generations. Even though these may have been more primitive than modern roads including the Blue Ridge Parkway , they played a major role in the development of mountain communities and the region's heritage.

In an area of increasing urbanization, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides wildlife with a 469-mile long refuge. From mountaintops to valley bottoms, small seeps to large rivers, and agricultural fields to old growth forests, the parkway offers a wide range of habitats for a wide range of animal species. As animals continue to lose their habitats on adjoining lands, they can still be found in the forests and streams along the parkway.

More than fifty species of mammals , ranging in size from black bears and elk down to flying squirrels and shrews, have been found on the parkway. Over 150 types of birds nest on parkway lands and dozens of others rest here on their spring and fall migrations. The list goes on with about 40 species each of amphibians and reptiles , down to an untold number of invertebrates.

Several animals that were extirpated from the Southern Appalachians are now making a comeback. Beavers, elk, peregrine falcons, and river otters, not long ago gone from the Southern Appalachians can now be found along the parkway. Others that were reduced to low numbers, such as wild turkeys and black bears, are making a strong comeback. Together these animals help to restore the biological health of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The southern Appalachian mountains are home to more kinds of mammals than any other area of eastern North America, with more than 70 species documented along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Almost every visitor will see some of the more noticeable, including white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, and the ever-present groundhog along the roadsides.

The black bear is rarely seen by park visitors, but is increasing in numbers in both Virginia and North Carolina. Beavers are also making a comeback in the region after their numbers were decimated by the fur trade in past centuries. The most opportunistic mammals—raccoons, opossums, and skunks—are common in campgrounds and picnic areas. Other animals, such as the northern flying squirrel, are threatened or endangered. All are protected here. Please observe wildlife safely and responsibly. Download a copy of the parkway's Mammals Checklist

The following codes refer to the abundance of an animal found along the Parkway and not necessarily to the likelihood of seeing it.

From the spruce-fir forests at the highest elevations down to the valley bottoms, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides nesting habitat for northern and southern birds alike. Additional dozens of other species pass through the Parkway on their spring and fall migrations. In all, more than 250 bird species have been observed along the Parkway. Species Checklist As with plants and other animals, the mountaintops provided refuge for many birds as the glaciers retreated north at the end of the last ice age. Typically nesting in boreal forests of the north rather than in the southern United States, these species can be found in the Parkway's higher elevations, where the plants and habitats are more to their liking. About 20 percent of the Parkway's breeding birds, including veery, red-breasted nuthatch, black-throated green warbler, golden-crowned kinglet and Canada warbler, are more typically found up north. Some of these, such as northern saw-whet owls, are disjunct populations and may be totally different species than their northern relatives. The 4,000 acres of agricultural lands on the Parkway provide habitat for other bird species. Bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks can occasionally be found singing on fence posts in the meadows and pastures. Taking advantage of the hunting opportunities that these open areas offer are American kestrels, year-round residents along the Parkway. Streams, lakes and wetlands provide additional habitat. Great blue herons and wood ducks are benefiting from the return of beavers and are often found in beaver ponds, as well as in streams and man-made lakes. The rattle of kingfishers can be heard at many ponds and along larger rivers. During migration sandpipers stop to feed along shorelines while bitterns and great egrets occasionally wade the wetlands. Several rare species of birds nest along the Parkway. Cerulean warblers can be found during the summer in mature woods with open understories. Peregrine falcons , reintroduced to the Southern Appalachians, have recently begun to nest again on the Parkway. Several pairs of the Appalachian yellow-bellied sapsucker and northern saw-whet owls nest in North Carolina. Want to beginning learning more about birds? Try Backyard Birding Bingo!

Developed Campgrounds The parkway's eight campgrounds are open from May through late October, weather permitting. They are closed in winter. Current schedule of campground seasonal dates . In addition, Explore Park , located adjacent to the parkway near Roanoke, VA offers camping.

Backcountry Camping The Parkway has three backcountry campgrounds. Backcountry camping is permitted only at designated sites. A permit is required for backcountry camping. Rock Castle Gorge near Rocky Knob (MP 167.1) Basin Cove near Doughton Park (MP 239.2) Johns River Road near Julian Price Park (MP 296.9) Group Camping Group Camping is available through reservation only at Linville Falls, Rocky Knob, and Doughton Park campgrounds. Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Limit of 20 people per site. Rate: $45 per night. Nearby Campgrounds Numerous campgrounds are located in communities, and on state and federal lands, adjacent to the parkway. Many of these offer amenities such as water and electric hookups. Please check Virginia state parks , North Carolina state parks , and the US Forest Service for additional camping options. City and county parks and recreation departments, or tourism departments, also provide camping information.

Firewood Regulations: Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought onto the Parkway. Campers may also collect dead and down wood found in the immediate vicinity of campgrounds and picnic areas.

Certified heat-treated firewood is packaged and clearly marked with a state or federal seal. Heat-treated wood is available from a growing list of private businesses in communities around the Parkway. Concessioners at Peaks of Otter Sharp Top Store, Price Lake Boat Rental, and Pisgah Inn Country Store sell heat-treated firewood during their operating season (typically May-November). Visit firewoodscout.org for a map of local stores and businesses that sell certified firewood. Additional information about this regulation .

The parkway's eight campgrounds are open from May through late October, weather permitting. They are closed in winter. Current schedule of campground seasonal dates . In addition, Explore Park , located adjacent to the parkway near Roanoke, VA offers camping. All campgrounds have potable water, comfort stations with flush toilets and sinks, and a dump station for recreational vehicles. Showers are available at Julian Price and Mount Pisgah campgrounds. There is a $6.00 fee for non-campers to use showers or dump stations. Each camp site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Camping is permitted only in designated campsites. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis at a fee of $30 per night. In addition, advance reservations can be made for all campgrounds. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov . Please follow all campground regulations .

A section of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia parallels the Parkway. NPS Photo/Hamel There over 369 miles of hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway, so one of the most daunting tasks facing hikers may be choosing which trail to explore. Start by deciding on what you would like to see. Then decide how far you would like to hike. If you haven't hiked much recently, be conservative. Five miles round-trip is a good maximum distance for novices. The links below provide brief descriptions and maps of popular trails. Please be aware that trail conditions may change suddenly and unexpectedly. Bear activity, severe storms, and downed trees may temporarily close trails. When hiking, carry water, a raincoat or poncho, and a first aid kit. Hike with another person. Be sure to allow plenty of time to complete your hike before dark. As a rule of thumb, allow an hour to hike 1.5 miles. Be aware though, that many people travel slower. Sunset times vary from just after 5:00 p.m. in December to almost 9:00 p.m. in June. No permit is required for hiking. Hiking Safety tips. Popular Trails Trailheads listed by milepost are available for Virginia and North Carolina . Or stop at a visitor center for recommendations. Humpback Rocks Otter Creek & James River Peaks of Otter Roanoke Valley Rocky Knob Music Center Cumberland Knob Doughton Park Moses Cone Park Julian Price Park Tanawha Linville Falls Crabtree Falls Craggy Gardens Mount Pisgah Remember to always respect the environment and be considerate of others. Visit our Trail Safety and Leave No Trace pages for tips on making the most out of your hiking experience.

TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURE: Mountains-to-Sea Trail near I-26 bridge in Asheville. The closure is expected to remain until late spring/early summer 2026. Closure due to potentially unsafe conditions during construction. View NC Hiking page for map.

The Appalachian Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail are two long distance trails that follow closely with stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sections of these trails can be hiked in a day, or for the more adventurous, over a number of days.

Kids in Parks TRACK Trails are self-guided hiking trails especially for kids and families.

Enjoy a ranger-led program, watch a cultural demonstration, or listen to some toe-tapping mountain music.