Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails in VA & NC
Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails in VA & NC
A journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers motorists spectacular views of southern Appalachia’s diverse beauty of the Parkway, for 469 uninterrupted miles, displays blue-misted mountains, cascading waterfalls, rolling pasture, and gorges banked with wildflowers. The Parkway offers hikers of all skill levels the opportunity to explore more than 100 varied and intriguing trails in North Carolina and Virginia. Meandering alongside and crossing the scenic motor road, the trails provide a close-up look at some of the most beautiful wilderness in the country. Many trails wind their way through unique biological and geological environments. Others lead to historic sites with stories of how people have shaped our heritage. Many Parkway trails continue onto Forest Service and private land. Please respect all these lands and treat them with care. A list of Blue Ridge Parkway hiking trails in North Carolina follows. Also included is important information designed to protect both the environment and the visitors who come to enjoy it. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe trail experience.
Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails in Virginia
click on the trail link below to see detailed information, a map, pictures and videos of each trail.
| Milepost |
Trail
|
Mileage* | Difficulty |
|
5.9
|
Mountain Farm Trail (self-guiding, from Humpback Visitor Center to pioneer farmstead) |
0.25
|
Easy
|
|
6
|
Appalachian Trail (Humpback Gap parking area to Humpback Mtn., elevation – 3650 feet) |
2
|
Strenuous
|
|
8.4
|
Catoctin Loop Trail (leg stretcher) |
0.3
|
Moderate
|
|
8.8
|
Greenstone Trail (self-guiding; Greenstone geology formation; oak hickory forest) |
0.2
|
Moderate
|
|
17.6
|
The Priest (view) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
18.5
|
White Rock Falls Trail Connection |
2.9
|
Moderate
|
|
20
|
White Rock Falls Trail (follows stream to small falls) |
0.9
|
Moderate
|
|
26.3
|
Big Spy Mountain (view into Shenandoah Valley; good for sky watching) |
0.1
|
Moderate
|
|
34.4
|
Yankee Horse (to logging RR exhibit & small waterfall) |
0.2
|
Moderate
|
|
38.8
|
Boston Knob (leg stretcher) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
47.5
|
Indian Gap (to Indian Rocks; good seasonal rhododendron display) |
0.3
|
Moderate
|
|
55.2
|
White Oak Flats (leg stretcher) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
60.8
|
Otter Creek Trail (begin at Otter Creek Campground) |
3.5
|
Moderate
|
|
63.1
|
Otter Lake Trail (around Otter Lake) |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
63.6
|
James River Trail (Self-guiding to canal locks) |
0.2
|
Easy
|
|
63.6
|
Trail of Trees Trail (self-guiding to James River Overlook) |
0.5
|
Moderate
|
|
74.7
|
Thunder Ridge Trail (leg stretcher loop to view of Arnold Valley) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
78.4
|
Apple Orchard Falls Trail (Sunset Field Overlook to view of Apple Orchard Falls; National Recreation Trail) |
1.2
|
Strenuous
|
|
79.7
|
Onion Mountain Loop Trail (leg stretcher through Appalachian deciduous forest with rhododendron display) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
83.1
|
Fallingwater Cascades Trail National Recreation Trail; loop to view of cascades) |
1.6
|
Moderate
|
|
83.5
|
Flat Top Trail (leads to highest of three prominent peaks in area) |
4.4
|
Moderate
|
| • Cross Rock Trail (spur off Flat Top Trail; unique geological features) |
0.1
|
Moderate
|
|
|
85.7
|
Abbott Lake Trail (loop around Abbott Lake) |
1
|
Easy
|
|
85.9
|
Elk Run Trail (self-guiding loop nature trail from Visitor Center) |
0.8
|
Easy
|
|
85.9
|
Johnson Farm Loop Trail (loop to restored mountain farm) |
2.1
|
Moderate
|
|
85.9
|
Harkening Hill Trail (elevation -3300 feet; begin at Peaks Visitor Center) |
3.3
|
Moderate
|
| • Balance Rock (spur trail off Harkening Hill Trail; unique geological formations) |
0.1
|
Moderate
|
|
|
86
|
Sharp Top Trail (from camp store to summit of Sharp Top Mtn.; elevation – 3875 feet; 360 degree panoramic view) |
1.5
|
Strenuous
|
|
91
|
Appalachian Trail (VA 695 to Sharp Top Mtn. Overlook) |
1.9
|
Moderate
|
|
92.5
|
Appalachian Trail (Sharp Top Mtn. Overlook to Harvey’s Knob Overlook) |
2.9
|
Moderate
|
|
95.4
|
Appalachian Trail (Harvey’s Knob Overlook to Motvale Overlook) |
0.6
|
Moderate
|
|
95.9
|
Appalachian Trail (Montvale Overlook to Taylor’s Mountain Overlook) |
1
|
Moderate
|
|
96
|
Spec Mine Trail (USFS Trail begins near Montvale Overlook, to State Rt. 645 in Botetourt County) |
2.8
|
Strenuous
|
|
97
|
Appalachian Trail (Taylor’s Mtn. Overlook to Blackhorse Gap) |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
110.6
|
Stewarts Knob Trail (view) |
0.05
|
Easy
|
|
114.9
|
Roanoke River Trail (self-guiding river loop) |
0.35
|
Easy
|
|
120.4
|
Roanoke Mountain Summit Trail (view) |
0.11
|
Moderate
|
|
120.5
|
Chestnut Ridge Trail (adjacent to Roanoke Mtn. campground) |
1.75
|
Moderate
|
|
121.4
|
Roanoke Valley Horse Trail (begins at U.S. Hwy 220 and parallels Parkway to Milepost 110.6) |
18.5
|
Moderate
|
|
123.2
|
Buck Mountain Trail (to summit view) |
0.53
|
Moderate
|
|
154.5
|
Smart View Loop Trail (around picnic area) |
2.6
|
Moderate
|
|
167.1
|
Rock Castle Gorge Trail (loop from campground along ridge over Rocky Knob and into gorge for 7-mile return to campground) |
10.8
|
Strenuous
|
|
167.1
|
Hardwood Cove Self-Guiding Nature Trail (part of Rock Castle Loop) |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
169
|
Black Ridge Trail (Rocky Knob Visitor Center to Black Ridge to Grassy Knoll and back to Visitor Center) |
3.1
|
Moderate
|
|
169
|
Rocky Knob Picnic Loop Trail (leg stretcher around picnic area) |
1
|
Easy
|
|
176.2
|
Mountain Industry Trail (Mabry Mill) |
0.5
|
Easy
|
|
179.2
|
Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail (walk through a stream bottom forest) |
0.5
|
Moderate
|
Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails in North Carolina
click on the trail link below to see detailed information, a map, pictures and videos of each trail.
|
Milepost
|
Trail
|
Mileage*
|
Difficulty
|
|
217.5
|
Cumberland Knob Trail (ideal lazy-day walk) |
0.5
|
Easy
|
|
217.5
|
Gully Creek Trail (rewarding loop that meanders by stream) |
2
|
Strenuous
|
|
218.6
|
Fox Hunters Paradise Trail (view) |
0.2
|
Easy
|
|
230.1
|
Little Glade Millpond (easy loop stroll around pond) |
0.4
|
Easy
|
|
238.5
|
Cedar Ridge Trail (great for day hike; vistas and forests) |
4.2
|
Moderate
|
|
238.5
|
Bluff Mountain Trail (parallels Parkway to Milepost 244.7) |
7.5
|
Moderate
|
|
241
|
Fodder Stack Trail (great variety of plants) |
1
|
Moderate
|
|
241
|
Bluff Ridge Trail (primitive trail with steep slopes) |
2.8
|
Moderate
|
|
243.7
|
Grassy Gap Fire Road (wide enough for side-by-side hiking) |
6.5
|
Moderate
|
|
243.7
|
Basin Creek Trail (access from back-country campground) |
3.3
|
Moderate
|
|
244.7
|
Flat Rock Ridge Trail (forest path with vistas) |
5
|
Moderate
|
|
260.3
|
Jumpingoff Rocks Trail (forest path to vista) |
1
|
Easy
|
|
264.4
|
The Lump Trail (to hilltop view) |
0.3
|
Easy
|
|
271.9
|
Cascades Trail (self-guiding loop to view offalls) |
0.5
|
Moderate
|
|
272.5
|
Tompkins Knob Trail (to Jesse Brown Cabinj; |
0.6
|
Easy
|
|
294
|
Rich Mountain Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
4.3
|
Moderate
|
|
294
|
Flat Top Mountain Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
3
|
Moderate
|
|
294
|
Watkins Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
3.3
|
Easy/Moderate
|
|
294
|
Black Bottom Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
0.5
|
Easy
|
|
294
|
Bass Lake Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
1.7
|
Easy
|
|
294
|
Deer Park Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
294
|
Maze Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
2.3
|
Moderate
|
|
294
|
Duncan Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
2.5
|
Moderate
|
|
294
|
Rock Creek Bridge Carriage, Horse, & Hiking Trail |
1
|
Easy
|
|
294.1
|
Figure 8 Trail (short self-guiding loop around nature trail) |
0.7
|
Easy
|
|
294.6
|
Trout Lake Hiking & Horse Trail (loop) |
1
|
Easy
|
|
295.9
|
Green Knob Trail (to Green Knob) |
2.3
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
296.5
|
Boone Fork Trail (stream, forest, and meadows) |
5.5
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
297
|
Price Lake Loop Trail (loop around Price Lake) |
2.7
|
Moderate
|
|
304.4
|
Linn Cove Viaduct Access Trail |
0.16
|
Easy
|
|
305.2
|
Beacon Heights Trail (10 minutes to view) |
0.2
|
Moderate
|
|
305.5
|
Tanawha Trail (diverse features; parallels Parkway to Price Park) |
13.5
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
308.2
|
Flat Rock Trail (self-guiding loop) |
0.6
|
Easy
|
|
315.5
|
Camp Creek Trail (leg stretcher through laurel and rhododendron) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
316.4
|
Linville Falls Erwin’s Trail (view of upper falls) |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
316.4
|
Linville Gorge Trail (view of lower falls) |
0.5
|
Strenuous
|
|
316.4
|
Duggers Creek Trail (Loop to view OTDuggers Falls) |
0.25
|
Easy
|
|
316.5
|
Linville River Bridge Trail (leg stretcher to view of unusual bridge) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
320.8
|
Chestoa View Trail (30-minute loop to vista) |
0.6
|
Easy
|
|
339.5
|
Crabtree Falls Loop Trail (loop to view offalls) |
2.5
|
Strenuous
|
|
344.1
|
Woods Mountain Trail (USFS) |
2
|
Moderate
|
|
350.4
|
Lost Cove Ridge Trail (USFS) |
0.6
|
Moderate
|
|
351.9
|
Deep Gap Trail (USFS) |
0.2
|
Easy
|
|
355
|
Bald Knob Ridge Trail (USFS) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
359.8
|
Big Butt Trail (USFS) (trail continues on USFS lands) |
0.2
|
Strenuous
|
|
361.2
|
Glassmine Falls (view of Falls) |
0.05
|
Moderate
|
|
364.2
|
Craggy Pinnacle Trail (to panoramic view) |
0.7
|
Moderate
|
|
364.6
|
Craggy Gardens Trail (first portion is self-guiding nature trail) |
0.8
|
Moderate
|
|
374.4
|
Rattlesnake Lodge Trail (woodland walk) |
0.5
|
Moderate
|
|
382
|
Mountain-to-Sea Trail/MTS Trail (Folk Art Center to Mt. Mitchell) |
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
|
393.7
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Bent Creek- Walnut Cove) |
3.1
|
Strenuous
|
|
396.4
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Walnut Cove-Sleepy Gap) |
1.7
|
Moderate
|
|
397.3
|
Grassy Knob Trail (steep trail to USFS area) |
0.9
|
Strenuous
|
|
397.3
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Sleepy Gap-Chestnut Cove) |
0.7
|
Moderate
|
|
398.3
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Chestnut Cove-Bent Creek Gap) |
2.8
|
Strenuous
|
|
400.3
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Bent Creek Gap-Beaver Dam Gap) |
1.9
|
Moderate
|
|
401.7
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Beaver Dam Gap-Stoney Bald) |
0.9
|
Moderate
|
|
402.6
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Stoney Bald-Big Ridge) |
1.2
|
Strenuous
|
|
403.6
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Big Ridge-Mills River Valley) |
1.1
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
404.5
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Mills River Valley-Elk Pasture Gap) |
1.2
|
Strenuous
|
|
405.5
|
Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail (Elk Pasture Gap-Mt. Pisgah) |
1.7
|
Strenuous
|
|
407.6
|
Mt. Pisgah Trail (summit View) |
1.3
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
407.6
|
Buck Springs Trail (Pisgah Lodge to view) |
1.06
|
Easy/Moderate
|
|
408.5
|
Frying Pan Mountain Trail |
1.06
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
417
|
East Fork Trail (USFS, access to Shining Rock Trail System) |
0.1
|
EasylModerate
|
|
418.8
|
Graveyard Fields Loop Trail (loop by a stream) |
2.3
|
Moderate
|
|
419.4
|
John Rock Trail (leg stretcher to view) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
422.4
|
Devil’s Courthouse Trail (panoramic summit view) |
0.4
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
|
427.6
|
Bear Pen Gap Trail (access to Mountains-to-Sea Trail) |
0.2
|
Easy
|
|
431
|
Richland Balsam Trail (self-guiding loop through spruce-fir forest) |
1.5
|
Moderate
|
|
433.8
|
Roy Taylor Overlook Trail (paved trail to overlook) |
0.1
|
Easy
|
|
451.2
|
Waterrock Knob Trail (summit view;.6 mile one way) |
1.2
|
Moderate/Strenuous
|
| * Mileage indicates length of trail one-way unless otherwise noted. | |||