Milepost Guide Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina

Milepost Elevation

Highlights along Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina (north to south)
217.3 n/a NC 18 JCT.  Sparta, NC is 15 miles northwest.
217.5 2740 ft Cumberland Knob.  Visitor Center, Gift Shop, Restrooms, picnic area , hiking.  Cumberland Knob Trails.
218.6 2805 ft Fox Hunters Paradise Overlook.  Short 0.2 mile Fox Hunters Trail trail leads to an outstanding view. 
225.3 2590 ft Hare Mill Pond
229.7 2700 ft US 21 JCT.  Sparta, NC is 7 miles west.
230.1 2709 ft Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook 5 picnic tables 
232.5 3115 ft Stone Mountain Overlook  picnic table  
233.7 3200 ft Bull Head Mountain Overlook 
235.0 3420 ft Mahogany Rock Overlook picnic table
235.7 3428 ft Devil’s Garden Overlook
236.9 3744 ft Air Bellows Overlook
238.5 3508 ft Brinegar Cabin Overlook.  Entering Doughton Park.  Hiking – Cedar Ridge Trail and Bluff Mountain Trail.    Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST).
239.2 n/a Doughton Park Campground.  Bluff Mountain Trail access.
240.1 3482 ft Low Notch
240.7 n/a Low Notch Overlook.  Bluff Mountain Trail access.
241.1 n/a Doughton Park.  Restaurant, Bluffs Lodge, Picnic Area , Gift Shop, Restrooms, hiking.  Fodder Stack Trail, Bluff Ridge Trail, Bluff Mountain Trail, Wildcat Rocks Trail.  Awesome Views.
242.0 n/a Ice Rock
242.4 3388 ft Alligator Back Overlook.  Bluff Mountain Trail access.  
243.4 3334 ft View Bluff Mountain.  Bluff Mountain Trail access.
243.7 3218 ft Grassy Gap.  Grassy Gap Fire Road and Bluff Mountain Trail access.
244.7 3312 ft Basin Cove Overlook.  Flat Rock Ridge Trail and Bluff Mountain Trail access. 
248.1 n/a NC 18 JCT.  West 2 miles to Laurel Springs, NC.  East 24 miles to North Wilkesboro, NC.
251.5 3047 ft Alder Gap
252.3 3342 ft Sheets Gap Overlook and Sheets Cabin 
258.7 n/a Northwest Trading Post – picnic table, Gift Shop, Restrooms. 
260.3 3165 ft Jumpinoff Rocks Parking Area 2 picnic tables – Jumpinoff Rocks Trail leads to an overlook with awesome views.
261.2 3108 ft Horse Gap. NC 16 JCT.  West 12 miles to Jefferson, NC.  East 22 miles to North Wilkesboro, NC.
262.2 3167 ft Daniel Gap
263.7 3238 ft Gilliam Gap
264.4 3465 ft The Lump Overlook picnic table – The Lump Trail (0.3 mile) to views. 
265.1 3439 ft Calloway Gap
266.8 3699 ft Mount Jefferson Overlook
267.8 3400 ft Betsey’s Rock Falls Overlook picnic table
268.0 3296 ft Benge Gap
269.8 3221 ft Phillips Gap
270.2 3290 ft Lewis Fork Overlook
271.9 3570 ft Cascades Parking Area 30 picnic tables, restrooms and water fountain.  The Cascades Trail. Jeffress Park
272.5 3914 ft Tomkins Knob Overlook.  Tompkins Knob Trail (0.6 mile) leads to Thompkins Knob and Jesse Browns cabin.
274.3 3795 ft Elk Mountain Overlook
276.4 3142 ft Deep Gap. US 421 JCT.  West 12 miles to Boone, NC.  East 26 miles to North Wilkesboro, NC.
277.3 3405 ft Stoney Fork Valley Overlook
277.7 3500 ft Osborne Mountain View Overlook
278.1 3430 ft Carroll Gap Overlook 
280.9 n/a Access to US 221 & US 421.  South 7 miles to Boone, NC.  North 4 miles to Deep Gap, NC.
281.4 3240 ft Grandview Overlook
285.1 n/a Boone’s Trace Overlook picnic table
285.5 3262 ft Bamboo Gap
288.0 n/a Aho Gap – Access to US 321.
289.5 3810 ft Raven Rock Overlook – Great place to watch the sunset 
289.8 3830 ft Yadkin Valley Overlook 
290.4 3795 ft Thunder Hill Overlook  
291.8 n/a US 221 & US 321 JCT.  North 8 miles to Boone, NC. South 2 miles to Blowing Rock, NC.
293.5 3865 ft Moses Cone Overlook – Entering Moses Cone Park
294.0 n/a Cone Manor House & Craft Center. Craft Shop, Gift Shop, Visitor Center & restrooms.  Hiking Trails.  
294.6 n/a Sandy Flat Gap.  US 221 JCT.  Access to Hiking Trails.  South 2 miles to Blowing Rock, NC.
295.2 3608 ft Sim’s Creek Overlook – Green Knob Trail –> A pleasant loop hike with surprising views.
295.8 n/a Leaving Moses Cone Park, entering Julian Price Memorial Park.
295.9 3447 ft Sim’s Pond Overlook    Green Knob Trail –> A pleasant loop hike with surprising views.
291.1 n/a Gated Old Johns River Road.  A nice walk along a gated gravel road.
296.4 n/a Price Park Picnic Area 100 Picnic Tables, restrooms.  Hiking – Boone Fork Trail (5 mile loop hike with waterfalls).
296.7 3393 ft Price Lake Overlook Parking Area.  Price Lake Trail (2.5 mile easy loop hike around a scenic lake).
296.9 n/a Price Campground.  Camping.  Largest on Blue Ridge Parkway with 129 tent sites & 68 RV sites.  Hiking Access.
297.2 3410 ft Boone Fork Overlook.  Price Lake Trail access.  Northern trailhead for the Tanawha Trail. 
298.6 n/a Holloway Mountain Rd – US 221 access.  Gwyn Memorial Trail (0.1 mile loop).  Access to the Tanawha Trail.
299.0 3580 ft Cold Prong Pond Overlook – Cold Prong Loop Trail (0.3 mile easy) & access to the Tanawha Trail.
299.7 3798 ft View Calloway Peak – view of highest point on Grandfather Mountain at 5964 feet.  Access to the Tanawha Trail.
299.9 3905 ft Boone Fork Parking Area. Cross bridge over Boone Fork, just south of overlook. Access to the Tanawha Trail.
300.6 4134 ft Green Mountain Overlook 
301.8 4400 ft Pilot Ridge Overlook 
302.1 4356 ft View Wilson Creek Valley Overlook 
302.4 4400 ft Raven Rocks Overlook – Access to the Tanawha Trail. 
302.8 4293 ft Rough Ridge Parking Area.  Access to a spectacular section of the Tanawha Trail.  Views of Linn Cove Viaduct.            
303.6 4357 ft Wilson Creek Overlook. Access to the Tanawha Trail.  Section includes a beautiful wooden arch footbridge. 
303.9 4412 ft Yonahlossee Overlook 
304.0 4403 ft Linn Cove Viaduct
304.4 4315 ft Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center.  Gift Shop, restrooms.  Access to the Tanawha Trail.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail.
304.8 4286 ft Stack Rock Parking Area.  Access to the Tanawha Trail.
305.1 n/a US 221 JCT.  Grandfather Mountain Nature Preserve & Hiking Trails –> Mile High Swinging Bridge
305.2 4212 ft Beacon Heights Parking Area.  Southern Trailhead for the Tanawha Trail.  Beacon Heights Trail (0.2 mile, moderate) for great views.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail. 
306.2 4051 ft Grandmother Mountain Gap
306.6 4154 ft Grandfather Mountain Overlook
307.4 4060 ft Grandmother Mountain Parking Area 
307.6 4015 ft Unnamed Parking Area
307.9 n/a NC SR 1511.  North to Linville, NC.  South to the Wilson Creek USFS Recreational Area
308.3 3987 ft Flat Rock Parking Area.  Hiking – Flat Rock Trail (0.6 mile loop, moderate).
310.0 3812 ft Lost Cove Overlook.  The mysterious Brown Mountain lights. 
312.2 n/a NC 181 JCT.  Access to Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.
315.6 3442 ft Camp Creek Overlook.  Camp Creek Trail (0.1 mile) leads to the creek. 
316.4 n/a Linville Falls Spur Road. Linville Falls Recreation Area – Campground, Visitor Center, Restrooms, access to hiking trails.
316.5 3250 ft Linville River Picnic Area 100 Picnic Tables, restrooms.  Linville River Bridge Trail (0.1 mile, easy).
316.6 3257 ft Linville River Bridge 
317.5 n/a US 221 JCT.  South to Linville Falls, NC and access to Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. 
318.4 3540 ft North Toe River Valley Overlook
320.8 4090 ft Chestoa View Parking Area 3 Picnic Tables – The 0.1 mile Chestoa View Trail leads to impressive views at a stone platform overlook. 
323.0 3359 ft Bear Den Overlook 
325.9 3067 ft Heffner Gap Overlook
327.3 2815 ft North Cove Valley Overlook 
327.5 2790 ft McKinney Gap.  Access to US 221
328.6 2980 ft The Loops Overlook – “The Loops”
329.4 2852 ft Swafford Gap
329.8 2870 ft Table Rock Overlook
330.9 2819 ft Gillepsie Gap.  NC 226 JCT.  Museum of N.C. Minerals
332.6 3109 ft Lynn Gap 
333.4 n/a Little Switzerland Tunnel 
333.9 3490 ft McCall Gap.  NC 226A JCT.  Little Switzerland, NC
335.4 3490 ft Bearwallow Gap
336.3 3360 ft Gooch Gap
336.8 n/a Wildacres Tunnel 
337.2 3452 ft Deer Lick Gap Overlook 2 Picnic Tables
338.8 3875 ft Three Knob Overlook
339.5 n/a Crabtree Meadows.  Campground, restaurant, Gift Shop, restrooms.  Hiking – Crabtree Falls Trail (2.5 mile loop).
340.2 n/a Crabtree Meadows Picnic Area 82 Picnic Tables and a restroom.
342.2 3892 ft Black Mountains Overlook  The majestic Black Mountains tower above you at this overlook.
344.1 3373 ft Buck Creek Gap Overlook – NC 80 JCT. North 5 miles to Carolina Hemlocks Campground and 16 miles to Marion, NC.  South 17 miles to Burnsville, NC. 
344.6 n/a Twin Tunnel #1
344.7 n/a Twin Tunnel #2
345.3 3406 ft Singecat Ridge Overlook – Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST). 
347.6 4048 ft Big Laurel Gap.  USFS 482 Road Crossing.  East leads to Black Mountain Campground.
348.8 4460 ft Curtis Valley Overlook
349.0 n/a Rough Ridge Tunnel 
349.2 4602 ft Licklog Ridge Overlook 
349.9 4825 ft View Mount Mitchell Overlook   Mt. Mitchell rises above the overlook and is the highest peak in the Eastern US.
350.4 4760 ft Green Knob Overlook – Lost Cove Ridge Trail (3.1 miles one way), but only 0.5 mile to Green Knob and a lookout tower.  The Snooks Nose Trail (3.8 miles one way to Curtis Creek Campground).   
351.9 4284 ft Deep Gap Overlook.  USFS Road crossing.  Deep Gap Trail (0.2 mile).  North leads to Black Mountain Campground.
354.8 5158 ft Toe River Gap
355.0 n/a Bald Knob Ridge Trail
355.3 5160 ft Ridge Junction Overlook 
355.3 5160 ft Black Mountain Gap.  NC 128 JCT.  Mount Mitchell State Park.  Camping, picnic area, restaurant, rest rooms, gift shop, Hiking, HIGHEST POINT east of the Mississippi River.  Black Mountain Crest Trail.
355.4 n/a Entering Asheville watershed.  NO PARKING on side of road in watershed (up to MP 370.3).
358.5 5676 ft Highest point along Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC.
359.8 5320 ft Balsam Gap Overlook – Big Butt Trail (5.8 miles, strenuous).  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST).  Another nice hike is 1.7 miles to the 6320 foot summit of Blackstock Knob via Mountains To Sea Trail.
361.1 5141 ft Cotton Tree Gap
361.2 5197 ft Glassmine Falls Overlook – A short 0.1 mile paved path leads to an overlook with tremendous views, including views of the 800 foot Glassmine Falls. Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST).
363.4 5592 ft Bullhead Gap – View Graybeard Mountain.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail and Douglass Falls Trail. 
364.1 5640 ft View Craggy Dome.  Hiking – Craggy Pinnacle Trail (1.4 miles) RECOMMENDED!!  
364.4 n/a Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel 
364.5 5497 ft Craggy Gardens Visitor Center – Gift Shop, restrooms and hiking.  Self Guiding Craggy Gardens Trail.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST). 
365.5 n/a Craggy Flats Tunnel 
367.6 4900 ft Bee Tree Gap – Craggy Gardens Picnic Area 86 Picnic Tables, restrooms & hiking.  Craggy Gardens Trail.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST).
368.2 4600 ft Potato Field Gap
370.3 n/a Leave Asheville Watershed.
372.1 3890 ft View Lane Pinnacle 
373.8 3483 ft Bull Creek Valley Overlook 
374.4 n/a Tanbark Ridge Tunnel 
375.4 3107 ft Bull Gap
375.7 n/a NC 694 JCT
376.7 3175 ft Tanbark Ridge Overlook 
377.7 3132 ft Craven Gap – NC 694 JCT.  West 7 miles to Asheville, NC.
380.0 2720 ft Hawk Creek Valley Overlook
382.0 n/a Folk Art Center.  Gift Shop, Craft Shop, restrooms.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) and Shut-In Trail.
382.5 n/a US 70 JCT – Asheville
383.6 2040 ft Swannanoa River
384.7 n/a US 74 JCT.  Asheville.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
388.8 n/a US 25 JCT – Asheville
393.5 2000 ft French Broad River.  Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
393.6 2000 ft NC 191 JCT.  North Carolina Arboretum.  Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
393.8 2100 ft French Broad Overlook 
395.1 2495 ft Glenn Gap
396.4 2915 ft Walnut Cove Overlook    Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
396.8 2865 ft Reynolds Gap
397.1 n/a Grassy Knob Tunnel 
397.3 2930 ft Sleepy Gap Parking Area 2 Picnic Tables Grassy Knob Trail.  Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
398.3 3035 ft Chestnut Cove Overlook    Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
399.1 n/a Pine Mountain Tunnel 
399.7 3350 ft Bad Fork Valley Overlook 
400.3 3270 ft Bent Creek Gap.  Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
400.9 n/a Ferrin Knob Tunnel Number 1
401.1 3435 ft Wash Creek Valley Overlook
401.3 n/a Ferrin Knob Tunnel Number 2
401.5 n/a Ferrin Knob Tunnel Number 3
401.7 3570 ft Beaver Dam Gap Overlook    Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
402.6 3750 ft Stoney Bald Overlook.  Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
403.0 n/a Young Pisgah Ridge Tunnel 
403.6 3815 ft Big Ridge Overlook    Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
403.9 n/a Fort Mountain Tunnel
404.2 3980 ft View Hominy Valley Overlook 
404.5 4085 ft Mills River Valley Overlook    Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
405.5 4235 ft Elk Pasture Gap – NC 151 JCT  – Access to Shut-In Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.
406.9 n/a Little Pisgah Ridge Tunnel 
407.4 n/a Buck Springs Tunnel 
407.6 n/a Mount Pisgah Parking Area – HIKING – Mount Pisgah Trail (1.5 miles, strenuous)   Shut-In Trail
407.7 4980 ft Buck Springs Gap Overlook – HIKING – Buck Spring Trail (0.1 miles easy to pedestrian overlook).
407.8 n/a Mount Pisgah Picnic Area – Picnic Tables, restroom, HIKING – Mount Pisgah Picnic Area Trail (0.3 miles, easy).
408.6 n/a Mount Pisgah Inn – lodging & restaurant.  View from inside lodge room –   HIKING – Buck Spring Trail (1.1 miles)
408.8 n/a Mount Pisgah Campground  – Camping.  HIKING – Frying Pan Mountain Trail (1.1 miles, strenuous).
409.3 4925 ft View Funnel Top
409.6 4931 ft Frying Pan Gap.  Access to Frying Pan Mountain Trail (USFS road leads to fire tower).
410.1 n/a Frying Pan Tunnel 
410.3 4825 ft The Pink Beds Overlook 
411.0 4710 ft Cradle of Forestry Overlook 
411.8 n/a Wagon Road Gap – US 276 JCT – East is Craddle of Forestry and Looking Glass Falls. West is Big East Fork.
411.9 4542 ft View Cold Mountain 
412.2 4550 ft Wagon Road Gap Parking Area Picnic Table
412.5 4520 ft Pigeon Gap
413.2 4700 ft Pounding Mill Overlook
414.5 4404 ft Bennett Gap
414.9 4525 ft Bennett Cove
415.6 4325 ft Tunnel Gap
415.7 4330 ft View Cherry Cove 
416.1 4445 ft Log Hollow Overlook  Picnic Table
416.6 4488 ft Log Hollow Gap
416.8 4450 ft Bridges Camp Gap – HIKING – East Fork Trail.  A hard to find connector trail leads 0.2 miles to the East Fork Trail.
417.0 4493 ft Looking Glass Rock Overlook 
417.8 4775 ft Seniard Gap
418.3 4995 ft East Fork Overlook 
418.8 5115 ft Graveyard Fields Overlook – HIKING – Graveyard Fields Loop Trail (2.3 mile loop, moderate).
419.4 5330 ft View John Rock – HIKING – John Rock Trail (0.1 mile, easy) leads to views of Davidson River Valley. 
420.2 5550 ft Balsam Spring Gap – Black Balsam Rd JCT – HIKING – Art Loeb Trail (0.8 mile, moderate) to Black Balsam Knob el 6214 ft.  RECOMMENDED HIKE to some of the best views on the Parkway!  
421.2 n/a Art Loeb Trail Crossing.  It’s a short, steep hike to the 5978 foot summit of Silvermine Bald. 
421.7 5494 ft Fetterbush Overlook – Art Loeb Trail access.
422.1 n/a Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel 
422.4 5462 ft View of Devil’s Courthouse Overlook Picnic Table – Devil’s Courthouse Trail (0.5 mile)
422.8 5415 ft View Mt. Hardy Overlook
423.2 5340 ft Beech Gap – NC 215 JCT.  USFS Forest Heritage Scenic Byway.
423.5 5365 ft Courthouse Valley Overlook 2 Picnic Tables
424.2 5490 ft Mount Hardy Gap
424.4 5510 ft View Herrin Knob Overlook
424.8 5500 ft Wolf Mountain Overlook 
425.4 5300 ft Rough Butt Bald Overlook
425.5 5377 ft Buckeye Gap
426.5 5225 ft Haywood Gap – Mountains to Sea Trail crossing.
427.6 5560 ft Bear Pen Gap Parking Area – Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
427.8 5652 ft Spot Knob Overlook
428.0 5650 ft Caney Fork Overlook 
428.3 5600 ft Little Bear Pen Gap
428.5 5580 ft Beartrap Gap Overlook Picnic Table
430.4 5865 ft Beartrail Ridge Overlook Picnic Table
430.7 5950 ft Cowee Mountains Overlook Spectacular views from this overlook.
431.0 6020 ft Haywood-Jackson Overlook Picnic Table Richland Balsam Self-Guiding Trail (1.5 mile loop)
431.4 6053 ft Richland Balsam Overlook – Highest point along Blue Ridge Parkway at 6053 feet.
432.7 5635 ft Lone Bald Overlook
433.3 5580 ft Roy Taylor Forest Overlook – a short 100 foot walk leads to a pedestrian overlook & great views.
433.4 5575 ft Locust Gap
434.8 5400 ft Racking Horse Gap
435.3 5365 ft View Doubletop Mountain Picnic Table – Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) 
435.5 5135 ft Licklog Gap
435.7 5135 ft Licklog Gap Overlook  Picnic Table 
436.8 5250 ft Grassy Ridge Mine Overlook Picnic Table – Access to Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
437.0 5260 ft Deep Gap
438.9 4780 ft View Steestachee Bald
439.4 4620 ft Cove Field Ridge Overlook
439.7 n/a Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel
440.0 4375 ft View Village of Saunook
440.9 4110 ft View Waynesville
441.4 3915 ft Standing Rock Overlook Picnic Table
441.9 3725 ft Rabb Knob Overlook Picnic Table
442.2 3630 ft Balsam Gap Overlook
443.1 3370 ft Balsam Gap – US 74 & US 23 JCT.  North 8 miles to Waynesville, NC.  South 12 miles to Sylva, NC.
444.6 3810 ft The Orchards Overlook  2 Picnic Tables
445.2 4000 ft Mount Lynn Lowry Overlook Picnic Table
446.0 4325 ft Woodfin Valley Overlook
446.7 4535 ft Woodfin Cascades Overlook 
448.1 4914 ft Wesner Bald Overlook
448.5 5050 ft Scott Creek Overlook 
449.0 5280 ft Fork Ridge Overlook
450.0 5588 ft View Yellow Face
451.2 5820 ft Waterrock Knob Overlook – Visitor Center, Gift Shop, Restrooms, HIKING – Waterrock Knob Trail (1.0 mile, moderate) to great views.  RECOMMENDED. 
452.1 5475 ft View Cranberry Ridge 
452.3 5420 ft Woolyback Overlook
453.4 5105 ft View Hornbuckle Valley 
454.4 4780 ft Thunder Struck Ridge Overlook 
455.1 4550 ft Fed Cove Overlook
455.5 4570 ft Soco Gap Overlook
455.7 4340 ft Soco Gap – US 19 – The 50 foot Soco Falls are 1.5 miles south on US 19.  North 4 miles to Maggie Valley, NC.
456.2 4460 ft Jonathan Creek Overlook 2 Picnic Tables
457.9 5020 ft Plott Balsam Overlook 
458.2 5100 ft Wolf Laurel Gap – Heintooga Spur Road
458.8 n/a Lickstone Ridge Tunnel 
458.9 5150 ft Lickstone Ridge Overlook 
459.3 n/a Bunches Bald Tunnel 
459.5 4925 ft Bunches Bald Overlook 
460.8 4445 ft Jenkins Ridge Overlook 
461.2 n/a Big Witch Tunnel
461.6 4160 ft Big Witch Gap – Bunches Creek Road to right & Cherokee Road left.
461.9 4150 ft Big Witch Overlook  2 Picnic Tables
463.9 3735 ft Thomas Divide Overlook  Picnic Table
465.6 n/a Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel 
466.3 n/a Sherill Cove Tunnel
466.7 2970 ft Sherill Cove Overlook
467.4 2550 ft View Ballhoot Scar Overlook 
467.9 2400 ft Raven Fork Overlook
468.4 2200 ft Oconaluftee River Overlook 
469.0 n/a Oconaluftee River Bridge
469.1 n/a End Blue Ridge Parkway.  US 441 JCT – Right into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg (TN) 29 miles.