Milepost Guide Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

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Milepost Elevation Highlights
0.0 1909′ Rockfish Gap – US 250/I-64 and Skyline Drive – Shenandoah National Park.  Waynesboro, VA is 4 miles west.
0.2 2054′ Afton Overlook
2.0 2148′ Rockfish Valley Overlook
2.2 n/a VA 610 – Appalachian Trail access
2.9 2148′ Shenandoah Valley Overlook
4.4 n/a VA 609 JCT
5.8 2353′ Humpback Rocks Visitor Center. Restrooms, Souvenir Store.
HIKE – Self-Guiding Mountain Farm Trail.
6.1 2360′ Humpback Gap Overlook and Parking Area.
HIKE – 1 mile to The Rocks & 2.2 miles to Humpback Mountain.
8.5 n/a Humpback Rocks Picnic Area – 91 sites and 2 comfort stations.
HIKE – 0.3 miles to Catoctin View.  Two miles to Humpback Mountain or 3 miles to Humpback Rocks.
8.8 3007′ Greenstone Overlook
HIKE – Self-Guiding Greenstone Trail (0.2 mile). VIEWS
9.2 2878′ Laurel Springs Gap
9.6 2940′ Dripping Rock Parking Area – Appalachian Trail Crossing.
HIKE – AT south 0.4 miles to Cedar Cliffs for great views.
10.4 3113′ Rockpoint Overlook
10.7 3200′ Ravens Roost Overlook – picnic table
11.7 2940′ Hickory Spring Parking Area – picnic table
13.1 2697′ Three Ridges Overlook  – picnic table
Appalachian Trail access
13.7 2637′ Reeds Gap – Appalachian Trail access.  VA 664 & VA 814 JCT.
15.4 2597′ Love Gap – Appalachian Trail access via Fire Road leads to Maupin Field Shelter
16.0 2700′ VA 814 – Sherando Lake Recreational Area is 4.5 miles to the west.
17.6 2695′ The Priest Overlook – picnic table – The 300 foot Priest Overlook Trail leads to a bench overlooking Torry Ridge.
18.5 2549′ White Rock Gap. Small parking area for the White Rocks Falls Trail.  (1.6 miles to falls)
19.0 2715′ Twenty Minute Cliff Overlook – picnic table
19.9 2800′ The Slacks Overlook – picnic table  White Rocks Falls Trail.  (0.9 miles to falls)
22.1 3250 Bald Mountain Overlook – picnic table
Access to St Mary’s Wilderness
23.0 3294′ Fork Mountain Overlook
Access to St Mary’s Wilderness
23.4 3334′ Highest point on parkway north of the James River.
25.6 3033′ Spy Run Gap
26.4 3200′ Big Spy Overlook
HIKE – The 0.1 mile Big Spy Trail leads up a gentle grassy hill & loops back to parking area. VIEWS
27.2 2969′ Tye River Gap. VA 56 JCT.
Steeles Tavern, VA is 6 miles west.
Six miles east is trailhead for Crabtree Falls.
29.0 3000′ Whetstone Ridge
31.4 3000′ Stillhouse Hollow Parking Area – picnic table
34.4 3140′ Yankee Horse Parking Area – picnic table
The 0.2 mile Yankee Horse Trail leads to the 30′ Wigwam Falls and loops back to the parking area.
Old Logging railroad exhibit.
37.4 2200′ Irish Gap
37.5 2200′ VA 605 JCT
38.8 2523′ Boston Knob Overlook – picnic table
The 0.1 mile Boston Knob Loop Trail offers a chance to stretch your legs.
40.0 2177′ Clarks Gap.
42.4 2665′ View Irish Creek Valley
44.4 2567′ White’s Gap Overlook  – picnic table
44.9 2485′ Chimney Rock Mountain Overlook
45.6 2312′ Humphreys Gap. US 60 JCT.
Buena Vista, VA is 4 miles west.
45.7 2325′ View Buena Vista
47.5 2098′ Indian Gap Parking Area
The 0.2 mile Indian Gap Trail is a loop leading to some interesting truck size boulders.
48.9 2491′ Licklog Springs Gap
49.3 2498′ House Mountain Overlook
50.1 2412′ Robinson Gap
51.5 n/a Appalachian Trail access. Parking.
HIKE – AT south to Bluff Mountain (VIEWS, Strenuous, 3.5 mile roundtrip)
52.8 1850′ Bluff Mountain Overlook
53.1 n/a Bluff Mountain Tunnel (630 feet long)
53.6 1755′ View Rice Mountain
54.1 1560′ Browns Creek
55.1 1460′ White Oak Flats Overlook – picnic table
The 0.1 mile White Oak Flats Trail offers a chance to walk alongside a small stream.
55.2 1458′ Otter Creek
55.9 1300′ Dancing Creek Overlook – picnic table
57.6 1085′ Upper Otter Creek Overlook
58.2 1055′ Otter Creek Flats Overlook – picnic table
59.7 885′ Otter Creek Overlook
60.4 825′ The Riffles Overlook
60.8 800′ Otter Creek Recreational Area.  Campground, Otter Creek Gift Shop & Restaurant.
Otter Creek Trail.
61.4 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
61.6 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
62.5 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
63.1 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
63.2 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
63.6 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
63.7 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
63.9 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
67.1 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
69.1 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
71.0 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
72.6 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
74.7 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
74.8 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
74.9 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
75.5 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
76.3 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
76.5 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
76.7 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
78.4 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
79.7 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
79.9 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
80.5 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
81.9 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
83.1 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
83.5 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
83.6 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
85.6 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
85.9 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
89.1 760′ Terrapin Hill Overlook – picnic table –
Otter Creek Trail.
North Carolina Highlights Blue Ridge Parkway

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Milepost Elevation

Highlights along Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia (north to south)
0.0 1909 ft Rockfish Gap – US 250/I-64 and Skyline Dr Jct.  Waynesboro, VA is 4 miles west.
0.2 2054 ft Afton Overlook
2.0 2148 ft Rockfish Valley Overlook 
2.2 2170 ft VA 610 – Appalachian Trail access
2.9 2354 ft Shenandoah Valley Overlook
4.4 n/a VA 609 JCT
5.8 2353 ft Humpback Rocks Visitor Center. Restrooms, Souvenir Store.  HIKE – Self-Guiding Mountain Farm Trail.
6.1 2360 ft Humpback Gap Overlook and Parking Area.  HIKE – 1 mile to The Rocks & 2.2 miles to Humpback Mountain.
8.5 n/a Humpback Rocks Picnic Area – 91 sites and 2 comfort stations.  HIKE – 0.3 miles to Catoctin View.  Two miles to Humpback Mountain or 3 miles to Humpback Rocks.
8.8 3007 ft Greenstone Overlook. HIKE – Self-Guiding Greenstone Trail (0.2 mile). VIEWS
9.2 2878 ft Laurel Springs Gap
9.6 2940 ft Dripping Rock Parking Area – Appalachian Trail Crossing. HIKE – AT south 0.4 miles to Cedar Cliffs for great views.  You can continue south on AT for another 1.1 miles to Ravens Roost for more views.  If you do both hikes it’s a 3.0 mile round trip.  It’s only 0.8 mile roundtrip for just the Cedar Cliffs hike.
10.4 3113 ft Rockpoint Overlook. 
10.7 3200 ft Ravens Roost Overlook  picnic table 
11.7 2940 ft Hickory Spring Parking Area picnic table
13.1 2697 ft Three Ridges Overlook  picnic table – Appalachian Trail access
13.7 2637 ft Reeds Gap – Appalachian Trail access.  VA 664 & VA 814 JCT.
15.4 2597 ft Love Gap – Appalachian Trail access via Fire Road leads to Maupin Field Shelter
16.0 2700 ft VA 814 – Sherando Lake Recreational Area is 4.5 miles to the west.
17.6 2695 ft The Priest Overlook picnic table – The 300 foot Priest Overlook Trail leads to a bench overlooking Torry Ridge.
18.5 2549 ft White Rock Gap. Small parking area for the White Rocks Falls Trail.  (1.6 miles to falls)
19.0 2715 ft Twenty Minute Cliff Overlook picnic table
19.9 2800 ft The Slacks Overlook picnic table  White Rocks Falls Trail.  (0.9 miles to falls)
22.1 3250 ft Bald Mountain Overlook picnic table – Access to St Mary’s Wilderness
23.0 3294 ft Fork Mountain Overlook – Access to St Mary’s Wilderness
23.4 3334 ft Highest point on parkway north of the James River.
25.6 3033 ft Spy Run Gap
26.4 3200 ft Big Spy Overlook.  HIKE – The 0.1 mile Big Spy Trail leads up a gentle grassy hill & loops back to parking area. VIEWS
27.2 2969 ft Tye River Gap. VA 56 JCT.  Steeles Tavern, VA is 6 miles west.  Six miles east is trailhead for Crabtree Falls.
29.0 3000 ft Whetstone Ridge.
31.4 3000 ft Stillhouse Hollow Parking Area picnic table
34.4 3140 ft Yankee Horse Parking Area picnic table – The 0.2 mile Yankee Horse Trail leads to the 30′ Wigwam Falls and loops back to the parking area.  Old Logging railroad exhibit.
37.4 2200 ft Irish Gap.
37.5 2200 ft VA 605 JCT.
38.8 2523 ft Boston Knob Overlook picnic table – The 0.1 mile Boston Knob Loop Trail offers a chance to stretch your legs.
40.0 2177 ft Clarks Gap.
42.4 2665 ft View Irish Creek Valley
44.4 2567 ft White’s Gap Overlook  picnic table
44.9 2485 ft Chimney Rock Mountain Overlook
45.6 2312 ft Humphreys Gap. US 60 JCT.  Buena Vista, VA is 4 miles west.
45.7 2325 ft View Buena Vista.
47.5 2098 ft Indian Gap Parking Area.  The 0.2 mile Indian Gap Trail is a loop leading to some interesting truck size boulders.
48.9 2481 ft Licklog Springs Gap
49.3 2498 ft House Mountain Overlook
50.1 2412 ft Robinson Gap
51.5 n/a Appalachian Trail access. Parking. HIKE – AT south to Bluff Mountain (VIEWS, Strenuous, 3.5 mile roundtrip)
52.8 1850 ft Bluff Mountain Overlook
53.1 n/a Bluff Mountain Tunnel (630 feet long) 
53.6 1755 ft View Rice Mountain
54.1 1560 ft Browns Creek
55.1 1460 ft White Oak Flats Overlook picnic table – The 0.1 mile White Oak Flats Trail offers a chance to walk alongside a small stream.
55.2 1458 ft Otter Creek
55.9 1300 ft Dancing Creek Overlook picnic table
57.6 1085 ft Upper Otter Creek Overlook
58.2 1055 ft Otter Creek Flats Overlook picnic table
59.7 885 ft Otter Creek Overlook
60.4 825 ft The Riffles Overlook
60.8 800 ft Otter Creek Recreational Area.  Campground, Otter Creek Gift Shop & Restaurant.  Otter Creek Trail.
61.4 760 ft Terrapin Hill Overlook picnic table –  Otter Creek Trail.
61.6 n/a Otter Creek Bridge.  VA 130 JCT.
62.5 685 ft Lower Otter Creek Overlook picnic table (across creek) – Otter Creek Trail. 
63.1 655 ft Otter Lake Overlook.  Fishing & Hiking on Otter Lake.  Otter Creek Trail. Otter Lake Loop Trail.
63.2 646 ft Lowest point along Blue Ridge Parkway.
63.6 649 ft James River Visitor Center.  Rest Rooms, Gift Shop & hiking.
63.7 670 ft James River Bridge 
63.9 680 ft US 501 JCT.  Glasgow, VA is 9 miles north and Lynchburg, VA is 15 miles south.  James River Face Wilderness.
67.1 n/a Falling Rock Creek.
69.1 1874 ft James River Valley Parking Area Overlook picnic table
71.0 2361 ft Petite’s Gap.  Appalachian Trail access.  Cave Mountain Lake Recreational Area is 8 miles west.
72.6 2884 ft View Terrapin Mountain. 
74.7 3485 ft Thunder Ridge Overlook picnic table – HIKE – Thunder Ridge Trail via AT to VIEWS (0.1 mile)
74.8 3510 ft Thunder Hill
74.9 3515 ft Appalachian Trail access
75.5 3700 ft View Arnold Valley Overlook   Appalachian Trail access.
76.3 3883 ft Appalachian Trail access. HIKE – AT south to Apple Orchard Mtn (1.8 mile round trip) VIEWS
76.5 3933 ft Apple Orchard Mountain Overlook
76.7 3950 ft Highest Point on Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
78.4 3472 ft Sunset Field Overlook. Apple Orchard Falls Trail leads 1.4 miles down to 150′ waterfalls.  Appalachian Trail access.
79.7 3145 ft Onion Mountain Overlook picnic table – The 0.2 mile Onion Mtn Loop Trail leads thru a maze of rhododendron & mountain laurel.
79.9 3195 ft View Black Rock Hill.   
80.5 3187 ft USFS Road 190 crossing.  Appalachian Trail access to Cornelius Creek Shelter.
81.9 2861 ft View Headforemost Mountain.  Water fountain.
83.1 2560 ft Fallingwater Cascades Parking Area.  HIKE – The Fallingwater Cascades Trail.  Entering Peaks of Otter Recreational Area.
83.5 2511 ft Wilkinson Gap.
83.6 2610 ft Flat Top Trail Overlook.  Flat Top Mountain Trail. 
85.6 2525 ft Peaks of Otter Lodge/Restaurant & gift shop.  Restrooms.  HIKE – Abbott Lake Loop Trail (1.0 mile)
85.9 2545 ft Peaks of Otter Visitor Center  VA 43 JCT.  Camping, Camp Store, rest rooms, Picnic Area . Hike Harkening Hill, Johnson Farm and Elk Run Trail. RECOMMENDED – Take the shuttle to top of Sharp Top Mountain and hike 1.5 miles downhill to your car. VA 43 east 15 miles to Bedford, VA.
89.1 1916 ft Powell’s Gap – North Creek Campground is ten miles away.
89.4 1925 ft View Upper Goose Creek Valley Overlook 
90.0 2102 ft View Porter’s Mountain
90.9 2258 ft Bearwallow Gap. VA 43 JCT.  West 5 miles to Buchanan, VA.  Appalachian Trail access. 
91.8 2435 ft Mills Gap Parking Area picnic table – Appalachian Trail access. 
91.9 2525 ft Mills Gap
92.1 2415 ft View Purgatory Mountain
92.5 2415 ft Sharp Top Parking Area.  Appalachian Trail access.  Appalachian Trail Wayside Exhibit.
93.1 2418 ft Boblett’s Gap Overlook.  Appalachian Trail access.
93.2 n/a Bobblets Gap.  Appalachian Trail access.  Bobblets Gap Shelter just south on AT.
94.1 n/a Hammond Trail.  Appalachian Trail access.
95.2 2490 ft Pine Tree Overlook 
95.3 2524 ft Harvey’s Knob Overlook. Appalachian Trail access.
95.9 2441 ft View Montvale Town picnic table – Appalachian Trail access.
96.0 n/a Spec Mine Trail (2.8 miles one way). 
96.2 2364 ft Iron Mine Hollow
96.4 2372 ft Iron Mine Hollow 
97.0 2340 ft View Taylor’s Mountain.  Appalachian Trail access.
97.7 2402 ft Black Horse Gap.  Last time on BRP for Appalachian Trail access.
99.6 2493 ft The Great Valley Overlook picnic table
100.9 2170 ft Quarry Overlook
101.5 1985 ft Curry Gap – USFS Road 191 crossing.  Right to AT and Fullhardt’s Knob.
105.8 1133 ft US 460 JCT.  West 9 miles to Roanoke, VA.
106.9 1151 ft N & W Railroad Overlook.  Notice how civilization is appearing at this overlook.
107.0 1150 ft View Coyner Mountain. This overlook seems to be overgrown.
109.8 1163 ft Read Mountain Overlook
110.6 1275 ft Stewarts Knob Overlook.  Stewarts Knob Trail (0.1 mile) leads to a bench. Start of the Roanoke Recreational Area
112.2 n/a VA 24 JCT.  West 5 miles to Roanoke, VA.  Good spot to get gas.
112.9 1000 ft View Roanoke Basin Overlook
114.7 825 ft Roanoke River Bridge 
114.9 985 ft Roanoke River Overlook.  Roanoke River Trail (0.4 mile)  Roanoke Recreational Area
115.0 n/a Virginia’s Explorer Park Spur Road.  Visitor Center, Restrooms, Hiking, Brugh Tavern.  NOTE:  The Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority or “VRFA” – Virginia’s Explore Park’s governing board of directors – ceased regular operations of Explore Park on November 30, 2007. The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, including its gift shop and exhibits, remains open on a seasonal basis.  Roanoke Recreational Area
120.3 n/a Roanoke Mountain Loop Rd.  Four mile loop road leads to top of Roanoke Mountain.  Roanoke Recreational Area
120.4 n/a Mill Mountain Spur Rd. Campground, Chestnut Ridge Trail, Zoo, Roanoke Star.  Roanoke Recreational Area
121.4 n/a US 220 JCT.  West 5 miles to Roanoke, VA.
123.2 1465 ft Buck Mountain Overlook. Buck Mountain Trail  A 0.5 mile moderate hike leads to a bench.
124.4 1160 ft Back Creek
126.6 1425 ft Masons Knob Overlook 
128.7 1875 ft Metz Run Overlook
129.3 2032 ft Poages Mill Overlook
129.6 2125 ft Roanoke Valley Overlook
129.9 2200 ft Lost Mountain Overlook 
133.0 2860 ft Slings Gap Overlook
133.1 2825 ft Slings Gap
133.6 2890 ft View Bull Run Knob
134.3 2786 ft Lancaster Gap
134.9 2975 ft View Poor Mountain
135.9 2690 ft Adney Gap. US 221 JCT
138.5 2889 ft Sweet Annie Hollow
139.0 3013 ft Cahas Knob Overlook
143.9 2687 ft Devil’s Backbone Overlook
144.8 2703 ft Pine Spur Overlook 
149.1 n/a VA 640 – Kelley Schoolhouse.  Recently this old schoolhouse was purchased by the National Park Service.
154.1 2564 ft Smart View Overlook
154.5 2564 ft Smart View Recreation Area Picnic Area .  Restrooms.  Smart View Loop Trail (2.6 miles).  Trail’s Cabin.
157.6 2806 ft Shortts Knob Overlook
162.4 2477 ft Rakes Mill Pond
165.3 2752 ft Tuggle Gap. VA 8 JCT.  Floyd, VA is six miles north.
167.1 3582 ft Rocky Knob Campground (82 tent sites). 
168.0 3880 ft The Saddle Overlook.  Self Guiding Trail to an old AT shelter with a view. 
168.8 3195 ft Rock Castle Gorge Overlook.  Rock Castle Gorge Trail. 
169.0 n/a Rocky Knob Visitor Center.  Picnic Area , Restrooms, Gift Shop.  Black Ridge Trail, Picnic Area Loop Trail.
169.1 n/a Twelve O’clock Knob Overlook.  Rock Castle Gorge Trail
174.1 n/a Rocky Knob Cabins
176.2 2855 ft Mabry Mill. Mabry Mill Restaurant, Gift Shop, Restrooms, Self Guiding Pioneer Industry Trail.   
177.7 2960 ft US 58 JCT.  Meadows Of Dan, VA. 
179.3 2800 ft Round Meadow Overlook.  Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail (0.5 mile) 
183.4 2875 ft Pinnacles Of Dan Gap
188.8 3025 ft Groundhog Mountain Overlook.  Picnic Area (26 sites), restrooms, observation tower. 
189.1 2950 ft View Pilot Mountain Overlook
189.9 2848 ft Puckett Cabin Parking Area.  Historic Building. 
199.4 2925 ft US 52 JCT (to I-77)  Fancy Gap, VA. 
202.8 3015 ft Granite Quarry Overlook 
203.9 2900 ft View of Piedmont
206.1 2759 ft Pipers Gap
206.3 2744 ft VA 97 JCT.  West 10 miles to Galax, VA.
213.3 2620 ft Blue Ridge Music Center.  Visitor Center, restrooms, museum and hiking trails.
215.8 n/a VA 89 JCT.  North 7 miles to Galax, VA.
216.9 n/a Virginia/North Carolina State Line.  (see North Carolina Highlights for more Blue Ridge Parkway info).