Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway — known as America's Favorite Drive — meanders 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

The parkway follows the Appalachian Mountain chain and provides some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, ranging from 650 to 6,000 feet in elevation.

A hundred species of trees, a variety of flowering shrubs and wildflowers as well 54 different mammals and 59 species of birds live along the parkway, more than the entire European continent!

Skyline Drive connects to the northernmost section of the parkway, winding along the crest of the mountains from Waynesboro northward 105 miles to Front Royal.

Developed sites along the parkway make it easy to stop, park, stretch, visit restrooms and exhibits, hike and get a bite to eat. Lodging and campgrounds are available with opportunities to fish and view wildlife.

Appalachian Culture Sites | Campgrounds and Lodging
Hiking Trails & Wildlife | Fishing & Swimming
Milepost Services

Appalachian Culture

See remnants of the oldest settlements along the parkway, learn a bit of the history from exhibits at the Visitors Centers, and read all the overlook signs. Highlights include:

Milepost 5 - Humpback Rocks — See old Appalachian farm buildings of the 19th century at the Mountain Farm Exhibit. During summer months, enjoy living history demonstrations. The Humpback Rocks Visitors Center features exhibits on housing, community, transportation and entertainment of the region.

Milepost 34.4 - The Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area features narrow gauge railroad track once known as the Irish Creek Railway. See an exhibit on logging, too.

Milepost 63.6 - James River Visitors Center features an exhibit on the James River and Kanawha Canal, which was once a primary commercial route. A trail takes you to a restored lock dating from the mid-19th century.

Milepost 85.9 - Peaks of Otter — The Johnson farm is a living history farm during the summer. The Polly Woods Ordinary served as a lodging establishment for travelers in the early 1830s. Both are two structures reminiscent of a bygone era. More information.

Milepost 120.4 - Enjoy a 3.7-mile side trip to Roanoke Mountain. Roanoke is where the Great Wagon Road branched south into North Carolina and west into Kentucky, the route of many an Appalachian settler.

Milepost 154 - The Trail Cabin, circa 19th-century, represents the isolation of mountain residents. The location has been described as spectacular!

Milepost 176.2 - Mabry Mill is not to be missed. Explore the mill, a blacksmith shop, wheelwright's and a whiskey still. Demonstrations take place spring through fall.
More information.

Milepost 189 - The Puckett Cabin, also 19th-century, was the home of Mrs. Orleana Hawks Puckett, a mid-wife.

Milepost 213 - The Blue Ridge Music Center features an amphitheater, where a Summer Concert Series is featured each Saturday evening June through September. Construction is underway for the museum, which will highlight the music roots of the region.
More information.

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Campgrounds and Lodging

Campgrounds are open from May to November and are maintained and supervised by National Park Rangers. They are primitive sites without hookups or showers, but each is equipped with a picnic table and fireplace.

Fresh water and sanitary dump stations are available, too. Campsites cannot be reserved, but please make reservations if you're staying in a lodge. Lodges are open year around.

Milepost 16 - Sherando Lake in George Washington National Forest is about 4.5 miles off the Parkway on Highway 814. More information.

Milepost 60.8 - Otter Creek Campground features 45 tent and 24 trailer sites. Many campsites are along the banks of Otter Creek. Amenities include a restaurant, gift shop and the James River Visitors Center, just a 3.5-mile hike on the Otter Creek Trail.

Milepost 85.6 - The Peaks of Otter Lodge is open year around. It has 62 rooms and a 24-acre lake for fishing! Amenities include a gas station, restaurant, gift shop and picnic area. Bus rides to the Sharp Top Summit are available from the Visitors Center.
More information.

Sharp Top Summit is the northernmost boundary of the Cherokee Nation! The area has a gas station, 62-table picnic area, campstore and 141 campsites with 53 RV/trailer sites.

Milepost 120.4 - Roanoke Mountain Campground offers 74 tent and 30 RV sites; three sites are accessible to campers in wheelchairs. The city of Roanoke is the largest city adjacent to the Parkway, so if you get tired of camping, there's a hotel, motel or B&B close by.

Milepost 169.0 - Rocky Knob Campground features 81 tent and 28 trailer sites. Route 758 leads to the Rocky Knob Housekeeping Cabins just a mile away at Woodberry Road.

More Information.

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Hiking Trails

The following hiking trails include only those that are about a mile or longer. Other easy to moderate "leg stretching" loops can be found all along the Parkway, especially to points of interest.

Milepost 6 - From Humpback Gap parking lot to Humpback Mountain hike part of the Appalachian Trail = 2 strenuous!

Milepost 18.5 - 20 - White Rock Falls Trail follows a stream to small falls = 3 moderate

Milepost 60.8 - Otter Creek Trail begins at Otter Creek Campground = 3.5 moderate

Milepost 63.1 - Otter Lake Trail goes around Otter Lake = .8 moderate

Milepost 78.4 - Apple Orchard Falls Trail = 1.2 strenuous

Milepost 83.1 - Fallingwater Cascades Trail - a National Recreation Trail = 1.6 moderate

Milepost 83.5 - Flat Top Trail leads to highest of three prominent peaks = 4.4 moderate

Milepost 85.7 - Abbott Lake Trail loops around Abbott Lake = 1 easy

Milepost 85.9 - Elk Run Trail is a self-guided nature loop from Peaks of Otter Visitors Center = .8 easy

Milepost 85.9 - Johnson Farm Loop Trail from Peaks of Otter = 2.1 moderate

Milepost 85.9 - Harkening Hill Trail from Peaks of Otter = 3.3 moderate

Milepost 86 - Sharp Top Trail from the camp store to the summit of Sharp Top Mountain = 1.5 strenuous!

Milepost 91-95.9 - Appalachian Trail to various overlooks = 7 moderate

Milepost 96 - Spec Mines Trail is a U.S. Forest Service trail = 2.8 strenuous

Milepost 97 - Appalachian Trail to Blackhorse Gap = .8 moderate

Milepost 121.4 - Roanoke Valley Horse Trail parallels Parkway = 18.5 moderate

Milepost 154.5. - Smart View Loop Trail around the picnic area = 2.6 moderate

Milepost 167.1 - Rock Castle Gorge Trail = 10.8 strenuous

Milepost 167.1 - Hardwood Cove Nature Trail = .8 moderate

Milepost 169 - Black Ridge Trail from the Rocky Knob Visitors Center = 3.1 moderate

Milepost 169 - Rocky Knob Picnic Loop Trail = 1 easy

Milepost 176.2 - Mabry Mill's Mountain Industry and Round Meadow Creek Loop Trails = 1 easy to moderate

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Fishing & Swimming

A state fishing license is required and creel limits are enforced. Please inquire at Visitors centers or Ranger stations along the Parkway.

Milepost 16 - Sherando Lake is a recreation/camping area in the George Washington National Forest. Swimming facilities include a sandy beach, a shaded grass area and a bathhouse with warm showers. More information.

Milepost 58-63.6 - Otter Creek runs 10 miles down the Blue Ridge to the James River, and Otter Lake is accessible from the Otter Creek Campground. Fishing only.

Milepost 71 - Petites Gap to Cave Mountain Lake, seven miles off the Parkway in Jefferson National Forest, is ideal for swimming and fishing! More information.

Milepost 84-87 - Peaks of Otter Lodge features a 24-acre lake stocked with smallmouth bass, catfish, golden shiners, sunfish and blue gill. More information.

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Milepost Services

Milepost 0 - Rockfish Gap leads north to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

Milepost 5-9.3 - Humpback Rocks features Appalachian culture sites, hiking, access to Sherando Lake to campground with swimming, fishing and picnicking. There's also a gas station, gift shop, camp store and Visitors Center.

Milepost 58-63.6 - Otter Creek and James River for Appalachian culture sites, hiking, campground, picnic area, hiking, fishing, restaurant and gift shop.

Milepost 86 - Peaks of Otter features Appalachian culture sites, a Visitors Center, gas station, camp store, picnic area, campground, lodge, hiking and fishing. Shuttle bus to Sharp Top for a fee.

Milepost 120 - Roanoke Mountain features Appalachian culture, campgrounds, picnic area and hiking. Roanoke is the largest city off the Parkway for motels, restaurants, gas stations, markets and museums.

Milepost 154.5 - Smart View for picnics and hiking.

Milepost 169 - Rocky Knob features a Visitors Center, gift shop, cabins, campground, picnic area, hiking and fishing.

Milepost 176.1 - Mabry Mill features Appalachian culture, gift shop, restaurant and hiking.

Milepost 210 - Blue Ridge Music Center for Appalachian culture and outdoor amphitheater with performances throughout the summer.