Blue Ridge Parkway

**As of 11/7/24,

the National Park Service restored access to nearly 55 miles the Blue Ridge Parkway from:

• Milepost 382.5 at US 70 near the Folk Art Center, to milepost 393.6, at NC Route 191 near the NC Arboretum, including the French Broad Overlook at milepost 393.8
  • The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is open
  • The Folk Art Center is open
  • Use extreme caution on trails as hazards may remain
• Milepost 405.5 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:
  • Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.
  • All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
• Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:
  • All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
  • Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.
  • Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until November 11, 2024.

The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the mountain ridges from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The Parkway’s 469 toll-free miles combines natural beauty, mountain forests, wildlife, wildflowers and magnificent views. Located 15 miles north of Hendersonville, a portion of the most famous drive in America weaves through Henderson County. The closest access to the Parkway from Downtown Hendersonville is near the North Carolina Arboretum, at BRP milepost 393.6.

Managed by the National Park Service. Be sure to check out the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Folk Art Center and Southern Highland Craft Guild while driving the parkway through the Asheville area.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is known for:

• Hiking
• Mountain & Road Biking
• Scenic Drives & Overlooks
• Picnicking
• Camping
• Fishing
• Berry picking
• Waterfalls
• Motorcycle rides
• Breathtaking sunsets and sunrises
• Open year-round (but often has seasonal closings due to weather or poor road conditions)
• Check website for closings

Popular hiking options in the area include:

• Graveyard fields (great for berry picking)
• Mt. Pisgah/Frying Pan Tower
• Black Balsam
• Skinny Dip Falls
• Bent Creek
• Shining Rock Wilderness Area
• Sam Knob
• Cold Mountain
• Craggy Gardens
• Rattlesnake Lodge
• Devil’s Courthouse
• Richland Balsam