The Blue Ridge Parkway - America's Most Scenic Highway The Northern Half

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a spectacular 469 toll free scenic drive that takes you along the peaks of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Located in the heart of the southeastern United States, the northern end starts out in Virginia.

The Shenandoah National Park creates the entrance way to begin the break taking journey. The Parkway winds around endless mountain peaks and valleys. The speed limit is a maximum of 45 miles an hour, and you wouldn't want to go any faster. There is too much to see along the way.

The parkway was started in 1935 and was completed in 1987. As you travel into North Carolina, you're entering the Smokey Mountain region. This area is known for the fog throughout many of its ridges and valleys. One of the natural beauties of the area is fog will erase the view of the mountains, and within a few minutes a crystal clear blue sky will appear.

I wanted to give you a little basic information on this famous parkway. I have decided to break it up into two different pages. First will be some information on the northern end of the the parkway. There will be an additional page reflecting the southern end. Below are a few photos and some maps starting out on mile marker one.

Entering the parkway near Waynesboro, Virginia, you immediately are enriched by the wonderful views along the Appalachian mountain range. Humpback Rocks Visitor Center is a great first stop to gather information for this unforgettable journey.



The first sixty miles will take you through the George Washington Forest and down to the next Visitors Center at James River. This part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is not far from Lynchburg, Virginia and also the lowest elevation at 649 feet. Otter Creek is a great area to visit.A wonderful natural landscape lies about 30 minutes west of Otter Creek area. Natural Bridge has been a unique but popular destination for many years.
























As you continue southward between mile marker 70 and around 80, you will be at the highest elevation on the parkway in Virginia at 3,950 feet. The next Visitors Center is the Peaks Of Otter.

This area is around mile marker 85. The Harkening Hills ridge is near the Peaks Of Otter. A unique site along the trail is Balancing Rock. This rock formation gives you a feel of a Zen garden setting.



As you continue heading south, you find yourself in the mist of the Jefferson National Forest.This stretch of highway runs around mile marker 90 through 120. The Virginia Explore Park Center is here. Below are three of views from the parkway looking towards Roanoke.

From Roanoke Mountain, you continue your travels south. A great area to rest awhile is at Smart View and have a picnic lunch. The drive continues on and it is not uncommon to be taking in the scenery of nature and all of a sudden in front of you are a few deer.

















You will reach the Rocky Knob Visitor Center around mile marker 170.



Rocky Knob itself stands 3,572 feet high and has views you won't want to miss. Just below the Rocky Knob Visitor Center is Maybry Mills. This area will take you back in time.

The flume or wooden trough was man made to take water from a nearby stream and use the water to power the mills. This is a great learning experience right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As you continue on past mile marker 180, in the distance is Groundhog Mountain. This has an elevation of 3,035 feet. Throughout the entire drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are endless native plant specimens such as Dogwoods, Mountain Laurels, Rhododendrons, and wild flowers. In the gallery of plant section, there are photos of some of these plant specimens.

Are your eyes getting tired from all the exciting sites on the parkway? There are actually hundreds of other wonderful scenery and stops along the way. It would take a book to show you all the delightful sites. I think I will stop here and leave the rest of the journey for the second page. It won't be long now until we enter the state of North Carolina.