The Blue Ridge Parkway in NC is a scenic road that spans 469 miles, from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in southwestern North Carolina. It is home to a bounty of flora and fauna and is known for its stunning beauty. And lucky for all of us it happens to be one of the best Fall destinations in the entire country.
So, in the coming weeks we hope you get to travel to and enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway and the many Fall activities it offers visitors.
Leaf Peeping
Grab your camera and take a ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway to photograph the changing colors. The Blue Ridge Mountains offer one of the longest-running fall color seasons in the world. Leaf peeping is the best way to enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall.
For over a month, you can spot changes in the leaves that begin in the highest elevations in early October, and continue to the lower elevations until early November. With elevations that reach up to 6,683 ft. you will have plenty to explore!
Some Of Our Favorite Spots
- Looking Glass Rock Overlook
- Graveyard Fields
- Craggy Pinnacle
- Linn Cove Viaduct
- Rough Ridge
Hiking
There are over 4,000 miles of hiking trails off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There are so many different kind of hikes on the Parkway. You can experience hikes to waterfalls like the three falls you can see on the Deep Creek Trail or two you can hike to at Linville Falls…Linville and then Duggers. There are hikes on mountain balds like the ones at Black Balsam Knob. There are hikes along the ridgeline like the Grandfather Trail just a mile off the Parkway in the State Park. There’s even hikes like Graveyard Fields and Craggy Gardens where you are in a canopy of rhododendron.
The diversity of the hiking on the North Carolina stretch of the BRP for me is unmatched.
Some Of Our Favorite Hikes
- Deep Creek Trail
- Art Loeb Trail
- Crabtree Falls
- Grandfather Mtn Profile Trail – adjacent to the Parkway in the state park
- Upper Graveyard Fields
- Devil’s Courthouse
Picnicking
Picnics aren’t just meant for the summer. With its falling leaves and crisp sunny days, autumn at the Blue Ridge Parkway is the perfect picnic setting. There are different picnic areas along the Parkway open daily from sunrise to sunset. Many of these picnic spots provide fire rings, a grilling area and picnic tables so you can comfortably enjoy your meal.
The Crabtree Falls Picnic Area at Milepost 339.5, Julian Price Park at Milepost 296.4 and the Linville River Picnic Area near Milepost 316.5 are all fantastic examples. These provide plenty of lakeside spots, charcoal grills, water fountains, shelters and onsite restrooms.
There’s also just a ton of good overlooks with large parking areas that are perfect for a picnic as well!
Some Of Our Favorite Overlooks For A Picnic
- Crabtree Falls
- Linville Falls
- Thunder Hill
- Price Park and Lake
- Mt. Pisgah
- Thunder Struck
- Glassmine Falls
Camping
The Blue Ridge Parkway provides several wonderful campgrounds that are open seasonally. Most will remain open from May through late October before shutting down in winter, making them a great place to visit for the fall season.
Campgrounds that remain open till October 30th include the Linville Falls Campground at Milepost 316.4 and the Mount Pisgah Campground at Milepost 408.8. Nearly all of these parkway campgrounds offer drinking water, restrooms, picnic tables and grills. Showering facilities are also available at the Mt. Pisgah Campground and the Price Park Campground. Check out the complete list of campgrounds and their opening hours here.
Some Of Our Favorite Spots To Camp Near Or On The Parkway
- Black Balsam Knob
- Davidson River Campground
- Grandfather Mountain
- Buck Creek Dispersed Camping and Carolina Hemlock
- Linville Falls Campground
- Price Lake Campground
Scenic Drives
Nothing beats a Blue Ridge Parkway scenic drive. In fact, the last four years we have driven the entire length of the Parkway during fall to take it all in and I can assure it you it never gets old.
If you are heading out in early October, we recommend heading to Rough Ridge at Milepost 302.8, Mt. Mitchell north of Asheville or Graveyard Fields south of Asheville where the first color changes begin. Later in the season, the southern part of the drive near Cherokee and then into Great Smoky Mountains National Park becomes absolutely amazing. Partner the BRP part of the drive with a drive up Newfound Gap Road in the Park and just WOW!!!!
Some Of The Best Stops On Your Scenic Drive
- Thunder Hill for sunrise
- Beacon Heights and Rough Ridge – both short hikes but amazing views
- Chestoa View – an underrated view most people ignore
- Fryingpan Mountain Tower – an easy hike to an epic view
- Cowee Mountain Overlook – the best sunset view on the Parkway tied with Thunder Struck imo.
Wildlife Viewing
The Blue Ridge Parkway is known for offering a unique set of habitats that support several species of plants and animals, including a mix of rare and endangered varieties.
Species range from black bears and elks to migrating birds and over 40 species of reptiles and amphibians. Keep an eye out for a beaver, elk, peregrine falcon and river otters that are present along the parkway.
Each fall brings about vast bird migrations. And around the Asheville and Brevard area you have a great chance to see eagles! It is a must-do activity just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall. Catalocchee Valley and the Ocnonaluftee River offer great opportunities to see elk.
Some Of The Best Places To See Wildlife On The Parkway
- South Of Craggy Gardens (bear spotting)
- East Fork Of The Pigeon River and Shining Rock Wilderness (bear spotting)
- Oconaluftee Visitor Center (elk and turkeys)
- Cataloochee Valley (elk, turkey, bear)
- Black Balsam Knob (bear)
Photography
The Blue Ridge Parkway is renowned for its scenic beauty, particularly during the autumn months, when the southern Appalachian Mountains in fall showcase vibrant autumn colors. This is also one of the most popular times of the year for photographers to visit and capture the beauty of these mountains.
Some popular photo spots around the parkway include the Waterrock Knob, which will place you at the highest point around the Blue Ridge Parkway. Or you could head to the Cowee Mountain Overlook if you want to photograph the sunset with a series of mountain peaks.
Some Of Our Favorite Spots For Photography
- Linn Cover Viaduct at sunrise. It’s probably overshot at this point but it is ICONIC.
- Bridge On Boone Fork Trail – epic under a canopy of orange leaves
- Rhodo tunnels and gnarled sweet birch trees at Craggy Garden
- Cataloochee Valley and Oconaluftee Visitor Center for photographs of the elk
- Looking Glass Falls – just get there early
- Cowee Mountain Overlook at Sunset
Arts and Crafts Galleries
Western NC is rich in arts and culture. Places like the Southern Highland Craft Guild is perhaps one of the most significant art venues around the parkway. It was established in 1928 and continues to educate and inspire creativity and love for the arts in new generations.
The gallery represents over 800 Appalachian makers of contemporary and traditional craft works from 9 different states.
Some Of Our Favorite Museums/Galleries/Historical Sites Off The Parkway
- Moses Cone Manor
- Folk Art Center
- NC Arboretum (just off Parkway in Asheville NC)
- Southern Highlands Craft Guild
- Museum Of North Carolina Minerals
- Museum Of The Cherokee Indian (in Cherokee, NC couple miles passed the southern end of the BRP)
Star Gazing
Fall doesn’t just bring a change of color; it also offers a change above in the skies. Autumn is one of the best times of the year to go stargazing in NC. It starts to grow dark early but temperatures are comfy enough to spend time outdoors. The early parts of October are the last really good opportunities to see and photograph the Milky Way in Western NC before winter hits.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is far from most large cities in NC and is one of the darkest places in the state. There are so many overlooks around the parkway that allow you to settle in and gaze at the heavens above.
Some Of Our Favorite Stargazing Spots
- Black Balsam Knob
- Fork Ridge Overlook
- Caney Fork Overlook
- Wiseman’s View just off the Parkway in Linville
- Bare Dark Sky Observatory (30 minutes drive north of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Burnsville
Fall Festivals
There are many Fall Festivals that are hosted along the Blue Ridge Parkway starting in late September and leading on till early November. You will find a complete list of the upcoming Fall Festivals on the Blue Ridge Parkway website.
Perhaps the most anticipated now is the Blowing Rock Halloween Festival scheduled for October 28th. It is one of the top Wesrtern NC Fall activities. Off the parkway and further south in Western NC, Halloween on Main in Highlands NC is something to truly experience.
Blue Ridge Music Trails
The mountains of Western North Carolina hold special festivities that celebrate music. Most popular is the Blue Ridge Music Trails, an initiative between the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and the North Carolina Arts Council to celebrate and preserve the rich music traditions of the region.
The Blue Ridge Music Sites span across 29 North Carolina counties, 25 of which are in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. All of these feature traditional North Carolina mountain music, live dancing, ballad singing and much more. Check out their events page to see upcoming October events.
Final Thoughts
Head to the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall to enjoy the changing colors, abundant wildlife and plethora of outdoor activities! Although it is great year-round “America’s favorite drive” is the perfect way to enjoy fall to the fullest.
NOTE: Because it is such a great time to be on the Parkway, the road can become congested around Blowing Rock, Linville, and Asheville. Be respectful to others, don’t walk on the viaduct, pick up trash, and let everyone enjoy the views! After all, public lands are all of ours so we need to both respect and share it!
