Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway (National Park Service)
To get more involved in helping protect this special place, contact the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation at www.brpfoundation.org or the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway at www.blueridgefriends.org. ... The Blue Ridge Parkway, sometimes called "America's Favorite Drive", is the most visited unit of America's National Park System. A drive down the Parkway provides stunning, long range vistas and close-up looks at the natural and cultural history of the southern Appalachian mountains. It is designed as a drive-awhile and stop-awhile experience, so please don't be in a hurry. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway: Things Recreational
- The Blue RidgeParkway is managed as a preserve for wildlife. No hunting is allowed, and all weapons from slingshots to shotguns are carefully controlled. Spotlighting wildlife atnight is also illegal. Loaded weapons are illegal inside the park boundaries. Whentraveling on park roads, all weapons must be unloaded and either rendered inoperable orinaccessible. Concealed weapons are illegal on park land even with a state permit. TheParkway offers special permits to individuals who wish to access U.S. Forest Service landfor the purpose of hunting. The permit allows access only from certain Parkway overlooks,and the conditions of the permit must be followed exactly. Information on the HunterParking Permit program is available at local ranger offices, from rangers in the field,and from park headquarters. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway: Peaks of Otter
Todaythe Peaks of Otter is still a major developed area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The motorroad follows the crest of the ridge into the Peaks area, where Highway 43 joins theParkway from Bedford. In the valley formed by Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill, thearea has a lodge and restaurant, visitor center, campground, picnic area and historicfarm. The mountains all have trails ranging from less than a mile to more than four miles,and there is nearby access to the 2,144 mile Appalachian Trail. In addition, the area isalmost totally surrounded by the Jefferson National Forest, which only adds to its appealas a destination for Parkway visitors. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, VA General Management Plan - Superintendent's Note
The Blue Ridge Parkway was the first national rural parkway to be conceived, designed, and constructed as a leisure-type driving experience. Its varied topography and numerous vista points offer easy public access to spectacular views of southern Appalachian rural landscapes and forested mountains. As an example of pre- and post-war automotive rural parkway design, the Blue Ridge Parkway retains the greatest degree of integrity of any parkway in the United States. The parkway is further recognized throughout the world as an international example of landscape and engineering design achievements with a roadway that lays easily on the land and blends into the landscape. The parkway is the highest and longest continuous route in the Appalachian area. Along its 469-mile length the parkway provides scenic access to crests and ridges of five major ranges within the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, encompassing geographic and vegetative zones that range from 649 feet at James Riv ... [Read More]
Geology of Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles along the crests of the Southern Appalachians and links two eastern national parks: Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. ... Blue Ridge Parkway home page ... Southern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway intersects with U.S. 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Reservation. ... [Read More]
Most visitors to a national park make their first stop at a visitor center
These expanded pages of ourweb site will help you explore the Blue Ridge Parkway even more carefully while planningyour trip here. The park information line at (828) 298 0398 also has informationupdated on a daily basis. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway: Appalachian Culture
Although the Blue Ridge Parkway isseen primarily as a scenic byway with plenty of natural attractions, it is also across-section of Appalachian mountain history. Stretching almost 500 miles along the crestof the Blue Ridge mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, it encompasses some ofthe oldest settlements of both pre-historic and early European settlement. It is possibleto trace much of the 200-year-plus history of Appalachian culture simply by keeping youreyes open and attuned to what remnants are left. ... [Read More]
Parkway in Virginia
-Plans for the Blue Ridge Music Center began over a decade ago when the city of Galax, VA,long known for its link to traditional and old-time music, gave one thousand acres of landto the Blue Ridge Parkway for the purpose of building a music center devoted to thepreservation and interpretation of regional music. The first phase of the projectconsists of an outdoor amphitheater, an instrument builders' shop, restrooms, and parkingfacilities. Throughout the past two summers, performances by national and regionalbands have filled the arena each weekend. Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury andothers have taken the stage of the Blue Ridge Music Center. In the fall of 2003,groundbreaking took place on the interpretive facility that will eventually tell the fullstory of the music of these mountains. Check out the full concert schedule for 2004 athttp://www.ncta.net. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway: Rocky Knob and Mabry Mill
Todaythe Rocky Knob area offers many diversions for the visitor, including a visitor center,campground, and cabins. Located near the intersection of the Parkway with Virginia Route8, the Rocky Knob recreation area covers more than 4,000 acres. Interpretive talks anddemonstrations are given in the summer months, and four trails offer a variety of scenicand historical wonders. ... Campground - The Parkway operates a campground (milepost 167.1) with sites for 81 tents and 28 trailers. Facilities include water, comfort stations with flush toilets and sinks but no showers or hook-ups. Nighttime is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the 100-capacity campfire circle where interpretive programs are given on summer weekends. ... [Read More]
Blue Ridge Parkway: Educational Guide
Since the Blue Ridge Parkway wasconstructed, rangers have provided programs for the public to teach the natural andcultural history of the Appalachian Mountains. Understanding the relationship betweenhumans and the environment is vital for the preservation of both. Two volumes of "AnAppalachian Curriculum" are available for teachers. These educationalactivities are geared to the North Carolina and Virginia learning standards andprovide educational activities for visits to various Parkway locations. Contact theclosest Parkway office for details on the programs available. ... [Read More]
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