Stack Rock Overlook-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 304.8

Stack Rock Overlook-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 304.8

stack-rock-overlook-trail


Trail Head:
Distance:
Duration:
Skill Level:


Overview:


Tips:

  • Great hike to stretch your legs after driving
  • Perfect hiking trail for kids and very safe
  • Bring a bottle of water and hiking shoes
  • You could wear sneakers on this hike and be fine as well

Map:


Photo Gallery

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow

Price Lake Loop-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 296.7

Price Lake Loop-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 296.7

Price Lake Loop 47


Trail head: Milepost 296.7 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
2 miles
Duration: 56 minutes
Skill Level: Moderate Hiking Trails


Overview:
The Price Lake loop trail is part of the Julian Price memorial park trails. From the Parking lot at the front of the lake at milepost 296.7.We went left around the lake and followed the path through the rhododendrons as we passed many opening with different views of the lake. We saw people fishing, canoeing, and sitting on benches enjoying the sounds and breeze of the lake. The trail winds around sometimes very close to the shore of the lake and you will have to cross many small and large bridges on the trail. We even got to see beavers and the dam they built towards the back of the lake. We even passed the boathouse were you can rent canoes and kayak for an adventure on the lake. The lake is at an elevation of 3410 feet. Continue past the campground entrance and you will end of back at the parking lot where you started. Price Lake is a wonderful hike and is worth a first or second trip during the fall foliage.


Tips:

  • Make sure you have comfortable shoes
  • Make sure your pet is on a leash
  • Family friendly trail
  • Nice Lake Views

Price Lake Loop Trail Map
bass lake loop


Photo Gallery

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow

Craggy Gardens & Pinnacle-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 364

Craggy Gardens & Pinnacle-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 364

BRHT42


Trail head: Milepost 364 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
0.9 miles
Duration: 60 minutes
Skill Level: Moderate Hiking Trail


Overview:
Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle Trail is one of the most beautiful trails to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway when the Rhododendrons are blooming forming a canopy of magenta and purple color against the greenery and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Craggy Gardens is located on milepost 364 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and is about 1hr 30 min from Banner Elk North Carolina.

Your trail hike starts in the parking lot…we parked in the lower parking lot showing you a magnificent  180 degree panoramic video of the Blue Ridge mountains. Then continue to the upper parking lot where you will see the parkway sign “Craggy Dome” the trail head is just on the other side indicated by a sign. The first part of the trail is covered by color as the plants create a canopy in which you walk under on the trail. The first part of the journey is a gradual climb; then you reach a bend and a nice elevated rock with a view.

The trail then leans more upward until it reaches a fork to the right where there is a plateau and many scenic overlooks. As you loop back around the trail with a sign states left to the upper lookout and right to the lower lookout. The lower lookout just allows you to see the visitor center and the mountains in the distance about a 180 degree view. If you want to feel like you are on top of the world take the upper lookout trail until you reach the rock wall with stairs. As you emerge from the stairs you will see a 360 degree lookout with a beautiful scenic landscape of the Blue Ridge mountains, the Asheville watershed lake, and more.

What goes up must come down as the walk down the mountain trail is a lot more easier than going up.


Tips:

  • Great Mountain Views
  • Family friendly trail
  • Moderate Hiking Trails
  • Hiking shoes or sneakers
  • Camera or video recorder
  • Bottle of water
  • Plan the hike on a nice sunny day

Craggy Gardens Trail Map
craggy pinnacle


Photo Gallery

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow

Cascades Trail-E.B. Jeffress Park-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 271.9

Cascades Trail-E.B. Jeffress Park-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 271.9

cascades waterfall-blueridgehikingtrails-com


Trail head: Milepost 271.9 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
0.9 miles
Duration: 55 minutes
Skill Level: Moderate Hiking Trail

Overview:
Trail head starts off at the E.B.Jeffress Park overlook at milepost 271.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Past the bathrooms and down the trail the path takes you until you reach a series of steps, the a bridge that crosses Falls Creek which is part of the water for the Cascades waterfall. As you continue down the trail to see and step down many sets of stairs until you come to a stone staircase which leads you to more stairs downwards until you reach the cascades falls. The water fall runs from right to left and is many stories tall. Once you take your photos and head back up a few flights of stairs you then head towards the right and loop around towards the parking lot. there are many picnic benches here for lunch or a snack before or after your hike.

Tips:
  • Water bottle
  • Regular shoes or sneakers would be fine for this hike
  • Would recommend this hike to families with small kids

Cascades Trail Map
cascades falls


Photo Gallery

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow


Directions To The Cascades Waterfall

Green Knob Trail-Julian Price Park-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 295.9

Green Knob Trail-Julian Price Park-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 295.9

Green Knob Trail BRP 69

Trail head: Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 295.9
Distance:
2 miles
Duration: 1 hour
Skill Level: Moderate Hiking Trails

Overview:
Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway to milepost 295.9 and park in the overlook. There is a small lake called Sims Pond, and waterfall here and a map of the green knob and which is part of the Julian Price memorial park trail system. After crossing the bridge over the waterfall, continue around the pond on the trail. The trail crosses and runs along the creek then starts to ascend the mountain, the path then go under the blue ridge parkway bridge at Sims Creek Overlook. The trail continues along the creek and climbs the mountain until you reach the green pasture. Then continue up the road and follow the stone arrow signs. The trail heads back into the woods and downwards back in to a field with a mountain view. The trail then continues to loop around and ends up back at the road across from the overlook and the Sims Pond.

Tips:
  • Hiking Shoes and Water bottle
  • Intermediate hike for families with small kids

Green Knob Trail Map
green knob trail map


Photo Gallery

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow

Lover’s Leap Trail Hot Springs, NC

Lover’s Leap Trail Hot Springs, NC

Lovers Leap Trail

Lover’s Leap Trail Hike located in Hot Springs, NC is part of the Appalachian Trail and a 1.6 mile loop. From the Silvermine Trailhead walk down the road and get on the Appalachian Trail (white blazes) along the French Broad River. After about 0.5 mile the trail climbs steeply to Lover’s Leap ridge. When this trail reaches the ridge, there are rock outcrops with numerous overlooks.Panoramic views of the French Broad River and town of Hot Springs make this trail one of the best in Madison County. Return on the Lover’s Leap Trail (blue blazes) and descend to the trailhead.

The old legend says a beautiful Cherokee maid was deeply in love when another Indian brave challenged her lover for her hand. They fought and her lover died in the fight. In total heartbreak (and rather than marry the victor) she climbed to the rocky ledge that overhangs the French Broad River and jumped to her death; thus the name “Lover’s Leap.”

 

*Click on thumbnails for larger viewing and slideshow