Crag Way Trail Loop-Grandfather Mountain-Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 299.9

Trail Head: Boone Fork Parking Area, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 299.5
GPS:
36.1199, -81.7815
Distance: 3.68  miles
Duration: 3 hrs 20 minutes
Elevation: 1,056 feet
Skill Level: Strenuous Hiking Trails


Overview: This is a very family walking trail in Blowing Rock North Carolina. It is part of the Moses Cone Memorial Park Trail system. The hike is about one mile in length but is a beautiful walk around the lake during any season. This hiking trail is a great stretch your legs type of hike after you have been driving in the car all day. Pets are welcomed on this trail but must be on a leash. I would definitely recommend this hike during the fall season for a brisk walk and great picture taking.


Tips:

  • Make sure you have comfortable hiking shoes
  • You must sign your name to the Grandfather Mountain List for the Ranger
  • Bring plenty of water at least 2 bottles and a back pack

Bass Lake Loop Trail Map


Photo Gallery

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Video View From Flat Rock View on Grandfather Mountain

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

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Linville Falls Erwin’s View Trail- Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 316.4

Linville Falls Erwin’s View Trail- Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 316.4

blueridgehikingtrails 40


Trail head: Milepost 316.4 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
1.9 miles
Duration: 25 minutes
Skill Level: Strenuous Hiking Trails


Overview:
Linville Falls is one of the major attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 316. Linville falls is located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina and is the beginning of Linville Gorge; the waterfalls are fed from the Linville River and flows down the mountain into Lake James near Marion, North Carolina.

There are two main trails to see the Linville Falls and upper trail and lower trail. This trip we took the upper trail Erwin’s View Trail and is approximately 0.8 miles; 1.6 miles round trip taking 45 minutes to 1hr and 30 minutes. Starting from the Linville Falls Visitor Center the 0.5 mile hike takes you to an overlook where visitors can see the two upper falls and the rushing water as it carves out the rock falling 150ft to the main waterfall. The Erwin’s View trail leads to 2 more overlooks, the Chimney overlook (0.7 miles) and Erwin’s View overlook (0.8 miles).Each overlook has a great view of the waterfalls and the Linville Gorge and a picture is well worth a thousand words once you reach the overlooks.


Tips:

  • Make sure you go to the bathroom at the visitor center before you start your hike whether you take the upper or lower trail.
  • Make sure you bring a water bottle.
  • Make sure you bring a camera for pictures.
  • Make sure you wear sneakers or hiking shoes.

Linville Falls Trail Map
linville falls trail map


Photo Gallery

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Crabtree Falls-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 339.5

Crabtree Falls-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 339.5

crabtree-falls


Trail head: Milepost 339.5 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
2.6 miles
Duration: 2 hrs
Skill Level: Moderate/Strenuous Hiking Trails


Overview:


Tips:

  • Make sure you have comfortable hiking shoes
  • There is a bathroom and a water fountain at the parking lot
  • Waterfall Picture taking bring camera

Crabtree Falls Loop Trail Map
crabtree falls


Photo Gallery

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Linn Cove Viaduct-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 304-Tanawha Trail

Linn Cove Viaduct-Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 304-Tanawha Trail

linn cove viaduct


Trail head: Milepost 304 Blue Ridge Parkway
Distance:
.08 mile
Duration: 1 hr
Skill Level: Moderate/ Strenuous Hiking Trails


Overview:
Probably one of the most interesting hikes I have been on yet. Starting from the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center milepost 304.6 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. As you travel through the parking lot to the trail head which takes you on a nice pleasant walk under the viaduct where you can gaze at the amazing modern marvel of construction and hear the many cars traveling overhead. This very short hike is about 900 feet.

This small section is part of the Tanawha Trail which is 13.5 miles long in total distance winding along the Blue Ridge Parkway mountains. For the more adventurous looking for an amazing picture opportunity and seeing the whole viaduct…this is the trail for you. Continue up the wooden stairs as the trail winds up and down through a maze of rocks, boulders, and rock staircases. This is one of the most different types of trails I have been on. I would recommend if kids are going they are at least ages 5 and up and accompanied by an adult on either side. There are some slight drop offs along the trail. There is even one part that you are traveling through the rocks almost like a tunnel. Along the trail there is a bridge where Wilson’s Creek runs under and a pretty coll waterfall to see.  As you near the end of the viaduct about an hour later there is a fork in the road; take the fork with the red ribbon to the right. The trail going straight continues as part of the Tanawha Trail.  The red ribbon indicates you have made it to one of the most distinctive picture taking points of the Blue Ridge Parkway. You have seen this vantage point in many pictures and magazines about the Blue Ridge Parkway Not only will you be elevated above the parkway but above the viaduct watching cars come around the bend as they travel over the viaduct.


Tips:

  • Hiking Shoes
  • Water Bottle
  • Camera and Video Recorder
  • Not For Kids under 5 years old
  • Very Rocky up and down elevations

Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center Trail Map
linn cove viaduct


Photo Gallery

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Bass Lake-Moses Cone Memorial Park-Blowing Rock

Bass Lake-Moses Cone Memorial Park-Blowing Rock

BRHT3


Trail head: Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Distance:
1 mile
Duration: 25 minutes
Skill Level: Easy/Moderate Hiking Trails


Overview: This is a very family walking trail in Blowing Rock North Carolina. It is part of the Moses Cone Memorial Park Trail system. The hike is about one mile in length but is a beautiful walk around the lake during any season. This hiking trail is a great stretch your legs type of hike after you have been driving in the car all day. Pets are welcomed on this trail but must be on a leash. I would definitely recommend this hike during the fall season for a brisk walk and great picture taking.


Tips:

  • Make sure you have comfortable shoes
  • There is a bathroom and a water fountain at the parking lot
  • Make sure your pet is on a leash
  • There are no bicycles allowed on this trail system due to horseback riding

Bass Lake Loop Trail Map
bass lake loop


Photo Gallery

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