Scrapbook of the Blue Ridge Parkway - Roanoke to the Smokies

Scrapbook of the Blue Ridge Parkway - Roanoke to the Smokies

Page Type Page Type: Album
Additional Information Image Type(s): Scenery

My Road...

The Blue Ridge Parkway holds a special place in my memories. During my few years in the Southern Appalachians few things gave me as much pleasure as an afternoon out cruising the parkway. I have had the good fortune to live in Waynesville and Banner Elk, North Carolina; both towns that lie within 10 miles of the parkway. I used it as a gateway to dozens of trailheads, a means of relaxation after a long day, and one of the most scenic routes to a grocery store anyone can take in North America.

Every time I drove it I would remind myself that this was not a road to take for granted and when the time finally came to move back north I knew the Blue Ridge Parkway would be one of the things I would miss the most. Well, it's been almost a year now since I've had to look at one of those little brown signs and try to figure out if I wanted to go north or south (this was very confusing near Waynesville as the parkway actually travels east-west) and as my way of coping with my "BRP Withdrawl" I've put this little interactive scrapbook together. Some of these photos are more mundane than others but I think, as a whole, they capture all the things I loved most about it...the mountain farmlands of southern Virginia, the rugged overlooks of the High Country, and the top-of-the-world driving experince south of Asheville.

Take Your Time & Enjoy the drive!





Roanoke to Cumberland Knob...



Mill Mountain (Roanoke)Mabry MillMP 121 Road SceneRoanoke Valley OverlookVirginia's Explore ParkPoages Mill OverlookRoanoke MountainAdney Gap (US-221)Cahas Mountain ViewPine Spur OverlookTrails CabinThe Saddle (Buffalo Mt. View)Rock Castle Gorge OverlookGroundhog Mountain PanoramaPuckett CabinMP 195 Road ScenePiedmont View PanoramaBlue Ridge Music CenterVirginia-North Carolina State LineFox Hunters Paradise OverlookCumberland Knob


Cumberland Knob to Little Switzwerland...



Linn Cove ViaductLinville FallsChestoa ViewAlligator BackJumpinoff Rock
The LumpBeacon HeightsPrice LakeAlleghany CountyStone Mountain OverlookMahogony Rock OverlookDevils Garden OverlookBrinegar CabinIce RockDoughton Park Road SceneNorthwest Trading PostMt. Jefferson OverlookMP 268 Roadside ViewDeep Gap (US-421)Moses Cone ManorWilson Creek OverlookLinville GorgeAltapass (North Cove Valley Overlook)MP 333 Roadside View


Little Switzerland to Mt. Pisgah...



Crabtree Meadows ViewCrabtree FallsBlack Mountain OverlookMP 347 Roadside ViewCraggy Gardens AreaFrench Broad River CrossingChestnut Cove OverlookBad Fork Valley OverlookMt. Pisgah ViewHominy Valley OverlookBuck Springs Tunnel (Mt. Pisgah)Mt. Pisgah Picnic Area


Mt. Pisgah to the Smokies...




MP 430 - Roadside PanoramaGraveyard Fields OverlookMP 437 Roadside ViewCradle of Forestry OverlookWaterrock KnobCaney Fork Overlook (Reinhart Knob)Rough Butt Bald OverlookWagon Road Gap ViewPisgah Inn ViewMP 409.5 Road ScenePounding Mill OverlookLog Hollow OverlookEast Fork OverlookBlack Balsam Knob RoadDevils CourthouseBeech Gap - NC-215
Herrin Knob OverlookSpot Knob OverlookCowee Mountain OverlookHaywood-Jackson Overlook
Richland Balsam Overlook (Parkway High Point)Waynesville OverlookThe Orchards OverlookMt. Lyn Lowry OverlookWesner Bald OverlookSoco Gap (US-19)
Plott Balsam OverlookMile High Overlook (Balsam Mt. Road)Bunches Bald TunnelBig Witch OverlookBallhoot Scar OverlookRaven Fork OverlookOconaluftee River CrossingSouthern TerminusUS-441

Images

View Scrapbook of the Blue Ridge Parkway - Roanoke to the Smokies Image Gallery - 82 Images

Comments

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Viewing: 1-4 of 4
StarMan

StarMan - Jan 3, 2008 7:53 pm - Voted 10/10

Great Album

!

dwhike

dwhike - Jan 3, 2008 10:31 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Great Album

Thanks!

MarkDidier

MarkDidier - Jun 30, 2009 10:49 pm - Voted 10/10

Very Fond Memories!

Hey Dan,
I just stumbled across this album. Great post! I have very fond memories of "The Parkway" as well. In June 1982 I pedaled my bicycle over the entire route - part of a 2000 mile bicycle trip. I could go on for hours about the experience, particularly on the Blue Ridge. I still think that the mountains in Western NC are the most beautiful part of this incredible road. Great job on the album.

Regards,
Mark

dwhike

dwhike - Jul 1, 2009 5:17 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Very Fond Memories!

Thanks, I actually just spent a week in northern Virginia and was hoping to complete the last section of parkway down to Roanoke. Unfortunately, the two days we could have done it were extremely hot and hazy so I didn't figure it would be worth it. Oh well, another year perhaps. Cheers, Dan

Viewing: 1-4 of 4


Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.

Blue Ridge ParkwayAlbums