North or South Asheville to See Blue Ridge Parkway
Within a few minutes of driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will quickly understand why it is commonly referred to as "America's Favorite Drive." The Blue Ridge Parkways runs north and south from Asheville, NC with plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic overlooks. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile, non-stop recreational road managed by the National Park Service. There are no entrance fees and most of the activities are free. Looking back at this stop as well as Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we can't believe how beautiful this area is. We are hoping to go back one year to see the fall colors.
North Carolina Arboretum
If you're looking for a place to really appreciate nature, head to the North Carolina Arboretum. It is a very educational and beautiful stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The arboretum is 434 acres with spectacular garden areas as well as hiking and biking trails. Our favorite garden was the Quilt Garden. There is a beautiful stone overlook which is a great place to take pictures of the quilt representation.
If you are visiting during the Spring, be sure to check the gardens out. The Spring in North Carolina is beautiful.
Here is a summary of some of the hiking and biking trails –
Natural Garden Trail – A 0.75-mile walking trail from the Plants of Promise Garden to the Core Area Gardens.
Carolina Mountain Trail – A 1.2-mile trail connecting the production greenhouse with the Core Garden areas. You will find pine, mixed hardwood and ericaceous forest types along the trail.
Bent Creek Road Trail – A 1.3-mile walking and biking trail lined with Appalachian wildflowers and ferns.
There is a $16 parking fee per vehicle.
Mount Pisgah
There is a variety of different activities and services at Mount Pisgah. The views are beautiful and there is hiking, picnic areas, a campground, lodge and restaurant. The Mount Pisgah Restaurant is one of the few restaurants in the area.
The hike to the top of Mount Pisgah is 2.6 miles round-trip with 750 feet in elevation gain. We hiked a portion of the trail to check out the area but didn't end up making it to the top with the kiddos. The trail starts out pretty flat for about the first .8 miles. After that, the trail veers to the left and becomes more narrow and steep.
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 347 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Fryingpan Mountain's fire tower is 70 feet tall and is the tallest fire tower in North Carolina. We love climbing the fire lookouts because of the amazing views. If you want to see amazing views but you don't want the long hike that Mount Pisgah requires, this is an arguably equal view but a much shorter hike. This is a shorter hike perfect for families. My four-year-olds walked the whole way and climbed the tower. From the top, you can see the entire Balsam Mountains range as well as Cold Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, Mount Pisgah with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the distance.
The hiking trail to the tower is flat with a gradual uphill grade. It is wide with lots of places to let the kids explore.
Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks
There are a bunch of overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped and explored at the Funnel Top Overlook. The views are just stunning as you drive so be sure to leave some time for the overlooks. Often times these overlooks will have connecting trails or other points of interest so don't be afraid to do some exploring.
Here is a list of some of the best overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville listed by mile marker:
361.2 – Glassmine Falls (elev. 5200)
409.3 – Funnel Top Overview (elev. 4925)
411.8 – Wagon Road Gap (elev. 4535)
412.5 – Pigeon Gap (elev. 4520)
417.0 – Looking Glass Rock (elev. 4492)
422.4 – Devil's Courthouse (elev. 5462)
You really can't go wrong with any of the viewpoints. Enjoy the beautiful drive along the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway.
Black Balsam Knob via the Art Loeb Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 347 Feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
This is a beautiful North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway trail that will take you through a dense forest of balsam fir trees to a meadow filled with beautiful wildflowers. Once you reach the black balsam knob there are beautiful views of the surrounding Pisgah forest. The top is a beautiful place for a picnic before starting the hike back to the trailhead.
If you want a longer hike, you can continue on the Art Loeb trail.
Graveyard Fields Loop Trail
Length: 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 305 feet
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
This is a very popular hiking trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hike to the waterfall is short or you can continue through the loop to the meadow and a second waterfall. The lower falls is about .33 miles from the parking area. There are quite a few steps you have to go up on your way back to the parking area.
This is one of the few trailheads along the Blue Ridge Parkway with a restroom.
Skinny Dip Falls Trail
Length: 0.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 187 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
This is a fun swimming hole that your entire family will enjoy. There is a small decline on the trail into Skinny Dip Falls, leading to a modest incline on the way back to the trailhead. My four-year-old twins hiked out, needing only a few breaks along the way. There were quite a few people at the swimming hole during our visit. If you visit earlier in the day, you can avoid the crowds. Rowen and Raven enjoyed finding rocks in the river and exploring the stream.
Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock is a natural water slide in Pisgah National Forest. It is a 60-foot flat sloping boulder that leads into an eight-foot-deep pool. The water is a chilly 50-60 degrees making it the perfect stop on a hot summer day. Even if you don't want to get wet, there are plenty of areas on rocks and observation decks to watch.
You can slide year-round during daylight hours but from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend lifeguards and restrooms are available from 9 am to 8 pm. After Labor Day weekend, the area is staffed on the weekends until October 31. Sliding Rock is the busiest from noon- 4 pm. Visiting outside these hours means you won't have to wait in line as long between each slide. When lifeguards are on duty there is a daily fee of $4 per person.
Moore Cove Falls
Length: 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain – 154 feet
Route Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
This is an easy hike the entire family will enjoy. It is a beautiful trail that is flat for the most part and wide enough that the kids can enjoy exploring the forest. It was one of our favorite waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The falls are about 50 feet high and pour over a rock overhang. There isn't a lot of water that pours over compared to some of the other falls in the area, but it is still worth a visit.
The bottom of the waterfall is muddy but if you don't mind the mud, it is a fun waterfall to play in and explore. My kids loved this waterfall.
Looking Glass Falls
This is one of the easiest waterfalls to see in North Carolina. It is just on the side of the road. There are steps leading to the bottom of the falls if you want a closer look. The waterfall is 60 feet tall. Looking Glass Falls is a perfect quick stop when driving Blue Ridge Parkway.
If you have more time, we recommend continuing your drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You will find more stunning waterfalls, amazing views and great hiking trails:
Read More: Exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Best Hiking Trails and Waterfalls
Here is a map of our favorite stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway –
How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to "Your Place" and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.
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Source: https://csginger.com/must-see-stops-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway-near-asheville/