The Blue Ridge Parkway reaches an elevation of 6,053 feet— the parkway's highest point— as it passes over Richland Balsam's southwestern slope.
Linville Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
are presented most Saturday evenings from late May through September. Linville Falls: The Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain and cascades through two falls (Linville Falls MP 316.4) as it begins a nearly 2,000-foot descent through this rugged and spectacularly beautiful gorge. Linville Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because of its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a spectacular three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” Two main hiking trails lead to views of Linville falls. Both begin at the Linville Falls Visitor Center and pass through remnants of a virgin hemlock forest mixed with other familiar tree species such as white pine, oaks, hickory, and birch. A colorful and varied display of wildflowers decorates the trails in spring. Red and golden leaves in fall beautifully contrast with the soothing green of hemlocks. The Linville Falls trails range in difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Crabtree Falls is located at Milepost 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway (about 45 miles north of Asheville) and is accessed by a woodland hiking trail with two options: an easier 3-mile hike to and from on the same trail, with a steady descent and return climb; or a more strenuous
3.5-mile loop trail that climbs a ridge above the falls. It's a beautiful hike, complete with plenty of wildflowers in the early summer. The 70-foot waterfall is definitely worth the trek. Craggy Gardens: Twisted, jagged, rocky “crags” give Craggy Gardens MP 364 its name, but these high elevation summits are home to the most spectacular floral display along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway corridor. For generations, visitors have headed for the Craggies in June, typically the prime time for viewing the pink and purple blooms of Catawba rhododendrons that blanket the area. Don’t despair if you miss the peak bloom of the rhododendron. Violets, blackberry, May-apple, and Turkscap lily burst onto the scene with color in this high- altitude portion of the parkway. The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is located at Milepost 364.4, with the spur to Craggy Gardens trails and picnic area at 367.6. Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at Milepost 451.2 (just 18 miles from the end of the parkway), it features the last hiking trail along the parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This peak (6,292 ft.) is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States—
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
COAST TO COAST SPRING MAGAZINE 2019
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