The Cabin
~The Blue Ridge Parkway~
Gateway to Nature
Designed especially for motor recreations, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides quiet, leisurely travel, free from commercial development and the congestion of today�s modern highways.
Native trees and plants border the roadside. Overlooks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and wayside exhibits turn a pleasant drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway into a memorable motoring adventure.
But the Blue Ridge Parkway is more than just a wandering byway; it�s an avenue to some of the area�s most popular parks and hiking tails, bringing you closer to nature and all its wonders.
For your convenience, mileposts are placed along the Parkway to let you know where you are and to help you locate the scenic attractions and trails along its path.
North of Blowing Rock at Milepost 294, this park is one of the chief Parkway recreation areas. The 3, 600 acre park offers bridle paths, hiking trails, trout streams, two lakes and a craft center in the Manor House.
South of Blowing Rock, located at Milepost 297, this park features campgrounds, picnic grounds, boat rentals, fishing, interpretive programs and popular hiking trails like Boone Fork and Tanawha.
At Milepost 241, Doughton Park is the largest recreation area on the Parkway. It offers campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, fishing, a restaurant and gas station.
This 7,600 acre tract has been preserved to provide a primitive natural environment. The steep walls of the Gorge enclose Linville River which descends 2,000 feet in only 12 miles. Access to Linville Gorge Wilderness Area is by foot trails via a Forest Service Road off US 221 at the Linville Falls Community exit. Look for Milepost 317. Also, seeLinville Gorge
Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet, is the highest peak in Eastern America. A short walk takes you to the observation tower on top. Picnicking, hiking, nature study, and limited camping are available. Mount Mitchell State Park is located at Milepost 355. See also,Mt. Mitchell.
In Ashe County, Mount Jefferson State Park offers 539 undeveloped acres. There is picnicking, hiking, and nature study.
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals is near Spruce Pine at Milepost 331. Exhibits feature more than 300 different kinds of rocks and minerals found in North Carolina. There is choice prospecting for gems and minerals in the vicinity.
Located in the Appalachian Mountains of Ashe and Watauga Counties, this 26.5 mile long stretch of river has been named a national wildlife and scenic river. It�s one of the few rivers in the world that flows north. Canoeing, rafting, tubing and fishing are popular here. See also,New River.
The Pisgah National Forest offers lake and stream fishing, as well as large and small game. Public campgrounds have sites for tents and trailers under 22 ft. Roan Mountain and the Linville Gorge Wilderness area are both located within the Pisgah National Forest.
Here you�ll find the world�s largest natural gardens of crimson-purple rhododendron. Roan Mountain is near Bakersville in the Pisgah National Forest recreation area. Peak bloom occurs in mid-June and can be viewed on casual walks on a variety of trails.
This park is named for its 600 ft. high granite formation, three miles in circumference at the base. Fishing, hiking, and nature study are available in this virtually undeveloped park area. Stone Mountain State Park is located in Alleghany County. See also,Stone Mt.
