The Blue Ridge Parkway has countless attractions along its windy, mountain road. These are just a few of the must-see spots along the southern end of this highway.
With 469 miles, 26 tunnels, and nearly 200 overlooks there’s a lot to see on this scenic drive through North Carolina and Virginia. Recently my friend and I took a road trip to explore the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped to explore as much as we could and in the coming weeks you’ll be seeing a lot about our trip. This week, we are covering the best places along the southern quarter of the Parkway that you must put on your list. Keep reading to learn more about them and tips for your drive.
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Starting from Chattanooga
We began our scenic drive closer to home by leaving early to try to catch the sunrise over the Ocoee Lake. However, we quickly learned this is not possible. Nowhere along Highway 64 can you see the sunrise. The road and surrounding mountains are angled just enough to hide the sun from view. But you can still enjoy the early morning colors.
We finished our scenic stops with a view from Boyd Gap. This is a spot my friend showed me that I never knew existed! It has a short, road entrance from Highway 64 right before you exit the Ocoee Park. And it’s on the right side of the road, making it a perfect addition to any North Carolina road trip. Again, you can’t see the sunrise from here, but you can see the sunset. But if you don’t have time for the sunset here, it’s still a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains.
Blue Ridge Parkway Southern Terminus
The Blue Ridge Parkway technically ends in Cherokee, North Carolina. But this is where our adventure begins. It’s the southern terminus of the parkway starting at mile marker 469.1. Over the next 4 weeks I’ll be sharing everything we explored as we traveled over one-quarter of the length of the highway.
Overlooks and Tunnels of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Probably the biggest attraction of this scenic highway are the overlooks. With nearly 200 over the 469 mile stretch of road, there’s more than enough to look at. Some overlooks are favored over others. For example, a local says the sunset can best be viewed from the Cowee Mountain Overlook. We didn’t have a chance to give this a try on this trip, but maybe one day we can.
Another attraction of the Parkway are all the tunnels. Some are longer than others, but they all cut underneath ridges and peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below is an example of one such tunnel, the Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel. Most tunnels do not have a place to pull-off nearby for photos, but a few (including this one) do.
Most of the tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway are located within this southern quarter of the Parkway. So if you’re looking for tunnels, starting in Cherokee is the best way to see a lot of them.
Waterfalls Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
There are tons of waterfalls on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, however most are not directly off the highway. Some take an extra twenty minutes to drive to from the Parkway. But there are a couple waterfalls that can be enjoyed without having to leave the scenic road.
Woodfin Cascades
Woodfin Cascades can be visited by parking at the Woodfin Cascades Overlook. However, don’t let the name fool you. The waterfall is actually across the street from the overlook. This spot is on a blind curve, so you need to be careful crossing the road. Once you cross, walk towards the railing on the side of the road. Soon you’ll see Woodfin Cascades. The view from this vantage point is great, but if you want a closer look, you’ll have to carefully climb the steep trail down to the base. This trail is unmarked and is between the railing and the marked trail. I have not hiked the marked trail but have heard that there’s no waterfall views from this one.
Glassmine Falls
Glassmine Falls cannot be accessed as closely. However, unlike Woodfin Cascades, this waterfall can be seen directly from the parking area for Glassmine Falls. The 800-foot waterfall is quite distant so you may wish to bring some binoculars or a high-zoom camera to really view it. As you can see from the photo below, I used my zoom lens for this one. This is as close to the waterfall as you can possibly get. It might not be quite as exciting, but it demonstrates the sheer size of the Blue Ridge Mountains in all their grandeur.
Highest Point on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Richland Balsam is the highest point that the Blue Ridge Parkway reaches. Standing at 6,053 feet high, you can imagine the views from the overlook here. Many people love to take their photos with the sign. Please be considerate of others while you are here. Many people pulled up right next to the sign when there was plenty of parking across from it. This made it difficult to take pictures. Thankfully most people don’t linger here too long, and we were able to capture some photos.
Wildlife Sightings
Speaking of being considerate, there’s more than just people to be mindful of here. My friend and I were shocked when we spotted a mama bear and her cubs beside the road. We stopped to take videos and photos from a safe distance within the car. As soon as another car came up behind us, we moved on to the next pull-off. Sadly, everyone else we witnessed after this moment did not consider other people or the bears. Honestly, this was probably my least favorite point of the trip. Painfully watching people stop traffic on a blind curve and allowing multiple, young children to get out of their vehicles and run into the street towards the bears. Thankfully nothing happened that we saw, but the potential of some horrific incident was terrifying. Not only were people putting themselves in danger of the bears, but also of other people in vehicles on the road. Please, I reiterate, be considerate. Especially when wildlife is involved. Keep your distance so that the animals can enjoy their lives without human interference. Afterall, we are in THEIR homes now, so don’t go around acting like it’s your place.
Little Switzerland
We ended our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a short visit to Little Switzerland. This small town is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains between two famous roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway and 226A known as the Diamondback. Both roads bring many scenic drivers into the small town.
Little Switzerland has lodging, restaurants, and shopping. It’s a great place to pick up some Blue Ridge souvenirs and grab a bite to eat. We ate lunch at the Switzerland Cafe, and it was delicious. My friend got the southwest smoked chicken salad while I got the salmon BLT. We both enjoyed our food and will gladly return. Afterwards we walked around the town and visited the various shops before heading back out on the road.
When to Go for a Scenic Drive
It’s important to note the seasonal changes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For example, it’s closed in the winter due to snow and ice found in this higher elevation. The spring sometimes brings warmer weather and sometimes colder. Many flock to this drive in the summer to enjoy the cooler temps and see the beautiful wildflowers or in the fall to see all the colors. Whichever season you choose to visit, just keep in mind the elevation difference drastically affects the weather. We went in early August and for the few days we were there, the weather was the same. Beautiful, sunny, and partly cloudy until afternoon when summer squalls would roll in. The small thunderstorms would never last too long, but they could be troublesome as we tried to hike and camp. Just follow along the next few weeks of this series and you’ll see what I mean. Always check the forecast before you plan your trip and check for any closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway site.
In Closing
Please be considerate. Nothing on this entire trip upset me except one thing, the people. Daily and repeatedly, we witnessed people being inconsiderate. From driving on the Parkway like they’re the only one on the road to invading animal’s space, we need to be mindful of our actions. Because if we’re not careful, we will lose the privilege to enjoy this beautiful stretch of road that is the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Now you’ll want to watch the video from this scenic drive. It’s the first in the 5-week series so be sure to check out the playlist to see them all.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever driven a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway and what your highlights are. I’d love to know!
Check out Virtual Blue Ridge for more, in-depth info about the parkway. Their site is full of useful information to help you plan a trip too. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt.
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