Green Knob Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway

There are over 120 trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway ranging from short “leg stretchers” that lead to a scenic view to longer trails for the more serious hiker. You will even find pullouts along the Parkway that serve as nothing more than parking for the internationally famous Appalachian Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail.

All told, there are nearly 350 trail miles within the boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, though many of these miles are along the Appalachian Trail and the Mountains to Sea Trail (which isn’t even a National Park trail). It is beyond the scope of National Park Planner to hike every single trail, but I’ve managed to put a decent size dent in the trails that are specifically part of the Parkway (i.e. non-Appalachian Trail / Mountains to Sea Trail). I hiked most of the leg stretchers and a dozen or so of the longer trails.

My overall word of advice is to avoid the leg stretchers unless I have recommended them, for most are no longer worth hiking. When construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway began in 1935, much of this land had been logged, so views along the Parkway were unobstructed. Most of the leg stretchers take hikers to scenic overlooks, but unfortunately most all of these overlooks have long since been overgrown. Nothing sucks more than to hike a trail for the sole purpose of arriving at an awesome view only to find a forest at the end. Volunteer groups such as Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Carolina Mountain Club have been maintaining some trails through an “Adopt-a-Trail” program, but they maintain less than half of the trail miles, leaving the other half to the forces of nature.

Furthermore, leg stretchers that don’t lead to overlooks, such as nature trails that educate hikers about the geology or plants in the area, are often outdated. Signage points to plants or trees that no longer exist or to areas so overgrown that there’s no way to tell what plant the sign is talking about. Some signs have been vandalized and have never been replaced. Of course none of this matters to those who just want to get out for a walk, but when I hike on a nature trail I’d like to learn something.

I have rated the trails that I hiked with stars (*). One star (*) is poor while five stars (*****) is excellent. If there is no rating, I did not hike the trail. Click on the link to read more about the trails and the overlooks at which they are located.

Attraction and visitor facility locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway are referenced by Mile Post (MP) numbers. Mileage is tracked from 0 at the northern entrance to 469 at the southern entrance. You will see the mile posts along the Parkway just as you see mile posts on interstates and other highways.

Humpback Rocks Hiking Trails (MP 6)
*****Complex of trails, including Appalachian Trail access

Humpback Rocks Picnic Area (MP 8.5)
Access to Appalachian Trail and hikes to Humpback Gap Overlook. Short Catoctin Loop Trail.

Greenstone Overlook (MP 8.8)
**Geology-based nature trail, .2 mile loop

Dripping Rock Parking Area (MP 9.6)
Access to Appalachian Trail only. Three car parking area.

3 Ridges Mountain (MP 13.1)
Access to Appalachian Trail only. Parking for a dozen or so cars.

White Rock Gap Parking Area (MP 18.5)
****Complex of trails, including one to a waterfall. Connects to The Slacks Overlook.

The Slacks Overlook (MP 20)
****Complex of trails, including one to a waterfall. Connects to the White Rock Gap Parking Area.

Whetstone Ridge District Office (MP 29)
Access to National Forest Service’s Whetstone Ridge Trail

Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area (MP 34.4)
Short trail to Wigwam Waterfall

Indian Gap Parking Area (MP 47.5)
**Short nature trail to rock formations

Punch Bowl Mountain Overlook (MP 51.7)
Appalachian Trail access. Parking for a half dozen cars.

White Oak Flats Overlook (MP 55.2)
.2 mile RT trail to Dancing Creek

Otter Creek Campground (MP 61)
Trailhead for Otter Creek Trail (3.5-miles one-way)

Terrapin Hill View (MP 61.4)
Access to Otter Creek Trail (3.5-miles one-way)

Lower Otter Creek Overlook (MP 62.5)
Access to Otter Creek Trail (3.5-miles one-way)

Otter Lake (MP 63.12)
**Otter Lake Loop Trail (.9-mile loop) and access to Otter Creek Trail (3.5-miles one-way)

Otter Creek and James River Hiking Trails (MP 60-63)
**Trail of Trees (.4-mile loop), ***James River Canal Trail (.4-mile round trip), Otter Creek Trail (3.5-miles one-way), Otter Lake Loop Trail (.9-mile loop)

Thunder Ridge Parking Area (MP 74.7)
*****Short trail to an excellent scenic view

Sunset Field (MP 78.4)
**Apple Orchard Falls Trail and Appalachian Trail access

Onion Mountain Overlook (MP 79.7)
*Overgrown trail through the woods

Fallingwater Cascades Parking Area (MP 83.1)
****Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Flat Top Trail Parking Area (MP 83.5)
Flat Top Trail and access to ****Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Peaks of Otter Lodge (MP 85.4)
****Johnson Farm Trail and ***Abbott Lake Loop Trail

Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails (MP 85.9)
Trailhead or access point to a dozen hiking trails

Peaks of Otter Picnic Area (MP 85.9)
***Abbott Lake Loop Trail and Flat Top Mountain Trail

Sharp Top Store (MP 85.9)
Sharp Top Mountain Trail

Mills Gap (MP 91.8)
Appalachian Trail access

Sharp Top Mountain View (MP 92.5)
Appalachian Trail access

Bobletts Gap Overlook (MP 93.1)
Appalachian Trail access

Harveys Knob Overlook (MP 95.3)
Appalachian Trail access

Montvale View (MP 95.4)
Spec Mine Trail and Appalachian Trail access

Taylor Mountain View (MP 97)
Appalachian Trail access

Stewarts Knob Overlook (MP 110.6)
Stewarts Knob Trail and Roanoke Valley Horse Trail

Roanoke River Overlook (MP 114.9)
**Roanoke River Trail and Fisherman’s Trail

Roanoke Mountain Loop Road (MP 120.3)
*Roanoke Mountain Loop Trail

Mill Mountain Parkway (MP 120.5)
Chestnut Ridge Trail

Buck Mountain Overlook (MP 123.2)
*Buck Mountain Trail

Smart View Overlook (MP 154.1)
***Smart View Loop Trail

Smart View Recreation Area (MP 154.5)
***Smart View Loop Trail

The Saddle Overlook (MP 168
Rock Castle Gorge Trail access

Rock Castle Gorge Overlook (MP 168.8)
Rock Castle Gorge Trail access

Twelve O’Clock Knob Overlook (MP 169.1)
Rock Castle Gorge Trail and *****Black Ridge Trail access

Rocky Knob Area Trails (MP 167-170)
*****Three loop trails ranging from 1 to 11 miles in length

Round Meadow Overlook (MP 179.3)
*Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail, .5 mile

Blue Ridge Music Center (MP 213)
***High Meadow Trail (1.35-mile one way) and ***Fisher Peak Loop Trail (2.75-mile loop)

Cumberland Knob Recreation Area (MP 217.5)
*****Gully Creek Loop Trail and **Cumberland Knob Loop Trail

High Piney Spur (MP 218.6)
Fox Hunters Paradise Trail (.2 mile one way)

Little Glade Mill Pond (MP 230.1)
**Short trail around the pond

Devils Garden Overlook (MP 235.7)
Mountains to Sea Trail access

Brinegar Cabin (MP 238.5)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail, Cedar Ridge Trail, and Mountains to Sea Trail

Doughton Park Campground (MP 239)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail

Low Notch Overlook (MP 240.6)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail

Doughton Park Hiking Trails (MP 238-245)
**Foder Stack Trail and 6 other trails within the Basin Cove valley

Doughton Park Picnic Area (MP 241.1)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail

Alligator Back Overlook (MP 242.4)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail / Mountains to Sea Trail

Bluff Mountain View (MP 243.4)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail

Basin Cove Overlook (MP 244.7)
Access to Bluff Mountain Trail and Flat Rock Trail

Jumpinoff Rock Parking Area (MP 260.3)
***Jumpinoff Rock Trail

The Lump Overlook (MP 264.4)
The Lump Trail, .3 moile round trip

E. B. Jeffress Park (MP 271.9)
****Cascades Trail, Tomkins Knob Trail, and Mountains to Sea Trail access

Tomkins Knob Overlook (MP 272.5)
Tomkins Knob Trail

Raven Rocks Overlook (MP 289.5)
Mountains to Sea Trail access

Moses Cone Memorial Park Carriage Roads (MP 294)
25 miles of gravel carriage roads lead through the former estate

Sims Creek Overlook (MP 295.3)
***Green Knob Trail

Sims Pond Overlook (MP 295.9)
***Green Knob Trail

Price Park Picnic Area (MP 296.4)
Boone Fork Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail, which follows Boone Fork Trail for a mile

Price Lake Overlook (MP 296.7)
****Price Lake Trail

Price Park Campground (MP 297)
****Price Lake Trail and Northern end of the Tanawha Trail

Cold Prong Pond Overlook (MP 299)
*Cold Prong Pond Loop Trail

Calloway Peak View (MP 299.7)
Tanawha Trail access

Boone Fork Parking Area (MP 300)
Tanawha Trail access and access to trails leading into Grandfather Mountain State Park (entrance fee required)

Boulder Field Overlook (MP 302.4)
Tanawha Trail access

Rough Ridge Overlook (MP 302.8)
Tanawha Trail access

Wilson Creek Overlook (MP 302.8)
Short trail to Wilson Creek, access to Tanawha Trail

Linn Cove Visitor Center (MP 304.4)
*****Tanawha Trail segment to overlook of Linn Cove Viaduct

Stack Rock Parking Area (MP 304.8)
Tanawha Trail access

Beacon Heights Parking Area (MP 305.2)
****Beacon Heights Trail, Tanawha and Mountains to Sea Trail access

Flat Rock Parking Area (MP 308.3)
****.6-mile Flat Rock Loop Trail

Camp Creek Overlook (MP 315.6)
Camp Creek Trail, short leg stretcher

Linville Falls Hiking Trails (MP 316.4)
*****Multiple trails of varying difficult to the biggest waterfalls in the park

Chestoa View Trail (MP 320.8)
***.75-mile round-trip to view of mountains and valley

Heffner Gap Overlook (MP 325.9)
Trailhead for 1.4-mile one-way Rose Creek Trail

Museum of North Carolina Minerals (MP 330.9)
Trailhead for the 5-mile one-way Orchard Trail

Crabtree Falls Recreation Area (MP 339.5)
*****3.5-mile loop trail to Crabtree Falls

Singecat Ridge Overlook (MP 345.3)
Access to the Mountains to Sea Trail

Green Knob Overlook (MP 350.4)
Lost Cove Ridge Trail begins just north of Green Knob Overlook

Walker Knob Overlook (MP 359.8)
3-mile one-way Big Butt Trail and access to the Mountains to Sea Trail

Glassmine Falls View (MP 361.2)
Short hike to waterfall viewing area and access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Graybeard Mountain View (MP 363.4)
Mountains to Sea Trail access

Craggy Dome View (MP 364.2)
*****1-mile round-trip Craggy Pinnacle Trail and **Craggy Gardens Trail

Craggy Gardens Recreation Area (MP 364.5)
Access to Mountains to Seas Trail and many others

Craggy Gardens Picnic Area (MP 367.6)
**Craggy Gardens Trail and access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Folk Art Center (MP 382)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Walnut Cove View (MP 396.4)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Sleepy Gap Parking Area (MP 397.3)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Chestnut Cove View (MP 398.3)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Stoney Bald View (MP 402.6)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Buck Springs Gap Overlook (MP 407.6)
***Short trail to viewing area and former Vanderbilt hunting lodge site, plus access to many trails in the Mount Pisgah Recreation Area

Mount Pisgah Campground (MP 408.7)
2.1-mile one way Frying Pan Trail

Wagon Gap Overlook (MP 412.2)
Access to Mountains to Sea / Shut-In Trail

Cherry Cove Overlook (MP 415.7)
Access to the Mountains to Sea Trail

Looking Glass Rock View (MP 417)
Access to the Mountains to Sea Trail

Graveyard Fields (MP 418.8)
*****Multiple hiking trails including to hikes to waterfalls

John Rock View (MP 419.4)
*Overgrown trail that doesn’t lead to much

Devils Courthouse View (MP 422.4)
*****Strenuous 1-mile round-trip to the top of Devils Courthouse, arguably the best view in the park

Bear Pen Gap Overlook (MP 427.6)
Short connector trail to the Mountains to Sea Trail

Haywood-Jackson Overlook (MP 431)
*****1.5 mile loop to top of Richland Balsam Mountain

Doubletop Mountain Overlook (MP 435.3)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Licklog Ridge Overlook (MP 435.7)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Grassy Mine Ridge Overlook (MP 436.8)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

The Orchards Overlook (MP 444.6)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Woodfin Cascades Overlook (MP 446.7)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Scott Creek Overlook (MP 448.5)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Fork Ridge Overlook (MP 449)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

Waterrock Knob Overlook (MP 451.2)
****1-mile round-trip to the top of Waterrock Knob

Soco Gap Overlook (MP 455.5)
Access to Mountains to Sea Trail

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