Narrow gauge railroad exhibit at the Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway
View: None
Trails: Yankee Horse Trail
Picnic Tables: 1 (no grill)
The Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area has a railroad exhibit and a short trail to Wigwam Falls. If you like history, this may end up being one of your favorite stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Narrow Gauge Railroad Exhibit
In the early 1900s, much of the land along the Blue Ridge Parkway was being logged. To get the logs off of the mountains, lumber companies built narrow gauge railroads. What you see at this stop is a reconstruction of a short section of tracks, though a 50-mile long railroad did follow this exact path. A set of stone stairs located on either side of the parking lot allows you to take a short walk along the tracks and come out on the other side of the parking lot.
Narrow gauge railroad exhibit at the Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Yankee Horse Trail / Wigwam Falls
There is no mention of Wigwam Falls on any of the signs in the Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area, but it is located just a short walk from the railroad exhibit. To reach the falls, which is really just a large cascade, take the stairs on the right side of the parking lot and turn right on the tracks. You will see a trail on your left almost immediately: Yankee Horse Trail. The base of the waterfall is only 500 feet up the trail, about a two-minute walk. I’ve seen people above the falls as well, so if you are adventurous, you can work your way farther up the hill.
For the short trip to Wigwam Falls to be worthwhile, the water must really be flowing. Located right near the tracks is a small cascade, and if the water isn’t gushing from here, there won’t be anything worth seeing at the falls (if you look into the woods you can actually see the falls from the cascade). Even then, Wigwam Falls is not all that impressive, as it is just multiple streams of water flowing down a large rock.
Small cascade at the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Yankee Horse Trail
Wigwam Falls at the Yankee Horse Ridge Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Next Stop South | Next Stop North | Scenic Overlooks | Historic Sites | Waterfalls
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on December 20, 2023
