Cumberland Knob Recreation Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway
In September 1935, construction began on a 12-mile stretch of road spanning the North Carolina and Virginia state lines that was known as The Scenic. This road was planned to run from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A year latter the name was changed to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the project was placed under the supervision of the National Park Service.
In addition to scenic overlooks, plans called for recreational parks to be established along the way. These were to be centers of activity, similar to typical state or county parks, that would include things such as picnic areas, campgrounds, lodges, trails, and historic sites. The recreation area at Cumberland Knob was the very first to be built on the Blue Ridge Parkway, opening to the public in 1937. It included a picnic area and hiking trails. A sandwich shop was added in 1941; the building is still in use as a restroom facility. The park hasn’t changed much, and today you can enjoy a picnic or a hike just as others have done since 1937.
Map of the Cumberland Knob Recreation Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway
PICNIC AREAS
HISTORIC SITES
HIKING TRAILS
Gully Creek Trail: exciting, strenuous 2.5-mile loop trail to Gully Creek with many creek crossings.
Cumberland Knob Trail: moderate, one-mile loop around the Cumberland Knob picnic area field. The trail starts at the old sandwich shop (current restroom building) along a paved path.
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Last updated on November 12, 2023
