View from the main parking lot at High Piney Spur on the Blue Ridge Parkway
View: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ / 5
Trails: Fox Hunters Paradise Trail
Picnic Tables: None
The High Piney Spur (aka Fox Hunters Paradise Overlook) on the Blue Ridge Parkway actually has two overlooks, both providing excellent views of the mountains and valley below. Despite being very near to each other, they manage to peer into the valley from different angles, thus providing two differing vistas. The first is from the main parking lot. A few trees are blocking the view, but you can still get a good look…at least for now. The National Park Service needs to get in here and cut these trees down before things get out of hand.
Unless you are here to watch the sun rise, you don’t want to visit in the morning if you want to take a photo. This is an eastward facing overlook, so the sun will be shining directly in your face and the photo will be washed out. The first panoramic photo below was taken later in the afternoon, while the second was taken at 9 AM.
Panoramic view from main parking lot of the High Piney Spur stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway (click to enlarge)
Panoramic photo taken in the morning at High Piney Spur stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway
To get to the second observation area, if you are looking at the vista from the parking lot, turn to the right and you will see a road. This leads up to another parking area, and from there you can take a short, paved path to an observation deck that gives a different angle of view into the valley. This view and the one from the main parking area are nearly at right angles to each other.
Panoramic view from the observation deck at High Piney Spur stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway (click to enlarge)
Observation deck at the High Piney Spur stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway
There is a large tree that splits the scene. On the right side are mountains that you cannot see from the parking area.
Mountains that can be seen only from the observation deck at the High Piney Spur stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Fox Hunters Paradise Trail is supposedly at this stop, but I did not see it. The Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Guides claims it is .2 mile one-way. While doing research on this stop I found reference to a trail that begins from the observation deck and leads to a wider view of the area. I assume this is the Fox Hunters Paradise Trail, but if it’s there, it’s not easy to spot.
Next Stop South | Next Stop North | Scenic Overlooks
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Last updated on November 19, 2023
