View of Glassmine Falls from the Blue Ridge Parkway

View: ♦ ♦ / 5
Trails: Mountains to Sea Trail
Picnic Tables: None

If you look directly over the top of the Glassmine Falls identification sign on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will see a small, bald spot on the side of the mountain. This is Glassmine Falls, which is more of a giant cascade flowing down the side of the mountain than an actual waterfall. A wet spot was visible during my visit in late September. Some locals told me that even on a good day it isn’t much better than this. A short, paved path leads to a viewing platform, though you can get just as good a look at the falls from the parking lot. The remains of the Abernathy Mine, a mica mine, are located at the base of the waterfall.

Glassmine Falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Panoramic view from the Glassmine Falls parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway (click to enlarge)

Other than the falls, there is a mundane view into the valley from the observation platform (you can’t get this view from the parking lot). The mountains in this area are very close to the overlook, so you don’t really get much of a wide, sweeping vista.

View into the surrounding valley from the viewing platform at the Glassmine Falls View stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The paved path to the viewing platform is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail. When at the platform, you will see that the trail continues beyond the viewing area. The trail crosses through the parking lot and continues on the right side. The Mountains to Sea Trail is a 1,150-mile trail that stretches from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the North Carolina Outer Banks. It is not part of the National Park system, so I did not hike or review it, but you can get information on the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail website.

Paved path at the Glassmine Falls View parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway leads to the viewing platform and the Mountains to Sea Trail

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