Lost Cove Cliffs View overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
View: ♦ / 5
Trails: None
Picnic Tables: 1 (no grill)
The term “lost cove” refers to areas of the Appalachian Mountains that were untouched by logging and thus allowed to grow unhindered. Today they are characterized by dense canopies of trees and a diverse selection of vegetation. One such cove can be found along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Lost Cove Cliffs View pullout. The area was most likely never logged due to the difficult and steep terrain.
The “cliffs” in the overlook’s name refer to the bare cliff walls of Brown Mountain. These can still be seen just above the identification sign, but that’s the only view you’ll get. The rest of the overlook is overgrown with large trees. Just for comparison purposes, the last photo on this page is one from an information panel at the stop. You can see just how clear the views were a long time ago before budget deficits made it impossible for the National Park Service to remove unwanted vegetation from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks.
View of the rock cliffs on Brown Mountain from the Lost Cove Cliff View pullout on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Older photo, date unknown
This area is also the site of a mysterious phenomenon known as the Brown Mountain Lights. As far back as the Civil War, people have reported seeing flashes of light during the night from this and other locations that have views of Brown Mountain. To date, no scientific explanation has been found.
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Last updated on November 26, 2023
