View of Purgatory Mountain and James River Valley from the Purgatory Mountain stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway

View: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ / 5
Trails: None
Picnic Tables: None

You barely leave the parking area for Mills Gap when you come to the next stop south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Purgatory Mountain View. Having the word “view” in the title indicates that you are looking at Purgatory Mountain and not simply stationed at an overlook on the mountain. However, I have no idea which of the many mountains in the vista is the featured one. You can also see the rural James River Valley.

The view is pretty much the same as the one at Mills Gap, but this is much better. The parking area is a strip along the side of the road that is so long you could land a small airplane, which I am guessing is a testament to the overlook’s popularity. It is definitely one of the better views on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You could walk to the southern, middle, and northern sections of the parking lot and get different photos, and get in a quarter mile’s worth of walking as well.

If you are heading south (or just came from that direction) you will get an even better view from the road, though for photography and reflective viewing purposes you must stop at an overlook. As you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway you will find that scenic views are often superior from the road than from the official overlooks. It is like some sort of curse. Build an overlook and it’s guaranteed that trees and brush will grow up there to block the view. This is not yet a serious problem at Purgatory Mountain View, but vegetation is definitely creeping into the scene.