Begun during the administration of U.S. presidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, the project was originally called the "Appalachian Scenic Highway." Most construction was carried out by private contractors under federal contracts under an authorization by Harold L. Ickes in his role as federal public works administrator. Work began on September 11, 1935 near Cumberland Knob in North Carolina; construction in Virginia began the following February. On June 30, 1936, Congress formally authorized the project as the "Blue Ridge Parkway" and placed it under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Some work was carried out by various New Deal public works agencies. The Works Progress Administration did some roadway construction. Crews from the Emergency Relief Administration carried out landscape work and development of parkway recreation areas. Personnel from four Civilian Conservation Corps camps worked on roadside cleanup, roadside plantings, grading slopes and improving adjacent fields and forest lands. During World War II, the CCC crews were replaced by conscientious objectors in the Civilian Public Service program.
Construction of the parkway took over fifty-two years to complete, the last stretch (near the Linn Cove Viaduct) being laid around Grandfather Mountain in 1987. Twenty-seven tunnels were constructed through the rock -- One in Virginia and 26 in North Carolina. Sections of the Parkway near the tunnels are often closed in winter. (Due to dripping groundwater from above, freezingtemperatures, and the lack of sunshine, ice often accumulates inside these areas even when the surrounding areas are above freezing.) The highest point on the parkway (South of Waynesville, near Mount Pisgah in North Carolina) is 6047 feet(according to the 2005 Parkway map) or 1845m above sea level(AMSL) on Richland Balsam Mountain at Milepost 431, and is often closed from November to April due to inclement weather such as snow, fog, and even freezing fog from low clouds. The parkway is carried across streams, railways ravines and cross roads by 168 bridges and six viaducts.
The parkway runs from the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia at Rockfish Gap to U.S. 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. There is no fee for using the parkway, however commercialvehicles are prohibited without approval from the Park Service Headquarters, near Asheville, NC. The roadway is not maintained in the winter, and sections which pass over especially high elevations and through tunnels are often impassable and therefore closed from late fall through early spring. Weather is extremely variable in the mountains, so conditions and closures often change rapidly. The speed limit is never higher than 45 mph (70 km/h) and lower in some sections.
The parkway uses short side roads to connect to other highways, and there are no direct interchanges with interstate highways, making it possible to enjoy wildlife and other scenery without stopping for cross-traffic. Mileposts along the parkway start at zero at the northeast end in Virginia and count to 469 at the southern end in North Carolina. The mileposts can be found on the west side of the road. Major towns and cities along the way include Waynesboro, Roanoke, and Galax in Virginia; and in North Carolina, Boone and Asheville, where it runs across the property of the Biltmore Estate. The Blue Ridge Music Center (also part of the park) is located in Galax, and Mount Mitchell (the highest point in eastern North America) is only accessible via a state road from the parkway at milepost 355.4.
Wildflowers dominate the parkway in the spring, including rhododendrons and dogwoods, moving from valleys to mountains as the cold weather retreats. Smaller annuals and perennials such as the daisy and aster flower through the summer. Brilliant autumn foliage occurs later in September on the mountaintops, descending down to the valleys by later in October. Often in early to middle October and middle to late April, all three seasons can be seen simply by looking down from the cold and windy parkway to the green and warm valleys below. October is especially dramatic, as the colored leaves stand out boldly and occur mostly at the same time, unlike the flowers.
Major trees include oak, hickory, and tulip tree at lower elevations and buckeye and ash in the middle, turning into conifers such as fir and spruce at the highest elevations on the parkway. Trees near ridges, peaks, and passes (often called gaps or notches) are often distorted and even contorted by the wind, and persistent rime ice deposited by passing clouds in the winter.
Parkway Highlights
(Much of this information comes from the official Blue Ridge Parkway map GPO:2003-496-196/40572 Reprint 2004)
Farm at the Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge Parkway in autumn near Looking Glass Rock
5 to 9.3 Humpback Rocks has a self-guiding trail through a collection of old Appalachian farm buildings. A hiking trail from the parking area (at mile 6.1) leads 0.75 mile to The Rocks, whose humped appearance gives the area its name. Greenstone self-guiding trail (8.8).
10.7 Ravens Roost offers vistas of Torry Mountain and Shenandoah Valley to the west.
29 Whetstone Ridge provided many a mountain man with a fine-grained sharpening stone
34.4 Yankee Horse Ridge supposedly is where a hard-riding Unionsoldier's horse fell and had to be shot. See a reconstructed spur of an old logging railroad by walking to Wigwam Falls.
83.4 Fallingwater Cascades can be seen along a 1.6 mile loop trail.
84 to 87 Peaks of Otter's spectacular views have been popular since the days of Thomas Jefferson. A shuttle bus provides service to Sharp Top. Fee Charged.
114.9 Roanoke River Gorge opens before you from the overlook, after a 10-minute walk.
115.1 Virginia's Explore Park celebrates the state's role in Westward Expansion. Historic buildings, exhibits, and demonstrations. Fee charged.
120.4 Roanoke Mountain is a 3.7-mile side trip. The one-way loop road takes you over the mountain for impressive views. Steep grades; towed vehicles prohibited.
129.6 Roanoke Valley Overlook gives a view of the largest community along the parkway. Reach the city via U.S. 220 (at milepost 121), VA-24 (at 112), and U.S. 460 (at 105).
154.5 Smart View is just that; go to the Trail Cabin built in the 1890's and you'll see "a right smart view," especially in early May when the dogwoods bloom.
167 to 174 Rocky Knob rises like the cresting of a wave to overlook Rock Castle Gorge.
176.1 Mabry Mill was operated by E.B. Mabry from 1910 to 1935. A trail leads you to his gristmill, sawmill, blacksmith shop, and to other exhibits. Old-time skills are demonstrated in the summer and fall.
188.8 Groundhog Mountain is a good place to see different kinds of rural fences: snake, Post-and-rail, picket and buck. Picnic grounds and observation tower.
Mile 217.5 Cumberland Knob, at 2885 feet, is a delightful spot to walk through fields and woodlands.
218.6 Fox Hunters Paradise, a 10-minute walk, is where hunters could listen to their hounds baying in the valley below.
238.5 Brinegar Cabin was built by Martin Brinegar about 1880 and lived in until the 1930's when the homestead was purchased from his widow for the parkway, The original cabin stands here today.
363.4 to 369.6 Craggy Gardens appear covered with purple rhododendron in mid to late June. Craggy Pinnacle Trail and other trails (364.1 and 364.6); road to picnic area and trails (367.6).
382 The Folk Art Center offers sales and exhibits of traditional and contemporary crafts of the Appalachian region. Intrepretive programs, gallery, and library.
Sign marking the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
422.4 Devils Courthouse is a rugged exposed mountaintop rich in Cherokee traditions. A walk to the bare rock summit yields a spectacular view of Pisgah National Forest.
431 Richland Balsam's self-guiding trail takes you through a remnant spruce-fir forest. Highest point on the parkway, 6,047 feet.
451.2 Waterrock Knob provides a panorama of the Great Smokies, visitor center, trail, confort station, exhibits.
458.2 Heintooga Overlook spur road goes to a mile-high overlook 1.3 miles from the parkway.
Due to serious damage in 2004 from Hurricane Frances, then again by Hurricane Ivan, many areas along the parkway were closed until the spring of 2005, with two areas that were not fully repaired until the spring of 2006. At one area, just north of Mount Mitchell, the road was completely washed out during the storms. Although repair crews managed to open this section by May 2005 as a gravel road, it sunk eight feet (nearly 2.5 meters) again after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Arlene in June. It has since been re-opened. The other closure, just south of Linn Cove and the Linn River extending south to the Bear Den overlook, was caused due to severe erosion from flooding, but has also been repaired.
Other damage, including the flooding of the visitor center at the Linn River, has been repaired, and all other facilities are open for the season.
It is also not unusual for small sections of the Parkway to be temporarily closed to repair damage caused by the cold winter climate of the mountains. Detours caused by these closures are well-marked, and are arranged to cause as little disruption as possible.
Parkway phone numbers
For current road and weather conditions dial (828) 298-0398. (it's a recorded message)
To report criminal activity, fires, accidents, or other emergencies, call 1-800-PARKWATCH
