Welcome to the Blue Ridge Parkway Blog

The Blue Ridge Parkway at Grandfather MountainThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs through the famous Blue Ridge, a mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. It is the longest, narrowest National Park in the world and is the most visited unit in the US National Park System. This online community is a creation of Virtual Blue Ridge in association with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

Our goal is to provide a community for the collective Parkway Voice to be heard and responded to. We encourage free thought among our visitors. However, obscenities and personal attacks will be censored and moderated.

Note: The views contained within this community are those of the contributors. The principals and board members of Virtual Blue Ridge and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation may or may not share those same views.

For more information on the operation of this community, please read our code of conduct.

Recent Blue Ridge Parkway Community Activities

Bicycling On The Blue Ridge Parkway

In 2001 The Blue Ridge Parkway started the multi-year process of developing a General Management Plan for the park.  A major component of this process was public comment.  When asked what issues or concerns the public had about the park there was one subject that buried any other topic, bicycle Finish Reading »

Visiting Crabtree Meadows Campground

Towards the end of my parkway journey, I passed under the “Little Switzerland Tunnel” on the parkway, drove thirty more minutes, and started to see signs for Crabtree Meadows campground. At the entrance I noticed a store and decided to check it out. Inside there was a gift shop, restrooms, Finish Reading »

Work Continues off Accessible Trail at The Peaks Of Otter

The National Park Service Maintenance Crew from the Blue Ridge Parkway are continuing their work on the boardwalk for the handicap accessible trail around Abbott Lake at the Peaks of Otter (see blog post dated July 3, 2010). On August 23rd workers were placing the boardwalk planking over the first section. Finish Reading »

Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for 8/20/2010

Many find the Parkway their favorite place to escape the summer heat. Even here in early to mid August, Parkway meadows are filled with the beautiful blooms of summer that remind us that just about any time of year or season the Parkway is a wonderful place for those who Finish Reading »

Black Dog Wine and Jazz Festival

As we put up the welcome tents and polished the souvenir glasses last Saturday, we eyed the darkening sky and wondered what the day would bring. Would it rain cats and dogs, or would the sun break through the clouds? Would people brave the weather, or would they stay at Finish Reading »