Answer:
The Go Blue Ridge Card is a convenient, wallet-sized card that includes admission to the Blue Ridge area’s most popular attractions. The Go Blue Ridge Card is the only all-inclusive ticket to the top attractions in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You do not need to pre-purchase tickets, deal with the hassle of tear-out coupons, or carry cash.

Simply present your Go Blue Ridge card at any participating attraction, restaurant, or shop. You are granted general admission at the attraction (no cash changes hands), or will receive a discount automatically.

Click here to learn more about the Go Blue Ridge Card, participating attractions and purchase information.

Answer:
As a general rule the speed limit along the Parkway is 45 mph. In areas of heavy traffic such as Mabry Mill, Cone Manor or visitors centers and at major intersections the speed limit may drop to 35 mph. You should obey posted speed limit signs at all times.

The Parkway has many hairpin and descending radius curves. Traveling at faster than posted speeds might cause you to miss a curve and hit an animal, cyclist or pedestrian.

The National Park Service requires that you report all accidents that occur along the Parkway. If you are in or witness an accident you must report it to a ranger as soon as possible. If a ranger is not in sight, call 1-800-PARKWATCH. Remember, hitting an animal with your vehicle is as much an accident as two vehicles colliding.

Click here for more information on traffic and driving regulations along the Parkway.

Answer:
Founded in 1997 The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is a non-profit fundraising organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Blue Ridge Parkways natural beauty.

The foundation recieves no government funding and relies solely on private contributions, grants, and corporate support. The Foundation is not a membership organization, nor does it engage in political activity or advocacy.

The foundation has been involved in restoration and preservation projects at the Moses Cone Manor, Camp Catawba, Grave Yard Feilds, Rough Ridge trail and many others.

If you would like to learn more or make a contribution visit The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Foundation Executive Director Dr. Houck Medfords blog, or visit The Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore where a portion of all proceeds go to support the foundation.

Answer:
In most places, picnicking along the road side is legal. This is a long standing Parkway tradition, but you must be pulled completely off the roadway. Avoid soggy areas and ditches after periods of rain.

North of Asheville NC, the Parkway passes through the city watershed and off-road parking is not allowed where indicated by signs.

Answer:
Most Parkway facilities are closed in the winter, although the road itself is open as long as snow or ice do not create dangerous driving conditions. The park information line, (828) 298 0398, is the most up-to-date source for road closures by section and access to Parkway weather reports. Year round facilities include the Peaks of Otter Lodge north of Roanoke, VA, the North Carolina Minerals Museum near Spruce Pine, and in Asheville, NC the Folk Art Center and the Destination Center.

Many of the towns and communities located along the parkway offer shopping, meals, and lodging year round.

Fall and Winter Activities Along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Answer:
Fishing is permitted in all Parkway waters with a valid state fishing license from either North Carolina or Virginia. No special trout stamp or license is needed and persons under age 16 can fish without a license. Fishing is not permitted from footbridges, dams or adjacent walls. In trout waters, regulations are posted at the stream bank and are in effect for that stream only. This includes any streams that are catch and release only.

Be aware that many streams meander onto U.S. Forest Service or private land and regulations will vary as the jurisdiction changes.

At Julian Price Lake (Milepost 297), you may rent canoes or bring your own.  Boating is not allowed at any other Parkway lakes.

Visit Fishing on the Blue Ridge Parkway to learn more about the rules and regulations, read fishing reports, and more.

Answer:
The Blue Ridge Parkway like all national parks is managed as a wildlife preserve and hunting is not permitted anywhere within its boundaries.

The Parkway offers special permits to individuals who wish to access U.S. Forest Service land for the purpose of hunting. The permit allows access only from certain Parkway overlooks, and the conditions of the permit must be followed exactly. Information on the Hunter Parking Permit program is available at local ranger offices, from rangers in the field, and from park headquarters.

National Park Service regulations state: As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this park. It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. Federal law also prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park; those places are marked with signs at all public entrances. Check state regulations for Virginia or North Carolina to make certain of your compliance while in the park. Read more from the NPS.

For more information visit our Blue Ridge Parkway Regulations page.

Answer:
Pets on leashes are allowed on all areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway including parks, campgrounds, picnic areas and trails.

National Park Service regulations state:
“All dogs, cats, and other pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet or under physical restraint at all times while in the park. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.”

Visit Blue Ridge Parkway Regulations for more information.

Answer:
Typically the best times to view fall colors occur during the month of October. Peak times normally are mid to late October. However, there is no given time table and many factors can impact fall colors.

Although peak fall colors normally occur during the last two weeks of October, pretty patches of colors can be seen into November.

The Parkway is 469 miles in length and traverses through many elevation changes. Fall colors typically come earlier in the higher elevations than the areas in lower elevations. The lowest elevation measures 649 feet above sea level, while the highest measures 6,047 feet above sea level.

For a complete list of Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook elevations, visit Virtual Blue Ridge’s virtual tour section.

Weather can be a major factor too. Unusually dry or wet summers can have an adverse effect in not only when the leaves begin to change and reach their peak, but also in the depth and richness of their colors.

High winds are not uncommon in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can marvel at the colors one day only to return the next after a night of high winds and find many of the same trees bare.

When planning a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway for viewing fall colors it is advisable to visit Virtual Blue Ridge for the latest Fall Color Report during the months of September through November. If you find yourself away from a computer, you can call the Parkway Hotline at 828-298-0398 for the latest recording. The fall color reports are updated weekly and are considered to be the best indicator of where and when to travel.

Answer:
Yes you can drive your RV on the Parkway but some commerical vehicles are not allowed. Care and caution should be observed on steep grades and sharp curves.

There are 26 tunnels along the Parkway, one in Virginia and the rest in North Carolina, mostly south of Asheville. To help plan your trip we have a handy reference list of tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It includes length, height and locations of all Parkway tunnels.

Answer:
Because the Blue Ridge Parkway is a national park and a senic by-way there are no gas stations located on the parkway itself, nor are there signs at the exits indicating the availability of gas, food or lodging.

One of the beauties and pleasures of the parkway is the fact there are no commercial signs and businesses cluttering up the serene landscape. Some commerical vehicles are not allowed on the Blue Ridge Parkway either.

With proper planning gas availability should not be a problem and is usually easy to find near the major intersections with state and federal highways.

Below is a list of state and US highways that intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway along with their corresponding parkway milepost.

Virginia Parkway Milepost Gas and Food Exits

• US 250 – MP 0
• US 60 – MP 45.6
• US 501 – MP 63.9
• US 460 – MP 95.9
• VA 24 – MP 112.2
• US 220 – MP 121.4
• US 58 – MP 199.4
• VA 89 – MP 215.8

North Carolina Parkway Milepost Gas and Food Exits

• US 21 – MP 229.7
• NC 18 – MP 248.1
• NC 16 – MP 261.2
• US 421 – MP 276.4
• US 321 – MP 291.9
• US 221 – MP 305
• NC 181 – MP 312
• US 221 – MP 317.5
• NC 226 – MP 330.9
• NC 226A – MP 334
• US 70 – MP 382.4
• US 74A – MP 384.7
• US 25 – MP 388.1
• NC 191 – MP 393.6
• US 276 – MP 411.9
• US 74/23 – MP 443.1
• US 19 – MP 445.7
• US 441 – MP 469

Visit our store for a selection of Blue Ridge Parkway Maps to help guide you on your journey!

Answer:
One of the many beneficial programs of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Parks as Classrooms program is aimed at providing resources and funding for educational outreach to children in all 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties. Over the years, hundreds of rangers have enriched the lives of tens of thousands of school children.

The parks become “learning laboratories” to help children develop greater understanding, awareness, appreciation and commitment to the preservation and/or restoration of the National Park System.

By utilizing the resources available through the Parks as Classrooms program, teachers will be able to broaden children’s horizons that is not only beneficial to them, but to the Blue Ridge Parkway as well. These kids are poised to become future stewards of one of our country’s greatest national treasures.

Every year, for four months, National Park Service rangers visit elementary age schoolchildren to teach them about:

• the history of the National Parks,
• the cultural history of the Appalachian Mountains,
• the importance of active lifestyles and outdoor recreation,
• the science of ecosystems, habitats and the environment, and
• introduce them to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Parks As Classrooms is based on the schools’ standard curriculum, which means that every time a ranger goes into a classroom, their presentation relates to other topics the students are learning that year.  Often, rangers return to schools each year, and the students know them by name.  When they reach the fifth grade, children who benefit from a Parks As Classrooms ranger visiting their school every year may understand:

• why the National Parks were established in 1916
• how the Blue Ridge Parkway was built
• the types of music, instruments, dancing and folk art that is part of the heritage of the Appalachian region
• what makes the mountains distinct from other regions of Virginia and North Carolina
• the similarities and differences in animals whose habitat is located along the Blue Ridge Parkway
• the coScrumptious Apple Butter from the Orchard at Altapass!mposition and uses of rocks and minerals, like those at the North Carolina Museum of Minerals
• the interdependence of plants and animals in food chains and ecosystems, and how conservation protects those systems.

As their sense of wonder is provoked and nurtured, these children develop a meaningful sense of place that helps them better understand and appreciate the heritage of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains.

While the popularity and success of Parks as Classrooms has been exceptional, limitations of staff, weather and operating budget exclude many thousands of children from ever having the opportunity to participate. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation fully funds Parks as Classrooms and the program is directed by National Park rangers. The Foundation believes that continuous outreach to all the children in the communities bordering the Parkway creates an ideal synergy of public education and self-preservation.

For more information, please call the appropriate number below based on where your school is located:

Virginia Schools

• Albemarle, Amherst, Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Nelson, and Rockbridge counties: call (540) 377-2377
• Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem, and Franklin counties: call (540) 767-2490 ext. 37
• Floyd and Patrick counties: call (540) 745 9680
• Grayson and Carroll counties: call (276) 236-5309 ext 113

North Carolina Schools

• Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, and Wilkes counties: call (276) 236-5309 ext 113
• Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, and Watauga counties: call (828) 765-1228
• Asheville city, Buncombe, Haywood, Swain, Jackson, Macon, Clay, and Graham counties: call (828) 350-3822

North Carolina residents can display their pride of the Blue Ridge Parkway and provide financial support by purchasing a Blue Ridge Parkway License Tag.

Answer:
Apple butter making at Mabry Mill is one of the most popular family events on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can view a demonstration of the apple butter being made and then purchase some to take home the same day. This event is held each fall at Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 176.The dates for this popular pastime usually occur in October. Please contact Mabry Mill for more information about current scheduling by calling 276-952-2947 or visit their web site.

For additional events along the Blue Ridge Parkway, please
visit the Virtual Blue Ridge Events Calendar.

Answer:
Road detours and closures can certainly make traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway a chore rather than a pleasure. The best way to avoid these situations is to plan ahead before venturing out onto the Parkway. Virtual Blue Ridge has a dedicated page to keep you updated on the latest road conditions and closures. Click here to visit this page. It is updated frequently Monday-Friday as information becomes available from the NPS.

Unfortunately, most of the closures on the parkway are due to unforeseen events, making it more difficult to anticipate a detour. The National Park Service provides a hot-line that you can call before your travels. This hotline is updated daily with information regarding new road closures, repairs and detours by mileposts. The number is 828-298-0398.

Answer:
Each year, the new hours are usually released at the end of March.  Virtual Blue Ridge usually posts that information within 1-2 business days of receiving the notice in 2 places:

Blue Ridge Parkway facility hours of operations and opening dates

Blue Ridge Parkway concessions hours of operation and opening dates

In years past, the opening days have been within 2 to 3 days of previous year’s dates, so this information may prove very useful to anyone trying to plan a springtime trip during the off-season when current hours may not be updated.

Answer: Up until about 3 years ago (early 2005) this was a hard question to answer.  There simply weren’t any good maps of the Blue Ridge Parkway available.  Sure, the National Park Service provides a map of the entire 469 mile park, but it lacks a lot of detail that a traveler needs. This map is available at many locations along the parkway including visitor centers and parks.  The good thing about this map is that it is free.  You can even download it from the Internet here.

Recently, we started building a Blue Ridge Parkway map section on Virtual Blue Ridge that has even more information.  This new content includes several digital downloads that you can print on demand for your day-hikes or trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In 2004, we were actually contemplating producing a map for the purpose of providing a better, commercialized version of the Parkway map for the avid Blue Ridge Parkway traveler.  At the same time, so were the people at Outdoor Paths Publishing.  They created the first Parkway map that we consider valuable to the Parkway traveler.  It was called the “Detailed Guidemap to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina“.  Whew, what a long name to market.

The map only spanned the Parkway from Milepost 289 to 469, but man… what detail it provided.  Trails, Visitor Centers, Parks, restrooms, convenience centers, overlooks and more… it had it all.  We couldn’t really find anything that they needed to do other than provide a map for the other half of the Parkway.  They did that in 2007 and decided to shorten the names to “Detailed Guidemap to the Blue Ridge Parkway: Northern Section“,  “Detailed Guidemap to the Blue Ridge Parkway: Central Section“, and “Detailed Guidemap to the Blue Ridge Parkway: Southern Section“.  Still a long name, but that was exactly what they produced.

Now, why did they need 3 maps?  Because that’s how much “stuff” there is to do along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  In all honesty, they really couldn’t have done a better job.  If they had tried to make one map, it would not have been nearly as valuable.  You can purchase all three Detailed Guidemaps to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a discounted price at the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore.

“Why,” might you ask, “did the National Park Service not create a map like this?” Two primary reasons:  a) budget and b) commercialization.  See, the National Park Service – Blue Ridge Parkway has chosen to keep the Parkway a thing of natural scenic beauty and won’t endorse any businesses.  Thus, they could not create a map that provided all the information that an avid traveler would need.

There are other maps on the Blue Ridge Parkway and they are all available at the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore.  We don’t recommend them as much, but they each have their own benefits for different Parkway travelers.

You can find out more about all these maps through the links below:

• Blue Ridge Parkway Laminated Tour Map
  This map is produced by JSK Map Services and is a really good map that was introduced in the fall of 2006.  They are currently working on a second edition and when it’s available, we’ll update this post.  In the meantime, it won’t compete with the Detailed Guidemap series, but it has it’s own benefit.  Namely, it’s laminated and has the entire parkway in one folding map.  There’s not as much detail, but it also has an elevation profile that follows the map as you go from North to South.  I personally like laminated maps because you can mark on them with dry-erase markers to help plot your trip.
• Virtual Blue Ridge CD-ROM
  This is our own production and has it’s merit.  It would be listed first, but it’s not really a map in the conventional sense.  This is because it’s a digital product.  It integrates the NPS map and allows you to click on icons of overlooks, parks, and visitor centers to view 360 degree panoramas from your computer.  Unfortunately, there is not a print option, but it’s a great tool to plan your trip.
• National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps
  Wow, what a series.  These are intended for the avid hiker, but you can’t really ask for more than National Geographic provides.  This series of maps highlights all the trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park.  Lots of the trails on these top maps are on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but there’s many more adjacent to Parkway lands to be found also.  A hiker could savor the journeys these maps create for years.

Well, that’s about it for maps on the Parkway.

Answer: The Blue Ridge Parkway is a natural wonder that meanders through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are the source of many major rivers including the New River and Yadkin River. As such, many waterfalls have been created as the small streams and rivers have washed away topsoil and dirt, but couldn’t get past the granite and quartz (among other rocks and minerals).

Some of these waterfalls are accessible quickly and easily from the Parkway roadway. We have compiled a list of the more common waterfalls that attract thousands of photographers and sightseers on an annual basis. You can view the list on our Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls page.

If you are interested in finding out more about some of the more obscure waterfalls, as well as more details on our list of waterfalls, you might find some of the books below to be quite helpful. We have ranked them based on reviews from customers of the Virtual Blue Ridge Parkway Bookstore:

• Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge: A Hiking Guide to the Cascades of the Blue Ridge Mountains
• North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide
• Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia: A Hiking and Photography Guide
• Waterfall Walks and Drives in the Great Smoky Mountians and the Western Carolinas

One of our personal favorites is Linville Falls at Milepost 316 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the fall of 2004, there were several hurricanes (some downgraded to Tropical Storms) that passed along the Blue Ridge Parkway and caused considerable damage, including the destruction of the Linville Falls Visitor Center. The Visitor Center was later rebuilt, but it’s hard to appreciate the power of water as it rushes from the mountains when the rain is heavy. The Blue Ridge Parkway was lucky enough to catch the force behind the Linville River as it plummeted into the Linville Gorge at Linville Falls.

Here are 2 videos, one on a normal day and one shot during Hurricane Ivan (one of the several that passed through this area in 2004).

Normal Day at Linville Falls:

Hurricane Ivan Attacks the Blue Ridge Mountains:

Answer:
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a great place to have your wedding. There are no facilities that you “rent” on the Parkway, you just pick a spot and then apply for a special use permit through the National Park Service.

To acquire a special park use or event permit:

Activities such as sporting events, pageants, public spectator attractions, entertainment, wedding ceremonies, or large group gatherings require a permit. A $60 application fee is required and an additional $135 administrative fee is due upon issuance of the permit. A $60/hour monitoring permit is also charged during the event. Call park headquarters at (828) 271 4779 ext 246 for more information.

** Fees are subject to change.

If you want to get married on the Parkway and do not wish to have a large ceremony, then you may not need to have a permit. The permits are required for event gatherings of “many” people that would cause interference with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway for other travelers.

Here is a YouTube video of a couple getting married at Groundhog Mountain (milepost 189) near Fancy Gap, VA.