The Top Blue Ridge Parkway Summit Hikes
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The mysterious Blue Ridge Mountains of Southern Appalachia run a 550 mile course, from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Along with the Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Mountain region is amongst the most popular vacation destinations in the Southeast, with the Blue Ridge Parkway alone seeing over 15 million tourists per year. The highest point in the Appalachian Range, Mt. Mitchell, resides in Western North Carolina. At 6684 feet, it also comes in as the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Covering almost the entirety of the Western North Carolina region, the mountains provide endless opportunity for adventure and nature exploration.
The Parkway is the best means of exploring the many beautiful hiking trails, overlooks, and waterfalls in the area. For a bird’s eye view of the dazzling mountains, a summit hike is your best bet. Featured below are a few great Parkway summit stunners where you can get in a heart pumping workout, while also taking in fabulous one-of-a-kind scenery. There is nothing more motivating than being rewarded with a spectacular view following an invigorating workout! All of these hikes are conveniently located no more than 1.5 hours from Asheville, and thus, a reasonable daytrip.
Devil’s Courthouse
One of the top bang-for-your-buck mountain hikes on the Parkway is the short but very steep 1/2 mile trek up to the summit of Devil’s Courthouse, a towering 5270 foot rock formation with a sinister legend. The story goes that the Devil lives in a cave beneath the rock and holds court here. Whether or not you believe in superstition, the views here are possibly the best on the Parkway, and the sunsets are out of this world! Luckily, it’s never too crowded here so you can linger on as long as you like, enjoying the mountain scenery all to yourself. With incredible long range views, Devil’s Courthouse is definitely one that will take your breath away! From 5000+ feet up, you can see all the way into Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina!
Milepost 422.4
Rough Ridge
While extremely hard to find parking (especially during peak leaf peeping), the short <1 mile hike to Rough Ridge is well worth the hassle. As one of the Parkway’s more popular trails, parking fills up fast. Despite being located on the lengthy Tanawha trail, the Rough Ridge overlook lies less than a mile into the trail. The first spectacular overlook is located less than a 1/2 mile into the trail, so you can make this a really short hike if you wish. It’s a bit further to the summit (4773 ft), but worth the hassle if you have the time and desire a more intense workout. From either viewpoint, the views are fabulous, even moreso when the mountains are covered with the bright golden, red, and yellow hues of the brilliant WNC autumn season.
Milepost 302.8
Craggy Pinnacle
Tourists flock to Craggy Gardens early each June to see the colorful rhododendrons in bloom. After enjoying the views at one of the most popular overlooks on the Parkway, you will want to embark on the short steep hike up to Craggy Pinnacle. At just 0.7 miles each way, this one requires minimal effort in exchange for a world-class view of the beautiful Craggy Mountains, named as so for their jagged like features. The summit sits at 5892 feet, so as you can imagine the views are quite spectacular, especially on a clear day. Even better, the temps are cool to cold here year-round, making this hike an enjoyable option on a hot summer day.
Milepost 364
Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb
A moderate 1.5 mile hike up to this treeless bald will lead you to an exhilarating overlook of the mountains. The Appalachian area is known for its’ unique abundance of treeless balds which feel more alpine in nature thanks to the unobstructed views of the mountains. At 6214 feet, looking out on the 2nd highest peak in the Great Balsam range, you will truly feel on top of the world. With jaw dropping mountain views in every direction, you may feel more like you are in a scene from the classic The Sound of Music, rather than in North Carolina. Black Balsam is easily one of the most exhilarating hiking experiences you will find in the state. Hike during the lush summer or colorful fall season for the most amazing views.
Milepost 420
Mt. Mitchell
Mt Mitchell State Park is worth visiting, if only to say that you hiked to the highest summit east of the Mississippi. The full trail is an arduous 5+ mile adventure, however, you can opt for the much easier alternative of walking a short steep 280 yard paved road up to the observing deck. The air is fresh and cool at 6000+ feet, and the scenery and wildlife more consistent with that found in the North. At this high up, the view resembles the quiet beauty found throughout New England, with a gorgeous spruce-fir forest dramatically creating a picture-perfect backdrop. Mt. Mitchell is part of the Black Mountain range, which is home to 6 out of the 10 tallest peaks in the Eastern US. Visit on a clear day for a mesmerizing 85 mile range view.
Milepost 355.4
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