PAT & CHUCK BLACKLEY
Mabry Mill invites visitors to the past.
Story by Pat & Chuck Blackley
It came as no surprise to us when we learned the National Park Service had listed the Blue Ridge Parkway as 2014’s second-most-visited place in the National Park System. We have traveled the parkway hundreds of times, photographing the uncommon beauty and historical charm that make it such a popular destination.
Stretching 469 miles, the parkway connects two national parks in the southern Appalachian Mountains. From its northern origin at Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, the parkway follows the crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains south through Virginia and North Carolina for the first 355 miles. It then skirts the southern end of the Black Mountains and winds through the Craggies and the Balsam Mountains before reaching Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
With a maximum speed limit of 45 mph and no commercial vehicles allowed, the parkway offers a peaceful and relaxing drive, with plenty of opportunities to get out of the car and enjoy the scenic views of mountain ranges, forests and farmlands from its many overlooks and trails. There are no commercial signs or billboards to distract drivers from the natural beauty around them. In fact, the planners who designed and built the parkway in the 1930s intended the journey to be more important than the destination.
The road roller coasters between deep valleys and high peaks, dropping to an elevation of 649 feet at the James River in Virginia and climbing to more than 6,000 feet at Richland Balsam in North Carolina. This wide range in elevation spans many different climate zones that support an incredible variety of plant and animal life.
More than 1,400 plant species beautify the parkway from early spring through late fall. In spring and summer, we love the dazzling floral displays of azaleas, mountain laurel and rhododendrons. In autumn, a wide variety of deciduous trees makes for an unparalleled extravaganza of fall color.
Chance encounters with wildlife are always highlights of our trips, and we’ve been fortunate to enjoy numerous sightings of white-tailed deer and black bears, as well as foxes, raccoons and other small critters. Each year we also look forward to watching the seasonal migration of hawks and other raptors.
When we tire of driving, we hop out of the car and hike one of the parkway’s plentiful trails to waterfalls, wildflower meadows and high rocky summits. One of our favorites is the Tanawha Trail in North Carolina. High atop the trail’s Rough Ridge section, a boardwalk crosses the mountain’s fragile ecosystem and provides expansive views of the mountains as they stretch as far as you can see. In June, this area is spectacular with blooming mountain laurel and rhododendrons, while in October it’s ablaze with blueberry heaths that turn a fiery red.
Scotch-Irish, German and English settlers homesteaded this region of the Appalachians. Visitor center exhibits and restored historic structures along the parkway provide opportunities to see how those hearty mountain folk lived and played. You can almost always catch demonstrations of weaving, wood carving and other crafts. And talented musicians with dulcimers, fiddles, banjos and guitars fill the air with lively mountain music at numerous festivals.
On each journey down the parkway, we never fail to experience or see something new. We’ll hike a different trail, discover a new waterfall or wildflower meadow, or spot wildlife where we never have before.
And no matter how many sunrises and sunsets we witness from the lofty overlooks, each one is different. It’s as if God chooses new shades of reds, pinks and oranges from his infinite color palette to create his daily masterpieces.
For us, the parkway is not just a scenic drive. It’s an adventure, a journey back, an exploration of nature. It’s an opportunity to escape to the mountains, immerse ourselves in their tranquil beauty and reflect on God’s magnificent creation.
Visit the Past
Mabry Mill is an icon on the parkway. Built more than a century ago, the mill embodies the history and spirit of Appalachia. To this day, neighbors gather there to hear folk and mountain music and to see traditional crafts in action. Learn more at mabrymillrestaurant.com.
Eighty years ago workers cleaned and graded land that would become the first 121/2-mile segment of the parkway. Planners envisioned a road that made the journey more important than the destination.
Rent a Canoe
Take a driving break and visit lovely, tree-lined Price Lake, North Carolina—the only lake on the parkway that allows boating.