=
Directly on the Parkway
|
|  -
Handicapped accessible (call for level of accessibility) It is
always a good idea to make advanced arrangements prior to your visit to these
sites.
$-
Admission Charged
FREE-
No admission charged
|
| YEARLY
FESTIVALS
& EVENTS |
Mountain
Heritage Festival
Sparta
September
Great fun for the whole family. Enjoy mountain music, food and crafts
and find out a bit about the history and heritage of Alleghany County.
800-372-5473
www.sparta-nc.com
|
|
|
Points
of Interest |
|
|
Cumberland
Knob- Milepost 217.5- A 1,000 acres park and the northernmost visitor
center in North Carolina. Picnic areas and trails. Take the 15 minute loop trail
to Cumberland Knob, described on the Parkway guide as and ideal lazy-day walk,
or the more strenuous Gully Creek Trail , a 2 hour loop meandering by a stream
into Gully Creek Gorge. Sparta-Milepost 229, then about 7 miles north on Highway
21.
FREE
| |
| Fox
Hunter's Paradise - MP 218.6 An overlook & parking area with 10
minute trail walk to the Paradise, where old-time hunters listened for their hounds.
Alt. 2,805. FREE |
|
| Stone
Mountain State Park- 1 hr. to a whole weekend - Milepost 229, then
take Highway 21 South to Roaring Gap. The park entrance is 7 miles southwest of
Roaring Gap off SR 1002, then follow John P. Frank Parkway. The park offers several
hiking trails, to include one to the summit of the 600-foot granite dome. Among
the camping choices available are: family type ,backcountry, and group camping.
For fishing the park offers more than 17 miles of designated trout waters.
FREE
| |
| Little
Glade Pond
- A nice place to picnic and try your luck at fishing! (NC fishing license required)
FREE |
|
| Mahogany
Rock Mountain - Located on the Parkway, Mahogany Rock Mountain
is a prime place to view hawks sailing the updraft and thermals along the Blue
Ridge on their southern migration. The best time to view the migration is in late
August and early September. Most activity starts around 10am and continue through
4:30 or 5:00 pm. FREE |
|
| Shelton
Vineyards - -21 miles from Milepost 199.5 or 215-286 Cabernet Lane,
Dobson. The rolling hills of the Yadkin Valley provide the ideal drainage and
topography for growing premium vinifera grapes. Daily tours and tastings *Gift
shop* Handcrafted Artisan Cheeses* Summer Outdoor Concert Series* Beautifully
landscaped grounds and picnic area. 336-372-2562, 800-650-3236 or www.sheltonvineyards.com
FREE
| |
|
Doughton
Park- MP 238.5 - 244.7 - Visit the restored Brinegar Cabin
and, during the summer months, watch hand-weaving demonstrations. The park is
located in seven thousand acres of land and offers picnic areas and 30 miles of
hiking trails. Trout fishing (you need a state fishing license) and primitive
back-country camping sites are also available. Reserve with park officials. During
the winter months go cross-country skiing in Doughton Park- park has gently rolling
terrain and numerous trails. When park is accessible. (call parkway ranger's office
at 336-372-8568).
FREE
| | | Thistle
Meadow Winery - Milepost 246 (Laurel Springs). Take Elk Knob Road (SR
1143) just before milepost 246, drive for 3 miles to the Burgiss Farm. A winery
that allows you to see just how wine is made daily and how you can make wine to
YOUR taste. Visitors Welcomed @ Thistle Meadow Winery . 1 800-233 1505 or check
them out online at www.thistlemeadowwinery.com |
|
|
| Facts
& Folklore | |
Where the Parkway Began...Cumberland
Knob in Alleghany County was where ground was first broken in the construction
of the Parkway in 1935. | | The Lost Province - Alleghany County was known
as the "lost province" because of its isolation. Nowadays the county is referred
as the "unspoiled province" because of its preserved, scenic beauty. |
| The
Old "New" - Did you know that The New River, which flows through
Alleghany County, is the second oldest river in the world? This billion years
old river was named an American Heritage River in 1998 by President Clinton who
visited the area to present the designation. The New is also the only river in
the eastern US that flows northward to the mid-west. The River was named in honor
of the ferry operator Mr. New. | | Alleghany
- The word, "Alleghany," is said to come from an Indian word meaning,
"a fine stream." | | White
Lightning - Did you know that still made whiskey (aka moonshine,
corn likker, or white lightning) was heartily made in Alleghany County--first
by pioneers, and then by locals during the Great Depression who bartered with
the moonshine to buy staples like flour, sugar, etc. Back then, a moonshiner making
whiskey to raise money to feed his family was not thought of as a criminal. Today,
though, stiff penalties including jail time are given if caught selling moonshine.
| | Minerals
- During the Civil War, many minerals including iron, were
mined in Alleghany County.Other minerals such as copper and gray granite were
also plentiful. |
| Wildflowers
You Might Spot From MP 216-248 | | Skunk
Cabbage - Feb-Mar | | Dwarf
Iris - Mar-April | | Serviceberry
Sarvice - Mar-May | | Dwarf
Iris - Mar-April | | Buttercups
- Mar-June | | Wild
Strawberry - Mar-June | | Crested
Dwarf Iris - Apr-May | | Pinxter
Flower - Apr-May | | Trillium
- Apr-May | | Carolina
Rhododendron Late Apr-June | | Dogwood
- May | | Flame
Azalea - May-June | | Allegheny
Blackberry - May-June | | New
Jersey Tea - May-June | | Bittersweet
- May-June | | Fly
Poison - May-July | | Phlox
- May-July | | Catawba
Rhododendron - June | | Goat's
Beard - June | | Butterfly
Weed - Jun-Aug | | Mountain
Laurel - June-July | | Sourwood
- Jun-July | | Tall
Coneflower - Jul-Aug. | | Pokeberry
- Aug |
| Birds
You Might Spot From MP 216-248 | | Downy
Woodpecker | | Eastern
Wood Peewee | | Eastern
Phoebe | | Great
Crested Flycatcher | | American
Goldfinch | | White-breasted
Nuthatches | | Indigo
Bunting | | Carolina
Wrens | | Red-eyed
& Solitary Vireos | | Hooded
Warblers | | Black-billed
Cuckoos | | Scarlet
Tanager | | Wood
Thrush | | **Find
most of these at Cumberland Knob or Doughton Park. | |
|
