The High Country is where the Parkway Begins...and Ends.

Linn Cove Viaduct - photo by Hugh Morton

Originally authorized as a public works project in the 1930's, construction of the Parkway took nearly 52 years to complete. You might be interested to know that the Parkway actually began and ended in the High Country. Ground was broken on September 11, 1935 at Cumberland Knob near the Virginia/ North Carolina line and ended in September 1987 with the completion of the Linn Cove Viaduct, the final link of the Parkway. This final section, which skirts the rugged and rocky perimeter of Grandfather Mountain, has often been called a miracle of modern engineering and is by far one of the most complicated concrete bridges ever built. The Parkway is 469 miles long--125 of which run through the High Country.

Birds and Blooms...
The High Country's portion of the Parkway is home to many rare and endangered plants and birds. Heller's Blazing Star, Azalea Vasei and many other plants have been preserved and are flourishing in our neck of the "woods." A good place to see plant life without disturbing the terrain is the Rough Ridge Overlook Trail at Milepost 305.5--boardwalks cover much of the trail. Rare and endangered birds also inhabit the High Country's section of the Parkway. There is a pair of Peregrine Falcon that can sometimes be seen at Grandfather Mountain and other birds like the endangered Saw Whet--a very rare sight--can also be found in our area. Some great places to birdwatch are Grandfather Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Bluff Mountain.

Wildlife along the Parkway...
There is a chance that you may see deer, wild turkey or even in rare cases...a black bear while driving the Parkway. A fun game to play in the spring and summer is "count the groundhogs" peaking up along the side of the road. Hunting is prohibited and weapons must be unloaded, cased and stored to prevent ready access.

Your Own Wildlife...
Pets are welcome on the Parkway as long as they are on a leash or otherwise under physical control. There are many great trails for dogs--try the Boone Fork Trail which has lots of stream to splash in...or Price Lake. Children should be watched carefully, especially at overlooks and on hikes with steep drops.

Getting Around the Parkway...

At each Parkway entrance there is a directional sign indicating North or South. North will ultimately take you toward the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive in Virginia.

South will ultimately take you to Cherokee and the Cherohala Parkway in North Carolina.

Each mile along the Parkway is marked by a roadside milepost.

The milepost numbers go up as you go South and down as you go North.

There are many overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and other developed areas off the Parkway. Some, like the Linn Cove Viaduct, Doughton Park, or the Mineral Museum, have Visitor Centers.

The speed limit is mostly 45-miles-per-hour. There are a few places in the High Country's section of the Parkway (for instance the Viaduct) where the speed limit is 35. Please be careful to watch for bicyclists, hikers, deer and other animals. Also take great caution when driving in the fog and rain. Be advised that motocylists are required to wear helmets and must always have their headlights on in North Carolina.

Although there are not gas stations or many restaurants directly on the Parkway, there are many exits off the Parkway in the High Country area. There is an exit at just about every state highway and at other major roads as well--and gas stations restaurants and accommodations are near all of these exits!

If in an accident, notify a park ranger or call 800-PARKWATCH.

We are very proud of the natural beauty of the High Country's section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please help us to keep it beautiful by using trash receptacles and obeying the Parkway rules and regulations.