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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.
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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.
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