Need advise on a trip down Blueridge Parkway and Smokey Mountains this October (Page 5): I drove the Parkway last year from Maybry Mill to the southern end of the Parkway, then spent a...

rihart

I drove the Parkway last year from Maybry Mill to the southern end of the Parkway, then spent a week photographing highway 64. If you have time, highway 64 is definitely worth your time. Lots of waterfalls and scenics. On the Parkway one of my favorite stops was Rough Ridge. It is a little bit of a hike but not hard. Just take your time, it is worth it. I was there for sunset, third week in October, and the color was spectacular. It was even better after the sun went down as the colors simply glowed! Crab Tree Falls are worth the effort also but take much more effort as it is downhill going in and uphill coming out. But quite beautiful. One thing about the Parkway, there is so much to see that you will not be disappointed no matter where you go. Asheville a case in point. Great little city and the Biltmore if you have not seen it. Regarding reservations, I got mine a year ahead and many places were already filled.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jpintn wrote:

I can vouch for the splendor of The Grove Park Inn. I have stayed there on three different occasions over the years. I was there each time on company business so I was able to expense the room. Yes, it is very expensive.

The Grove Park is nice. I have stayed there on business as well. Whether you choose to stay there or not, drinks and dinner on the veranda (with a great view) are the best part of this old hotel.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

bob44044 wrote:

The parkway used to be a great place for some spectacular views but the US Park service has let the pull offs become over grown with trees so that you can no long see the scenery. These pull off's were built so that you can get these great views, but the environmentist movement has the parks service convinced that the public does not matter only a couple of trees.

tinkerbell2 Loc: Charleston, South Carolina

MikeMcK wrote:

Try and make that trip every year in October for a... (show quote)

Kingman's Dome is actually Clingman's Dome. Visit Cherokee. There is a great National Park farm on the far side of Cherokee that is wonderful to visit. My brother was a National Park Historian there for 20 years, so we visited quite often. You can then cross into TN and Gatlinburg from there.

jdmarks64

If you get the chance, spend some time in Roanoke, VA. They have a great Railroad museum there.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

tinkerbell2 wrote:

Kingman's Dome is actually Clingman's Dome. Visit Cherokee. There is a great National Park farm on the far side of Cherokee that is wonderful to visit. My brother was a National Park Historian there for 20 years, so we visited quite often. You can then cross into TN and Gatlinburg from there.

The farm would be the Oconaluftee Village that is directly behind Oconaluftee Visitor's Center. Turn right on US441 at the Parkway terminus and it will be 1/2 mile on the right. There is a large open field by the Village where you may likely view elk.

imageal Loc: Ocala, FL

If you are into waterfalls, check out the Transylvania County area for many waterfalls with viewing ranging from roadside for a few, to easy hike for more and longer trail hikes for others. The Dupont Forest has some excellent ones. The county is south of the Asheville area, an easy run east off of the parkway. For accommodations there, checkout the town of Brevard-- their visitor center has literature/maps to waterfalls in that area. You can also Google NC Waterfalls for info. Allow at least a day. When ready, you can drive back up to the Blue Ridge Pkwy. easily to continue your trek south towards the Parkway's end at Cherokee.

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

bedgmon wrote:

I have begun planning a driving tour down the Blue... (show quote)

A lot of good information has been provided. So instead of repeating let me just add .... purchase the book "Walking the Blue Ridge" by Leonard M. Adkins. It has the mile marker description for the entire Parkway. I think I picked my copy up at the Linville Falls site many years ago but probably can be bought online. We live not too far off from the BRP and it has come in handy on the many visits we make every year.

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

Anandnra wrote:

A lot of good information has been provided. So instead of repeating let me just add .... purchase the book "Walking the Blue Ridge" by Leonard M. Adkins. It has the mile marker description for the entire Parkway. I think I picked my copy up at the Linville Falls site many years ago but probably can be bought online. We live not too far off from the BRP and it has come in handy on the many visits we make every year.

Here's the link for the referenced book ...

https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Blue-Ridge-Trails-Parkway/dp/0807854905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488067817&sr=8-1&keywords=walking+the+blue+ridge

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

Anandnra wrote:

Here's the link for the referenced book ...

https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Blue-Ridge-Trails-Parkway/dp/0807854905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488067817&sr=8-1&keywords=walking+the+blue+ridge

Self update ......
That book has been replaced by a newer 2013 edition ...

https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Traveling-Blue-Ridge-Parkway/dp/1469608197/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1469608197&pd_rd_r=29GY4MWGG29R0XAPQ2ND&pd_rd_w=2HnNC&pd_rd_wg=wOE4Y&psc=1&refRID=29GY4MWGG29R0XAPQ2ND

Bob Fraser

Take your time!!! There is a lot to see. We spent 2 weeks this past May, 2016 traveling from the northern entrance of Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway and through Smokey Mountain National Park in our new motor home. We could have taken twice as long if we stopped to see everything. Remember this is NOT an interstate. The speed limit is 45 and the road winds it's way from mountaintop to mountaintop so you have to slow down on the curves... But around every curve is another new vista. i have heard of bumper to bumper traffic at the time of year your are planning to go. Just sayin'...

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

bedgmon wrote:

I will place this on my list to call for lodging. Thank you very much. I knew I would get great advise.

You are welcome, glad I could help

Picker Loc: Wichita, Kansas

Anxious to see your pics when you return! Happy hunting!

jrl11528

There is a facebook group called "hike the smokeys" that is chock full of daily comments and pictures of hiking trails. There is an American Hiking Society guide to hiking the Smokeys available from Amazon that is very detailed. Depending on your intentions regarding the commercial attractions in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, you can avoid a lot of that traffic and congestion by not getting off the interstate at the normal exit (I think it exit 407), but continuing on to Alcoa Highway/Smokey Mountains exit in downtown Knoxville, and end up at the Townsend end of the park. Townsend is also the nearest entrance to Cades Cove, and the trailheads for several popular hikes.

quagmire Loc: Greenwood,South Carolina

If you go during peak leaf changing season,expect lots and lots of traffic. Search internet to find peak.