Highlands District

The Highlands District is the northern half of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, stretching from the Virginia state line at mile post 216 to the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at mile post 331.

Points of Interest:

The following points of interest are in ascending order by mile post.

Mile Post: 239.0: Brinegar Cabin - This historic cabin was built by Martin Brinegar, whose family lived here until the 1930s. See my Doughton Park page for more information.

Mile Post 243.4: View Bluff Mountain Overlook - A scenic overlook with views of Bluff Mountain and Flat Rock Ridge. See my Doughton Park page for more information.

Milepost 244.7: Basin Cove Overlook has views of Basin Cove and provides access to the trails of Doughton Park and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Milepost 267.8: View Betseys Rock Falls provides a view of the tall waterfall flowing down North Prong Lewis Fork.

Milepost 272.5: E.B. Jeffress Park is a small recreation area a picnic area, an interpretive trail leading to a waterfall and access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Milepost 274.3: Elk Mountain Overlook has panoramic views of the Yadkin Valley.

Milepost 281.4: Grandview Overlook - A scenic overlook with views of the Yadkin Valley.

Mile Post 289.8: Yadkin Valley Overlook - A small overlook with views of the Yadkin Valley.

Mile Post 290.4: Thunder Hill Overlook - Overlook with great views of the foothills and Piedmont and one of the best places to catch the sunrise on the parkway.

Mile Post 296.4: Price Park Picnic Area - A large picnic area and parking with access to Price Park and Boone Fork Trail. See my Julian Price Memorial Park page for more information.

Mile Post 296.7: Price Lake Overlook - View of Price Lake from the eastern end and access to Price Lake Trail. See my Julian Price Memorial Park page for more information.

Mile Post 297.1: Julian Price Memorial Park & Campground - A park area with hiking trails, picnic areas, a lake with boat rentals, and the largest campground on the Parkway. See my Julian Price Memorial Park page for more information.

Mile Post 297.5: Lakeview Overlook - View of Price Lake from the western end and access to Price Lake Trail. This is also the parking area for canoe and kayak rentals on the lake. See my Julian Price Memorial Park page for more information.

Mile Post 299.0: Cold Prong Pond Overlook - A short trail leads from the parking area around the small pond and provides access to Tanawha Trail. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Milepost 299.9: Boone Fork Parking Area provides access to the Tanawah Trail and Daniel Boone Scout Trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.

Mile Post 302.1: View Wilson Creek Valley Overlook - A scenic overlook with views into the Wilson Creek Valley. Wilson Creek is one of the main streams originating on Grandfather Mountain and is designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

Mile Post 302.4: Boulder Field Overlook - View of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct in the distance. A spur trail from the parking leads to Tanawha Trail. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Mile Post 302.8: Rough Ridge Parking Area - Parking area for Tanawha Trail to Rough Ridge, a scenic rocky outcrop with great views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Mile Post 303.6: Wilson Creek Overlook - Parking area at bridge over headwaters of Wilson Creek. A spur trail leads under the bridge to Tanawha Trail. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information. Although small at this point, Wilson Creek flows down from Calloway Peak and is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River where it flows through Pisgah National Forest.

Mile Post 304.4: Linn Cove Visitor Center - A visitor center with restrooms, information, and a gift shop. The Linn Cove Viaduct was the final section of the parkway and most difficult. The snaking road running along the flank of Grandfather Mountain is truly an engineering marvel. A short trail leads under the viaduct to see it (pedestrians are prohibited on the viaduct itself). This trail is part of the much longer Tanawha Trail; see my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Mile Post 304.8: Stack Rock Parking Area - A parking area with access to Tanawha Trail near Stack Rock Creek. It's only a short distance to the parkway bridge over Stack Rock Creek. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Mile Post 305.2: Beacon Heights Parking Area - Parking area with access to Beacon Heights and Tanawha Trail. Beacon Heights is a scenic peak with two overlooks providing panoramic views in all directions. See my Tanawha Trail page for more information.

Mile Post 306.6: View Grandfather Mountain - An overlook with nice views north towards Grandfather Mountain towering in the distance.

Mile Post 316.4: Linville Falls - A park area with hiking trails, picnic areas, a campground, and views of one the most beautiful waterfalls along the Parkway.

Mile Post 325.9: Heffner Gap Overlook - An overlook with views of the western rim of Linville Gorge. The gap is named for Amanda Heffner, a widow who lived in the area during the Civil War era.