Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Miles and miles of trails in North Carolina and Virginia offer excellent hiking and interpretive opportunities along the most-visited national park in the country. This guide will help hikers of all abilities get off the road and into the woods.

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There has never been a better time to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway! This updated edition of Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway is ideal for anyone who uses the Parkway as a portal to the Southern Appalachian experience. It includes the best trails in the national forests, state parks, and private preserves that line the 469-mile roadway—from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina—making it a single-volume solution for the serious explorer, whether on foot or by car.
Look inside to find:
·Hikes suited to every ability, from 0.1-mile nature walks to 13-mile backpacks, with options for longer treks
·Accurate directions to both popular and less-traveled trails
·Up-to-date trail descriptions and detailed trail maps
·Difficulty ratings and elevation gain for each hike
·Mileage log for the entire Parkway and a guide to wildflowers
·Tips for zero-impact hiking, trail etiquette, and hiking with kids