Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia Scenic Byway

(Please note: Maps in this section are between 38-57K JPEGS)

Major points of interest along the parkway are listed by milepost from the northern end in Virginia to the southern end in North Carolina. Here are informational notes pertaining to the whole parkway.

Mile 0
Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, Virginia, is the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. To the north the parkway connects directly to Skyline Drive, which winds 105 miles through Shenandoah National Park. U.S. 250 and 1-64 take you to Charlottesville to the east and Staunton to the west.

Mile 5 to 9.3
Humpback Rocks has a self-guiding trail through a reconstructed farm-stead. A hiking trail from the parking area (at mile 6.1) leads 0.75 mile to The Rocks, whose humped appearance gives the area its name. Greenstone is aself-guiding trail (8.8).

Map - Skyline Drive to Mile 10+

Mile 10.7
Ravens Roost offers vistas of Torry Mountain and the Shenandoah to the west.

Mile 16
Sherando Lake is a recreation area in George Washington National Forest 4.5 miles from the parkway via Va. 814. Swimming, picnicking, and camping are available.

Mile 29
Whetstone Ridge provided many a mountain man with a fine-grained sharpening stone.

Mile 34.4
Yankee Horse supposedly is where a hard-riding Union man's horse fell and had to be shot. See a reconstructed spur of an old logging railroad by walking to Wigwam Falls.

Map - Mile 10+ to Mile 50+

Mile 58 to 63.6
Otter Creek runs 10 miles down the Blue Ridge to the James River. Otters don't play here anymore, but people do. Otter Lake offers (63.1), fishing and hiking.

Mile 63.8
At the James River and Kanawha Canal a footbridge leads across the river to the restored canal locks and exhibits. A self-guiding trail goes along the river bluff.

Mile 71
Petites Gap is named for a local family. The road to the west goes to Cave Mountain Lake, 7 miles away, in Jefferson National Forest. Swimming, picnicking, and camping are available.

Mile 79.7
Onion Mountain's short loop trail takes you through rhododendron and mountain laurel, which bloom in early June.

Map - Mile 50 - Mile 80+