Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails Alternate Access
As of January 18, the NC High Country section (milepost 239-317) of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed due to storm damage and ice. Although you cannot drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, many of the most popular trails are still accessible via state maintained roads. (Keep in mind when hiking these trails, that there may be storm damage and ice on the trails as well, since they are not being maintained during the federal government shutdown. Please do not attempt to repair trails, and please carry your trash out with you as trash cans along the parkway are not being emptied.) Here is a list of alternate access routes to Blue Ridge Parkway hiking trails:
- Moses Cone Memorial Park Alternate Access: There are two alternate ways to access the Moses Cone trails-
- Take Hwy 221 from downtown Blowing Rock (turn at Mellow Mushroom & Speckled Trout). Park at the Bass Lake entrance. From here you can access the Bass Lake Loop, The Maze, and Deer Park Road trails.
- Take Shulls Mill Road to the Trout Lake parking lot. From here you can access the Trout Lake and Rich Mountain trails.
- To view a detailed map, click: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/moses-cone-trails.htm
- Julian Price Park & Tanawha Trail Alternate Access:
- To access Julian Price Parks’ famous Boone Fork trail, take Highway 221 from downtown Blowing Rock to Holloway Mountain Road. Park in the Tanawha Trailhead Parking lot. From here you can take the Tanawha trail for as long as you want, or you can get off onto the Boone Fork trail when you see the marker.
- To view a detailed map, click: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/tanawha-trail.htm
- Linville Falls Trail Alternate Access:
- Take 221 toward Marion, get off onto Rt 183, the USFS Parking Area is on the left. This parking area has easy access to Upper Falls.
- To view a detailed map, click https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/linville-falls-trails.htm
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