The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway is a day out in the North Carolina mountains. Autumn in North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a protected park road that stretches 755 kilometers through Virginia and North Carolina. The road is known for its beautiful views, which are especially good in the first half of autumn.
1. Americans have turned their nature into a tourist attraction. They take care of nature here, protect it and at the same time create comfortable conditions for tourists who come to admire this nature. The Blue Ridge Parkway is no exception - along the entire route there are a huge number of observation platforms where you can stop and admire the views.
2. At all sites there are special informative signs about this area, which tell its history and where to look to see a good view. 
3. The road runs mainly along the famous Blue Ridge Mountains, which is part of the Appalachian mountain system. 
4. The length of the mountains is more than 1000 km. The highest peak is Mount Mitchell (2037 m). 
5. Indians from the Manahawk, Shawnee and Iroquois tribes once lived here. But in the first half of the 18th century, several agreements were concluded under which the Indians ceded land to the colonialists. The mountain range became the border between the lands of the Indians and the European colonies. The Europeans subsequently violated this agreement. 
6. One of the trails along which you can walk to the peaks and admire the surrounding views. 
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8. And the views here are magnificent: 
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10. Blue Ridge Parkway below. Construction of the route lasted more than 52 years and ended in 1987. 
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12. There are many tunnels throughout the route, one of them is located in Virginia and 25 in North Carolina. 168 bridges and six viaducts were built over canyons and rivers. 
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15. In winter, many sections of the road are closed. Due to the peculiarities of the local climate, at the upper points of the route the road is covered with a thick layer of ice, and the changeable weather in the mountains makes its maintenance in winter impractical. 
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18. In America, retirees live their lives to the fullest, travel and go hiking. Here the old people have reached a secluded cliff and are relaxing, enjoying nature: 
19. A lot of people travel on motorcycles: 
20. There are also a lot of beautiful retro cars. Sometimes you can see entire columns of several retro cars. 
In the next post I will show you one of the most beautiful viaducts on the route.
Blue Ridge Expressway ( Blue Ridge Parkway) is a protected park road known throughout the world for its beautiful views. This place is the most visited attraction among all US National Parks.
The length of the road is 755 kilometers. It runs mainly along the famous Blue Ridge Mountains ( Blue Ridge Mountains), which is part of the Appalachian mountain system. The southernmost point of the route is located in North Carolina National Park. From here it heads north to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, where it meets the Drive Skyline. Blue Ridge Parkway and Drive Skyline are two separate freeways. But overall, it is an important road artery, passing through picturesque parks and connecting the two states. There are plenty of campsites and parking areas along the route, located in areas where you can take in the stunning views.
Work on the road began during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the project was originally called the Appalachian Scenic Highway. The first stone was laid on September 11, 1935 in the Cumberland Mountains in North Carolina. In Virginia, construction in the opposite direction began the following February. On June 30, 1936, the project was officially named the Blue Ridge Parkway by the US Congress and transferred to the National Park Service.
Construction of the route lasted more than 52 years. The construction of an extensive network of highways was one of the methods proposed by Roosevelt to bring the country out of the Great Depression. Thus, the construction of the Blue Ridge Road has great historical significance for Americans. Thousands of unemployed people from all over America were able to find work here.
The final touch to completing the work was the construction of the Lynn Cove Viaduct ( Linn Cove Viaduct) in the Ded Mountain area ( Grandfather Mountain) in 1987. There are many tunnels along the route, one of them is located in Virginia and 25 in North Carolina. And 168 bridges and six viaducts were built over canyons and rivers.
In winter, certain sections of the road are often closed. Due to frequent rains, low clouds, dense fog, negative temperatures and the characteristics of mountain groundwater, a thick layer of ice forms on the route at the upper points of the route. Since the weather in the mountains is extremely changeable, road maintenance is simply not carried out in winter.
Travel on the road is free for everyone except commercial vehicles. There is a speed limit of 70 km per hour, and in some areas the speed limit is even lower.
American culture and road travel are inextricably linked. Traveling the Blue Ridge Highway can take anywhere from one to three days and is sure to be America's most memorable road trip.
Blue Ridge Highway - PHOTOS
The command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is the lead ship in a series of two Blue Ridge-class command ships and the flagship of the U.S. 7th Fleet. It is also the third US Navy ship to be named after the Blue Ridge, a chain of mountain ranges and massifs in the eastern United States, along the southeastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains. The second ship in this series is the command ship, commissioned on January 16, 1971.
The construction contract was awarded on December 31, 1964 to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on the Delaware River. Currently, the Technical Base of the Naval Surface Ships Center is located here.
The ship, named Blue Ridge (AGC 19), was laid down on February 27, 1967. On October 1, 1968, the tail number was changed to LCC-19. Launched on January 4, 1969. The godmother was Gretchen T. Byrd, wife of Senator Gretchen T. Byrd from Virginia. On November 14, 1970 it was put into operation. The original home port was the naval base in San Diego, California. Since July 17, 1979, the home port has been the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan.
Main characteristics: Total displacement 19609 tons. Length 194 meters, beam 33.9 meters, draft 8.8 meters. Speed 23 knots. Cruising range 10,000 nautical miles. The crew consists of 52 officers and 790 sailors.
Weapons:
Artillery: 4 x 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannons, 8 12.7 mm machine guns.
Anti-aircraft artillery: 2 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS cannons, Mark 36 SRBOC mount.
Aviation group: 2 Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. There is no hangar.
09 Apr 1971 arrived home port of San Diego, California after completing a two month voyage from Philadelphia. Arrived at Long Beach Navy Yard on 11 October to undergo repairs.
07 Jan 1972 departed San Diego for its first deployment to the Western Pacific, from which it returned 18 Aug.
Departed San Diego on 24 February 1973 for his second deployment to the Western Pacific, from which he returned on 23 October.
Departed San Diego on October 18, 1974 for his third deployment to the Western Pacific, from which he returned May 22, 1975. Arrived at Long Beach Navy Yard on 31 October to undergo eight months of repairs. July 02, 1976 returned to home port of San Diego.
On September 25, 1976, he left San Diego for his fourth deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility, from which he returned on March 08, 1977.
On 24 August 1977, she departed San Diego for her fifth deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility, where she resumed duties as flagship of the 7th Fleet, from which she returned on 20 November.
03 Aug 1978 departed San Diego for his sixth deployment to the Western Pacific, from which he returned 06 Nov.
On March 31, 1979, the planned repairs, which lasted about three months, were completed. Arrived at new home port of Yokosuka, Japan on 17 July, completing a two-week passage from San Diego. Left Yokosuka on October 22 for his first patrol in the Western Pacific after a change of station, from which he returned on January 9, 1980.
On September 03, 1980, she left her home port for a six-week patrol in the Western Pacific, from which she returned on December 02.
07 April 1981 arrived at Dry Dock No. 5 at the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard for her fourth dry dock repair, which she left on 21 May.
On January 7, 1982, he left his home port for spring patrol, from which he returned on June 26. On August 19, she began sea trials after completing 8 weeks of repairs.
On 12 May 1983, she left home port for routine patrol in the Western Pacific, from which she returned on 20 November.
During 1984 - 1989, he performed routine missions in the Western Pacific.
On 14 August 1990, she left her home port for deployment in support of Operation Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf. On May 24, 1991, she returned to her home port after completing her deployment to the US 5th and 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
During 1992, she flew routine missions in the Western Pacific. On September 15, she arrived at dry dock No. 6 at the Yokosuka shipyard to undergo a five-month repair. On December 02, he left the dry dock. On February 13, 1993, she began sea trials, after which she began performing routine tasks in the Western Pacific Ocean.
On July 26, 1996, he arrived for the first time on a four-day visit to Vladivostok, Russia, to take part in the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. On August 9, 2002, I arrived in Vladivostok for the second time. On May 7, 2010, he arrived in Vladivostok to participate in the celebration of Victory Day.
It made sense to take the Blue Ridge Parkway between the parks. But the main thing is that the Blue Ridge Parkway is not just a scenic road along which you can leisurely drive through the mountains and admire beautiful panoramic views. There are many lookout points along the Blue Ridge Road and a number of interesting hikes to the waterfalls. In this article I’ll tell you the best way to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway so as not to waste a lot of time and see the most interesting things.
Blue Ridge Parkway) is a 755 km long road that runs along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains ( Blue Ridge Mountains), which in turn is part of the Apalachee mountain system, stretching from south to north on the East Coast of the United States. The road began construction in 1935 under President Roosevelt and was first called the Appalachian Scenic Byway. During World War II, construction was suspended, and it was completed only 52 years after it began.
Description of Blue Ridge Parkway
Tunnels have been dug and bridges and viaducts have been built along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The purpose of the construction was to fight unemployment and help people during the Great Depression. Subsequently, the Blue Ridge Parkway became the most visited scenic road (Scenic Route) in the States.
The Blue Ridge Parkway has national park status and is especially protected by the state. At least here almost all the rules and restrictions apply, as in others, but they do not charge any toll when entering it, since it is a public road. At the same time, the territory is looked after as if it were a national park, and money for this is allocated from the federal budget.
- For all official information about the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit www.nps.gov/blri
Related article:
- The Blue Ridge Parway begins at the south entrance to Shenandoah State Park and ends at the east entrance to the park in North Carolina. Or vice versa, depending on where you are going.
- Road speeds are limited to 45 mph (70 km/h) or lower.
- Bicyclists are common on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and they are allowed to ride the same as cars.
- Due to the mountainous nature of the road, some parts of it may be closed in winter due to snow. A good time to travel the Blue Ridge Parway is from spring (May) to fall. But the best is in October, when the leaves on the trees turn yellow and red, creating a delightful landscape. It is better to clarify this short moment in time in advance, but usually it falls on the period from October 10 to October 25.
- Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway can take anywhere from 1 to 3 days, depending on your interests.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway is not one continuous road, but several sections built over different years and connected together. There are many exits from the road to small towns along the entire length of the route. So you can always go to civilization and spend the night in one of the cozy hotels, and then climb the Blue Ridge Mountains again.
- The most convenient large cities for an overnight stay along the Blue Ridge Parkway are Roanoke, Asheville.
We decided to drive the section south of the Blue Ridge Parkway near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains. We traveled at the end of May.
When we arrived at the visitor center Waterrock Knob, we barely saw him in the complete fog
Main attractions Blue Ridge Parkway- These are observation platforms for mountains and waterfalls. Since upon arrival in the Great Smoky Mountains we stayed at the Balsam Mountain campground, which is conveniently located very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, we drove along this road almost every day. And having descended from it at the intersection with Route 19, which leads to the city of Cherokee, we immediately saw the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A sign indicating that this is a drag - Blue Ridge Parkway
Soco Falls
One of the first iconic waterfalls Soko Falls (Soco Fall s) is located very close to Route 19 right next to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is important not to miss it, since the parking there is very small (for three cars), and there are no signs, only a small sign that you still need to have time to see. It's better to look at the navigator.
Here's a hint: if you're driving from west to east, as soon as you see the turn sign on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you've missed it, you need to turn around. But if it’s the other way around, from east to west, then when you see a turn onto a picturesque road, you should slow down and look at the small parking lot by the side of the road on the left. You need to drive 2.2 km.
There is a narrow path with a small staircase leading to the Soko Falls waterfall. The observation deck there is quite small. However, the waterfall itself is extremely picturesque and pretty.
Look how beautiful Soco Falls is!
We weren't very lucky with the weather at first. Visibility was not very good, all the mountains were in haze. But this is not surprising, because these mountains are called the Smoky Mountains - the Great Smoky Mountains. And the foggy road even had its own charm. However, nothing was visible from the viewpoints.
On the way, we stopped to drink tea at a special picnic spot - the fog had just begun to clear. And although the picnic table was wet after the rain, we still drank aromatic tea in the fresh air and admired the beautiful views of the mountains in the foggy haze.
Second Falls and Upper Falls
From Soco Falls to the next waterfall, Second Falls, we drove in about an hour. There are almost 60 km between them. At the same time, we also had breakfast on the picnic tables at the Rabb Knob Overlook.
Near the waterfalls Second Falls (Second Falls) And Upper Falls (Upper Falls) there is a fairly large parking lot and a toilet. Several quite popular trails start from the parking lot.
Second Falls, also known as the Second Falls (or maybe there is a First Falls somewhere else?) is a nearby waterfall. To find it, you need to go down a comfortable wooden trail, cross the bridge and at the fork take the trail to the right. Only 400 meters.
But the Upper Falls, Upper Falls, is located 2 km from the turn (and you need to turn left). And there is a dirt road leading there, which gets washed away after rain. It had just rained and another one was on the way. So I regretfully abandoned the idea of going to the Upper Falls.
Now we're off to the Pisgah National Forest ( Pisgah National Forest), on Route 276, which is part of the scenic road Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway. It takes about 10 miles (about 16 km) to get to the first waterfall.
Looking Glass Falls is the most popular waterfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Looking Glass Falls
Mirror Waterfall, Looking Glass Falls (Looking Glass Falls) is the most famous waterfall on this part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as the most easily accessible waterfall. We immediately appreciated its popularity when we started looking for a parking spot along Route 276. Entrance to the waterfall is free.
This waterfall got its name from Mount Looking Glass, which in winter becomes a mirror due to the water freezing right on the rock. This icy mirror looks very impressive. The waterfall just flows through this mountain.
By this time the sun had come out, and we were happy: it means we will see everything in a beautiful light! They say that the best time to photograph Mirror Falls is the middle of the day or a cloudy day. So in any case we would not have made a mistake.
There are two observation platforms near the waterfall: the upper one at the parking level and the lower one, where the stairs lead.
Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls (Moore Cove Falls) is located 1.5 km from Looking Glass if you drive back towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail to the waterfall is almost 1 km long one way. The entrance is free.
First we crossed the bridge and then went deep into the forest. We had to cross Moore Creek a couple of times. This waterfall has been called the hidden gem of the Pisgah National Forest.
People love to hide in an alcove behind the waterfall and its transparent streams that fall from the cliff.
And beyond the waterfall itself, the trail continues, there is a campsite and another waterfall, but access to it is much more difficult.
Even further down the road is Sliding Rock. This is not exactly a waterfall, but gentle rocks with a slight slope along which water rolls. People use this place as a butt slide. I immediately remembered a complex in Peru, where there are also rock slides, although without flowing water. Entrance fee is $1. Don't forget to take a swimsuit and swimming trunks.
Since it was quite cloudy while we were driving along the road, we decided to return to the Blue Ridge Parkway and ride the same road back to try our luck at the viewpoints, hoping that the sun would not hide again.
We saw Mount Looking Glass towards the clouds. This is the same mountain that turns into a mirror and along which the waterfall of the same name flows. Doesn't it look a bit like a lonely mountain in Sri Lanka?
We also visited the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway - 1844 meters
My Review of Blue Ridge Parkway
To sum it all up, the Blue Ridg Parkway is an American adventure like no other. We, of course, have already traveled around, but only here, on the east coast, did we encounter that. that the road can be monotonous on one side, and very beautiful on the other. It seems that the landscape is the same in the Blue Mountains (as in), but it is a delight to the eye.
And again I caught myself thinking that, being in states like Virginia and North Carolina, it was as if we had driven through endless roads, as if we had once again traveled from a town to a beloved one. The same milky mountains, green waves of mountain forests and serpentines.
So I advise everyone to drive at least along the southern part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, if there is not enough time for the entire 755 km.
Blue Ridge Parkway Map
