Welcome to Blue Ridge

Open
Staggered Opens for Spring 2004
Special Programs
Parkway campgrounds at Otter Creek and Linville Falls will open April 2, and all other campgrounds will open May 14. The Picnic Area at Peaks of Otter opens April 2. The Picnic Area at Linville Falls opens April 2, weekends only, and May 1 full time. All other Parkway Picnic Areas open May 14. All seasonal Campgrounds and Picnic Areas close November 1.

Available Facilities Some Blue Ridge Parkway Picnic Areas have covered shelters that are available first come and first served. Campgrounds have no electric or water hookups, but have bathrooms central to each loop.

Seasonal Parkway Visitor Centers
Open May through October Closures Seasonal Parkway Visitor Centers listed below will re-open on a staggered schedule beginning weekends in mid April for a few of the most popular sites, five days a week by May 1, and seven days a week by the end of May. Special Programs Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Centers are strategically located at points of cultural or natural interest along the motor road. Most areas have camping, hiking, and picnic facilities close by. Plan your trip to spend time at visitor centers, finding out from our staff rangers and volunteers how you can best experience this section of the park. Exhibits At each visitor center or developed area, you are likely to find restored cabins, operating grist mills, interesting hikes to waterfalls, early 20th century summer vacation homes or some special place. Available Facilities Humpback Rocks (Milepost 5.8) has exhibits on life in the Blue Ridge and a relocated 19th century working farm. James River (Milepost 63.6) has exhibits on the importance of the James River and a working, full size canal lock from the 19th century.Peaks of Otter (Milepost 86) has exhibits on tourism in the mountains and the diversity of natural history in the region, along with a working 1930s farm and an extensive trail system. The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Virginia's Explore Park (Milepost 115) serves as the orientation for visitors to the Roanoke region. Rocky Knob (Milepost 169). Cumberland Knob (Milepost 217.5). Northwest Trading Post (Milepost 258.6)offers book sales and a variety of items from this region of North Carolina . Cone Park (Milepost 294.1) is the official Parkway craft center, with a sales outlet in the 19th century mountain estate of Moses H. Cone (OPen through 11/30/03). Linn Cove Viaduct (Milepost 305) is the gateway to the trail system along the side of Grandfather Mountain, highest point in the Blue Ridge. Linville Falls (316.4) is the trailhead for hiking along the Linville Gorge Falls and Wilderness area. Craggy Gardens (Milepost 364.6) is in the rugged area near Mount Mitchell and has spectacular rhododendron displays in the spring . Waterrock Knob (451.2) in the high peaks south of Asheville, has spectacular views of the rugged Balsam Ranges and the Great Smoky Mountains. MUSEUMS Museum of North Carolina Minerals Open Open All Year Location Milepost 331 Exhibits New exhibits are now in place detailing the mining heritage of the region and the unique geology of this portion of the Parkway corridor. With the new exhibits, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals is the Parkway's premier educational facility, with exhibits tied closely to the learning standards of the public school systems in the region. Enjoy the Minerals Museum all winter long! VISITOR CENTERS Folk Art Center Open Open All Year Location Milepost 382 Exhibits The Folk Art Center in Asheville is an outlet for the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Eastern National, the Parkway's education sales association. At this site, visitors can find the largest selection of book sales and

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ACTIVITY FEES Camping Fees $14.00 - Day Details Beginning in 2004, reservations can be made for portions of the campgrounds at Linville Falls and Price Park. Contact reserveUSA.com for on-line reservations. All other campsites are on a first come and first served basis.

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