What's Open: Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville
Asheville is embracing a season of renewal, inviting travelers to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway's reopened stretches and rediscover the region's natural beauty and cultural richness.
Thanks to dedicated recovery efforts, key sections near Asheville are now accessible, offering fresh opportunities to experience scenic vistas, vibrant arts, and the welcoming spirit of the community. Whether you're seeking epic hikes, tranquil waterfalls, or panoramic views, it's a beautiful time to visit and support the area's ongoing revival.
🌄If You Want Nature Near Town…
Start: Downtown Asheville > Folk Art Center (Milepost 382.5) → Blue Ridge Parkway → North Carolina Arboretum (Milepost 393.6)
Highlights:
- Begin at the Folk Art Center, home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, featuring galleries, daily craft demonstrations, and the historic Allanstand Craft Shop.
- Drive south along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Conclude at the North Carolina Arboretum, a 434-acre public garden nestled within the Pisgah National Forest, offering cultivated gardens, forested trails, and the renowned Bonsai Exhibition Garden.
Eat Here:
- Highland Brewing Company (Exit Milepost 388.8 to Highway 74A West)– Asheville’s original craft brewery, offering a spacious taproom, outdoor seating, and a rotating selection of food trucks. Enjoy a pint of their signature Highland Haze IPA while taking in live music or exploring their disc golf course.
- Hillman Beer (Exit Milepost 388.8 to Highway 74A West) – A cozy, family-owned brewery known for its welcoming atmosphere and hearty menu. Pair your craft beer with offerings like the HB Signature Burger, Reuben sandwich, or a fresh kale salad.
Hike It:
- Hard Times Trail (at the Arboretum) – A mellow walk-through rhododendron tunnels and hardwood groves.
- Bent Creek Trail (at the Arboretum) – This hike takes you along the creek and into the arboretum’s native azalea collection.
Scenic Stop:
- French Broad Overlook (Milepost 393.8) – Witness the river winding through misty hills below.
Blue Ridge Parkway Map - Nature In Town
💧 If You Want To Chase Waterfalls Then…
Start: Downtown Asheville → I-40 West to Exit 37 → NC 191 South → US 276 South through Pisgah National Forest → Blue Ridge Parkway at (Milepost 412) → Graveyard Fields (Milepost 418.8)
Highlights:
- Drive through Pisgah National Forest, offering waterfall views and riverside picnic spots.
- Explore Graveyard Fields, a favorite high-elevation destination with boardwalk trails, open meadows, and waterfalls.
Hike It:
- Graveyard Fields Loop Trail – A 3.5-mile loop trail offering a moderate hike through high-elevation meadows, rhododendron thickets, and access to two picturesque waterfalls. The trail begins at the Graveyard Fields Overlook (Milepost 418.8) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail – This 1.4-mile out-and-back trail offers a moderately challenging hike through spruce forests and open meadows, leading to the summit of Black Balsam Knob at 6,214 feet. The trail provides panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains
Additional Scenic Stop:
- Looking Glass Falls – On your way back, head south on US 276 to witness this roadside waterfall classic.
Dinner Stop:
- After Looking Glass Falls, continue to the charming town of Brevard for a cold beverage or some dinner.
Blue Ridge Parkway Map - Chasing Waterfalls
🏔️ If You Want A Grand Adventure… Grandfather Mountain Awaits
Start: Downtown Asheville → Blue Ridge Parkway (North from Milepost 382.5) → Grandfather Mountain (Milepost 305).
Highlights:
- Embark on a longer drive along the Parkway’s high-elevation spine toward the iconic Grandfather Mountain.
- Experience unmatched overlooks and access to some of the Parkway’s highest points.
Hike It:
- Beacon Heights Trail (Milepost 305.2) – A short but rewarding trail to a rocky outcrop with sweeping views.
- Grandfather Mountain State Park Trails – For serious hikers, the Profile Trail and Grandfather Trail offer backcountry terrain, ladders, and jaw-dropping vistas.
Pack A Picnic:
- Taste Asheville on the go with Asheville Picnic Company, which is known for putting together a wonderfully packaged meal consisting of the best foods Asheville has to offer.
Don’t Miss:
- The Mile-High Swinging Bridge – Walk across this iconic suspension bridge for views that span nearly 100 miles on a clear day.
Visitor Tip:
- Entry to Grandfather Mountain requires a ticket if you’re visiting the nature center or swinging bridge. Book ahead at grandfather.com.
Scenic Stop:
- Linn Cove Viaduct (Milepost 304.4) – One of the Parkway’s most photographed feats of engineering, curving dramatically around the mountain’s edge.
Blue Ridge Parkway Map - Grandfather Mountain
🛣️ If You Want Scenic Vistas & Epic Hikes Then…
Start: Enka-Candler or West Asheville → NC 151 → Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 405.5
Highlights:
- Experience a winding backroad with steep grades and hairpin turns, leading to open skies, ridgeline vistas and epic views.
- Emerge onto the Parkway near Mount Pisgah on one of the most breathtaking stretches.
Hike It:
- Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower (Milepost 409.6) – A quick, 1.5-mile hike to a historic fire tower with 360° views.
- Buck Spring Trail – A quieter path with a mix of history and scenery.
- Mount Pisgah Trail (Milepost 407.6) – A 3-mile round trip with serious views and a rewarding climb.
- Graveyard Fields Loop Trail – A 3.5-mile loop trail offering a moderate hike through high-elevation meadows, rhododendron thickets, and access to two picturesque waterfalls. The trail begins at the Graveyard Fields Overlook (Milepost 418.8) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail – This 1.4-mile out-and-back trail offers a moderately challenging hike through spruce forests and open meadows, leading to the summit of Black Balsam Knob at 6,214 feet. The trail provides panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains
Lunch Stop:
- Pisgah Inn Restaurant (Milepost 408.6) – Open seasonally, this ridgeline inn serves up panoramic views with every meal. Try the trout sandwich and a slice of homemade pie.
Scenic Stop:
- Cold Mountain Overlook (Milepost 411.9) – Yes, that Cold Mountain. The view is just as hauntingly beautiful as the book.
Be sure to find the most recent information on open roads and safe routes to your destination or head to DriveNC.gov for real time updates.
Pro-Tip: Don’t park on the roadside — only in official parking lots. There may be hidden hazards, and parked cars hinder work crews.
This article will continue to be updated as new information is provided.
Blue Ridge Parkway Map - Scenic Vistas
Blue Ridge Parkway Sections Open Near Asheville
NC Route 151 (Milepost 405.5) to NC Route 276 (milepost 421)
The National Park Service restored access to an additional six miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mount Pisgah which opens many popular overlooks and hikes, including:
*Please double-check before heading out to see if trails are open post-Helene. The Devil’s Courthouse area is closed due to significant road damage on the parkway. This closure includes bicycle and pedestrian use.
Milepost 285.5 at Beacon Gap to milepost 305 near Beacon Heights
This section, which was the first to open after Hurricane Helene, wraps around Grandfather Mountain near Boone, Blowing Rock and Linville. Popular trails open near here include:
- Rough Ridge Hiking Trail
- Daniel Boone Scout Trail
- Beacon Heights Trail
- Linn Cove Viaduct via Tanawha Trail
- Flat Top Mountain Trail
- Stack Rock Trail
Mileposts 423.2 (Beech Gap) to Mileposts 469 (Oconaluftee, US 441)
Located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, this section includes some great reopened areas, including the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker and other nearby trails.
Milepost 382 at the Folk Art Center to Milepost 393.6 at the NC Arboretum.
The section extends from the U.S. 70/Tunnel Road intersection at Milepost 382.5, south to N.C. 191 (Brevard Road) at Milepost 393.6 near the French Broad River and the North Carolina Arboretum. The Asheville Visitor Center, at milepost 384, has resumed year-round operations daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Folk Art Center operations at milepost 382 have also resumed. Trails in this section of the Parkway are also open, but caution is advised.
This allows access onto and off of the parkway from the following roads:
- U.S. 70 (Tunnel Road)
- U.S. 74
- U.S. 25 (Hendersonville Road)
- N.C. 191 (Brevard Road)