After two days of elk watching in Cataloochee Valley we packed a lunch and set out from our campground in Waynesville for a 40 mile drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway in search of fall colors.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile scenic parkway through the southern Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. The northernmost point of the parkway is Mile 0 in Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, Virginia. The southernmost point is Mile 469 near Cherokee, North Carolina. There are scenic overlooks, picnic areas, hiking trails, and campgrounds all along the way.
Although we have traversed several sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the past we had never been on the area in North Carolina north of the Highest Point at Mile 431. On our journey this time we traveled south from Mile 408 at Mount Pisgah to Maggie Valley at about Mile 455.
The first order of business was a picnic at the Mount Pisgah picnic area at the top of a short paved trail. After lunch under the trees we started our journey south, stopping at several of the scenic overlooks. It was too early in the year for the peak autumn colors but a few of the leaves were beginning to change.
Looking Glass Rock got it’s name because sunlight will reflect off the granite when there is water collected on it.
There was beautiful scenery every where we looked.
We found a few more fall colors.
There are many folktales surrounding the Devil’s Courthouse. It was getting late and we decided to skip the trail to the top.
The picture on the left was taken 8 years ago when we first stopped at the Highest Point of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile 431. The one on the right from this visit.
The photo below is the view from the Highest Point.
A few clouds rolled in as we continued south,
Our home base for exploring Cataloochee Valley and the Blue Ridge Parkway was Creekwood RV Park a few miles north of Waynesville and Maggie Valley. Our site backed up to a beautiful creek. It was a perfect place to relax after a day of wandering.
Of course we had to try some North Carolina barbeque while were were there. The Heywood Smokehouse in Waynesville was recommended and the spareribs, chicken, and brisket were done to perfection. And it turns out the owners are originally from Georgia!
Beautiful fall weather, bugling elk, scenic drives, camping beside a creek, and delicious barbeque. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I am envious Guys, sorry we missed you in Athens this weekend!
Bryant and Mary
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Sorry we missed you too!
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Just beautiful! 🙂
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We love the Blue Ridge Parkway and Surrounding area. Nice Pics. We will be in Waynesville October 14th-October 18th. It’s an annual pilgrimmage for us to attend the Waynesville Apple Fest. It’s great fun.
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Thank you for visiting my blog! In the past we have traveled to Cherokee and the Cades Cove area of the Smokies but this was our first visit to the Waynesville area. The apple fest sounds like a lot of fun. Of course we brought some North Carolina apples home with us!
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Barbecue + gorgeous scenery + handsome ducks = a great adventure for sure. 🙂
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And great weather! You are right, it was a great adventure!
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Looking Glass Rock is stunning. I was surprised to see the leaves starting to turn there because our leaves in Maine are just starting to turn.
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I would love to see Looking Glass Rock with the sun reflecting off of it. We were at fairly high elevations when we saw the most colorful leaves. I think we missed the peak colors by a couple of weeks.
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Such beautiful scenery! Looking glass rock was awesome!
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We have driven on several different sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the scenery is always amazing.
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I have to tell you… We are dog sitting our grandog right now. A big yellow lab. He is 14 years old… but is still trying to get around. I have seen your pup so many times in photos and just had to tell you. I also had a yellow lab years ago of my own. Such gentle creatures!
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Thanks for thinking of Blondie! Yes, labs are so gentle and sweet and lovable. Blondie is our fourth lab. She is 10 and still thinks she is a puppy even though she doesn’t get around as well as she used to. She has to use a ramp now to get in and out of the truck. Enjoy your granddog and give him a pat for me.
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