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Tour Stops
North Carolina Arboretum
This elegant arboretum is a massive 400-acre park with cultivated gardens, a cool Bonsai tree display, and some hiking trails through forest and mountains. There’s...
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Bad Fork Valley Overlook
Heading south from Asheville, this is the first overlook after you’ve driven up into the mountains and gained some more elevation. But, there are plenty...
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Mills River Valley Overlook
Most overlooks along the Parkway offer a view pointed in one direction. But here, up on a ridgeline, you can get a lovely view in...
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Mt. Pisgah Trail
Mt. Pisgah is easily visible from the Asheville area, and now you have the opportunity to hike to the top. It’s about a 4.5 mile,...
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Pisgah Inn
A touch of civilization before heading further into the woods. Grab a meal at the restaurant, or some grab and go food and snacks at...
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Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
This hike is a little different, following an old gravel road instead of a trail. It’s a moderate hike uphill, but it ends at an...
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Cradle of Forestry Overlook
This overlook stands above the site of an old forestry school owned by the Vanderbilts. Today, the grove of trees is still going strong.
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Cradle of Forestry Museum
Learn about the birth of forestry education at this tidy little museum. The interactive exhibits are a nice change of pace for kids in tow,...
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Sliding Rock
This gently-graded waterfall doubles as a natural waterslide! Don your swimsuits, then wait in line to slide down into the chilly pool below. A lifeguard...
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Looking Glass Falls
This 60-foot, or 18-meter waterfall, is one of the most popular in North Carolina because you can see it from the road! There’s no need...
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Coon Tree Picnic Area
Flush toilets and picnic tables are the highlight here, and it’s also a handy spot to turn around and park for Looking Glass Falls.
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Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead/Looking Glass Rock Overlook
The trail to Skinny Dip Falls is about a mile round trip and is easy to moderate. It’s not the most impressive waterfall on the...
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Graveyard Fields
Graveyard Fields got its spooky name, and look, from a series of natural disasters. But it’s also one of the most popular hiking spots on...
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Black Balsam Knob
Just off the Parkway, this trail is about one and a half miles round-trip. The moderately-difficult hike takes you to a 360-degree panorama of the...
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Devil's Courthouse
You can enjoy this impressive cliff from the overlook, or you can hike to the top. A path heads up through the woods and comes...
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Cowee Mountain Overlook
Our vote for the best overlook on the tour! There’s nothing blocking your view as you gaze at miles upon miles of the Blue Ridge...
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Richard Balsam Trail/Haywood Jackson Overlook
The view from the overlook is just okay, but the main attraction here is the Richard Balsam Trail, a moderately-difficult one and a half-mile loop...
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Richard Balsam Overlook
The view from this overlook is mostly concealed by trees, but it’s the highest point on the entire Parkway at 6053 feet, or over 1800...
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Lone Bald Overlook
There are a series of excellent overlooks in a row on this stretch of the Parkway. We like this one because of the nice layered...
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Standing Rock Overlook
Near the entrance to this overlook is a large, standalone boulder that’s a popular photo opp.
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Waterrock Knob
The view from this large overlook is one of the best on the entire Parkway, from over 6,000 feet up. There are plenty of picnic...
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Thunder Struck Ridge Overlook
This is another splendid overlook of the layered mountains and valleys beyond.
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Soco Falls
Just about a mile off the Parkway, Soco Falls is a double waterfall, with two cascades meeting together at a pool. The waterfall is actually...
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Bunches Bald Overlook
A lower elevation overlook, compared to the heights up near Waterrock Knob, but still lovely and possibly a terrific spot for fall colors. After you complete...
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