Hiking & Biking

 

 

Adkins, Leonard M. Walking the Blue Ridge : A guide to the trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Revised Edition. Chapel Hill, NC : The University of North Carolina Press, 1994.

Features a handy map of trail heads along the Parkway, plus detailed descriptions of hikes, including sections of the Appalachian Trial that intersect the parkway. Well organized, with instructions for use and definitions of the trail ratings and directional terms that are used. Appendices include a mileage log of the Parkway, Roadside bloom calendar, information on accommodations and camping, among other things. A comprehensive compact book that in easily carried on trips.

 

de Hart, Allen. North Carolina Hiking Trails. 2nd ed. Boston : Appalachian Mountain Club Books, 1988.

Section II, Trails in the National Park System, features a twenty-five page chapter on hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The chapter contains an introduction to the parkway and and information on trails of various lengths. The descriptions of the longer (3 miles and up) trails include the length and difficulty, milepost location,and the name(s) of corresponding USGS topographic quadrangles. The folded "North Carolina Mountains" map in the back pocket clearly designates the park of the Parkway that is in North Carolina, and features red dots marking the trail heads referenced in the guide.

 

Blouin, Nicole et al. Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge. Birmingham, AL : Menasha Ridge Press, 1994

Detailed guide book to approximately 100 waterfalls in the Blue Ridge, grouped according to proximity to twenty "base towns." Contains a good introduction to both waterfalls (safety, how to photograph, etc.) as well as to the Blue Ridge Mountains themselves. Each base town is broken into sections for each waterfall, detailing directions, hike length, and other pertinent information. The guide contains a variety of hike lengths as well as information on falls that can be seen from the roadside.

 

Bledsoe, Jerry. Blue Horizons : Faces and Places from a Bicycle Journey Along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Asheboro, NC : Down Home Press, 1993
NCC C917.5B646b

A travel memoir of the author's bicycle trip along the Parkway. Includes black and white photos taken by the author. An interesting read for anyone planning a cycling trip of any length along the Parkway.

 

Skinner, Charlie and Elizabeth Skinner. Bicycling the Blue Ridge : A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Birmingham, AL : Menasha Ridge Press, 2001

This entertaining guide contains information on mileposts, weather, camping and lodging, and area bike shops. Also includes maps and photographs.

 

Virtual Blue Ridge - Hiking
http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway/hike.html

Many Web sites feature trail tables that include trail name, milepost, and difficulty level. What's nice about Virtual Blue Ridge is that, along with its "North Carolina Trails" and "Virginia Trails" tables, it also includes a list of Appalachian Trail access points along the Parkway, with milepost, parking, and other pertinent information. The site also includes a brief list of hiking tips.