Looking Glass Rock
A Drive Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
Words by Emily Davis | Photography and Videography by Courtney Snyder
For those who live in Western North Carolina, nothing says “summer” quite like a leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With sweeping vistas at high elevations and entertaining stops along the way, the adventure presents a classic road trip for the whole family.
Venturing onto the Parkway, travelers often find themselves surprised at the remoteness of the terrain. Exiting Highway 74 just west of Waynesville, at the Balsam Gap entrance, the modern world falls away. You will traverse a serene, winding road with nothing but the verdant forest around you as the road quickly climbs to an impressive elevation.
Richland Balsam Overlook at milepost 431 makes an awe-inspiring first stop. At a staggering 6,053 feet above sea level, this point in eastern Jackson County marks the highest elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway. From here, you can see for miles on a clear day, and the air often feels crisp, even in the summer.
From several points along the Parkway, travelers can view Looking Glass Rock standing guard over the surrounding forest. The sheer, bald volcanic rock face shines like glass in wet weather conditions, creating stunning long-range photo opportunities. Looking Glass Rock Overlook at milepost 417 allows for an unobstructed view of this classic Parkway landmark.
It’s not all views and landmarks, however. The remoteness of the Parkway’s terrain invites surprise appearances by rafters of wild turkeys, families of deer, and, in some locations, gangs of wild elk. Watch for large animals as you traverse the winding road; it’s not uncommon for mother bears to cross with their cubs. Remain in your vehicle and enjoy nature’s best reason for a traffic jam.
Eagle-eyed nature lovers have reported sightings of numerous rare species of birds from the trails and overlooks along this stretch of road. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs and are sometimes spotted soaring overhead. Eastern meadowlarks and bobolinks can be heard singing their distinctive songs, cerulean warblers inhabit the forests, and several nesting pairs of northern saw-whet owls have been recorded in the area. Overall, more than 250 species of birds make their homes along the scenic roadway, making the Parkway a popular destination for bird watchers.
Native mountain laurel
Devil's Courthouse
The overlook at Pisgah Inn provides mountain information while you take in the scenery
While the views from your vehicle can be incredible, getting out into nature allows for an immersive experience. Numerous trails offer an opportunity to stretch stiff legs and experience the Parkway’s wonders up close. At milepost 422.4, Devil’s Courthouse offers a short but moderately challenging hike at just under one mile. As intrepid adventurers reach a summit of 5,720 feet, the view extends into South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Just down the road at milepost 420.2, Black Balsam Knob Loop provides a more extended tour of about 5 miles, but the terrain is relatively level and suitable for most children and dogs. Due to past wildfires and logging, the mountaintop here is bald and allows for awe-inspiring 360-degree views at 6,214 feet above sea level. Hikers marvel at the plentiful wildflowers along the way, and foragers can gather blueberries.
Most day trippers will have worked up an appetite at this point! Luckily, exhausted trailblazers will discover the Pisgah Inn just around the corner at milepost 408.6. Perched on the side of the Parkway at 5,000 feet in elevation, the Inn provides the rustic ambiance of a remote roadside motel with enough modern amenities to relieve sore feet and a rumbling stomach.
Mount Pisgah trailhead?
French Broad Overlook at milepost 393.8
Visitors can dine on carefully curated dishes such as the popular Walnut Encrusted Fillet of Mountain Trout in the Inn’s full-service restaurant — the only restaurant located directly on the Parkway — or choose from to-go sandwiches, salads, and desserts in the gift shop. Take your snacks and libations out to the observation deck, where you will marvel at the rolling, misty mountains and views stretching for miles. That same view can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere in the world, via the Inn’s live camera feed on their website.
Just down the road, at milepost 407.6, the Mount Pisgah trailhead departs the parking lot and ascends through hardwood forest to reach the 5,721-foot summit. Those who brave the climb to the observation deck can view Cold Mountain to the west and Pisgah Inn to the southwest. Looking Glass Rock and Frying Pan Mountain lie in the distance, and in the other direction, Asheville appears as a toy city nestled in the hills.
Continuing east along the Parkway, Asheville lies just 14 miles away. After passing Mount Pisgah, the terrain begins to drop, and you experience the feeling of returning to civilization.
Exiting the Parkway at milepost 393.6 brings you to The North Carolina Arboretum, a 434-acre public garden featuring diverse botanical species. More than ten miles of hiking and biking trails within the Arboretum’s grounds connect with several Parkway trails, Powhatan Lake, and the Pisgah National Forest. With walkways as short as 0.3 miles, the Arboretum makes an excellent stop for those who wish to abstain from more strenuous hikes.
In addition to the forested landscape, the Arboretum features more than 65 acres of cultivated gardens, presenting both permanent installations and seasonal exhibits. The National Native Azalea Collection showcases nearly every azalea species native to the United States, and the Bonsai Exhibition Garden hosts up to 50 varieties of native and exotic dwarf ornamental trees. Throughout the park, wildflowers bloom from early spring through fall, and the Arboretum’s landscapers deliberately cultivate numerous plants that attract and support pollinators such as butterflies.
Each year, the Arboretum’s signature exhibit seeks to reimagine an ages-old textile tradition. The Quilt Garden — composed of 24 squares, each covering 64 square feet — reflects Appalachian and early American colonial history via a carefully designed and executed horticultural masterpiece. Each flower is specifically chosen for its size, height, color, pruning requirements, and blooming time to maintain the overall integrity of the exhibit throughout the season.
The Quilt Garden at The North Carolina Arboretum. NCarboretum.org.
After a day in the woods — and the clouds, it feels at times — a stop at the Folk Art Center at milepost 382 in East Asheville brings you back down to earth. Built in 1980, the Center celebrates and preserves Southern Appalachian culture and traditional folk arts within three exhibition spaces, a library, and an enormous craft shop. Every day from March through December, craft demonstrations on topics like pottery, basket weaving, fiber arts, and quilting enlighten visitors on the intricate processes used to create these works of art.
Folk art aficionados will delight at the wares for sale here; the Allanstand Craft Shop’s utterly unique, handcrafted items represent authentic mountain culture infused with the passion and life work of local artists. Shoppers discover one-of-a-kind crocheted shawls, inspired jewelry pieces, pottery to adorn their homes, blown glass objects, and much more. A carefully chosen souvenir will represent special vacation memories and serve as a conversation piece for years to come.
If you’re still driving the Parkway at dusk, pull over and turn off your headlights for a few moments. On many summer evenings, fireflies light up the mountains with their romantic, twinkling displays. Later, the absence of city lights provides the perfect, dark canvas for constellations etched across the night sky. On rare occasions during solar storms, drivers witness the aurora borealis to the north!
Residents of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau can return home by taking the Parkway to milepost 411.8, heading south on Highway 276 toward Brevard, and finally turning west to Cashiers on Highway 64. Drivers along this route are often thrilled to discover one last hidden gem in the Pisgah Forest. To the left on Highway 276, Looking Glass Falls rushes over the boulders and into the picturesque creek that runs alongside the road. The 60-foot waterfall is worth the stop and provides a magical photo opportunity.
From Waynesville to Asheville, this section of road covers only about 50 miles of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. With so much to see and do on the famed roadway, visitors could spend all day traversing just a small section. The beauty of the natural surroundings and the variety of recreational opportunities along the way are sure to inspire future trips. However, the adventure requires some foresight and planning.
Preparing for the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Pay attention to weather conditions while planning your trip, and remember that even a summer day can feel chilly at high elevations.
- Because signage is limited on the Parkway, mapping the trip ahead of time is essential. Determine stops ahead of time and take note of mileposts, which will aid navigation. Mileage on the Parkway is delineated starting in Virginia and ending at milepost 469 at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Avoid relying upon GPS or cell service, as they are both notoriously unreliable on the Parkway. Download your route from Google Maps for offline use, and you’ll be able to navigate regardless of cell phone signal.
- No matter how adorable and cuddly they appear, never approach bears! Feeding them acclimates them to humans and can create treacherous situations for both us and the bears.
- Gas up your vehicle ahead of time because exits are few and far between, and plan for meals.
- Switch on your headlights in the Parkway’s numerous tunnels; daylight turns pitch black quickly, and taking precautions will help ensure safety on the beautiful but occasionally risky drive.
- Click here to see the National Park Service's species lists before you go!