In town, you’ll find The Spa at Chetola Resort, just the relaxing retreat you’ve been searching for. Enjoy various massages, manicures & pedicures, facials, and a beautiful indoor pool. While there, you might also enjoy a natural cooking class or invigorating yoga session.
Blowing Rock is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway and bordered by the Pisgah National Forest, providing close proximity and easy access to a multitude of habitats. This area of the Blue Ridge Mountains provides a home for about 160 breeding species of birds, with over 250 species appearing with regularity during migrations. In fact, the High Country is one of the most diverse breedings and spring migration areas in the eastern United States, with large numbers of neo-tropical migrants and forest interior species. Several species, like the Canada Warbler, are at the southern-most end of their breeding range while here, contributing the wide assortment of birds found in our backyard. When is the best time to view birds in Blowing Rock? Spring migration in the area happens in April and May, and September is the best time to see fall migrations. The months between are great for viewing breeding species. Winter months are host to our year-round residents like crimson Cardinals and cheeky Juncos. Which species can be found here? See the The High Country species list here! The above list is created by the High Country Audubon Society. The High Country Audubon website is especially helpful if you want to time your visit to see certain birds. This local Audubon Chapter has a great website with checklists for great local birding spots, too! Where can birds be observed in Blowing Rock? With so many undeveloped areas near Blowing Rock, birds can be seen almost anywhere. Spending time on park benches early in the morning or at quiet overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway will reveal many species of interest. High Country Audubon offers a list of Local Birding Hotspots, complete with bird lists and access details for the sites! Find great details on Blowing Rock locations like Trout Lake, Sims Pond, and Price Lake, plus many others across the High Country. Try Blowing Rock Memorial Park or Broyhill Park in town. The Middle Fork Greenway has several complete sections and pocket parks- check out access points and info here >> Many of the best places for bird viewing have become designated sites on the North Carolina Birding Trail, a state-wide collection of great birding sites and communities. Here is a list of official sites closest to the accommodations, dining, and activities in Blowing Rock. Nearby North Carolina Birding Trail sites – estimated mileage from Blowing Rock: Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, in Blowing Rock Julian Price Memorial Park, 5 miles from downtown Blowing Rock Tanawha Trail, access 5 miles (Status March 2025: some closures remain along trail following Hurricane Helene. Please confirm access to preferred section before traveling.) Boone Greenway, 7 miles Grandfather Mountain, 12 miles Valle Crucis Community Park, 12 miles Elk Knob State Park, 17 miles (Status March 2025: Park open, with one trail closed following Hurricane Helene.) Green Valley Community Park, 17 miles E.B Jeffress Park, 22 miles (Status March 2025: this Blue Ridge Parkway section closed following Hurricane Helene.) Lewis Fork Overlook, 24 miles (Status March 2025: this Blue Ridge Parkway section closed following Hurricane Helene.) Linville Falls, 25 miles (March 2025: Visitor Center and Blue Ridge Parkway access closed following Hurricane Helene.) Buckeye Lake Recreation Area, 27 miles The North Carolina Birding Trail recognizes many more sites in the mountains, piedmont and coast of our state. To see a full listing, and to get more information on the sites above, visit www.NCBirdingTrail.org. Other great birding links: Audubon North Carolina Carolina Bird Club While you’re here: Click the calendar link at the top of this page to see other events happening in the area. The attractions tab will show you what else the area has to offer during your visit. If you are coming to see a crimson Cardinal in the snow, don’t forget about our great local ski slopes. When here to see summer Warblers, plan to stay over for an Art in the Park show. Our restaurants, shops, and accommodations are great any time of year!
The Blowing Rock is a rock formation that juts out over the John’s River Gorge at about 4000 feet above sea level. The views of the gorge and the Pisgah Forest are immense and breathtaking. The Blowing Rock is so named because of the constant winds that flume up from the surrounding rocky walls. The rock itself is also unique, and is a visual testament to the formation process of the surrounding mountains. This particular rock is officially designated The Blowing Rock Gneiss by Geological Survey of The United States. www.theblowingrock.com. Access to the Blue Ridge Parkway is just 3 miles from the Blowing Rock attraction. The Parkway was built to appreciate the surrounding beauty of the Blue Ridge, and the section between Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain is not a disappointment. Wide views are common and can be appreciated from the many overlook areas provided. www.nps.gov/blri Grandfather Mountain is a short trip away from Blowing Rock. When conservationist John Muir visited Grandfather Mountain in 1898 he described the experience as, “the face of all Heaven come to earth.” The mountain is home to 16 distinct natural communities that can be experienced through a network of trails. There is also a nature museum, animal habitats (for otters, black bears, cougars, and more) and the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. All the attractions, including the spectacular view from the top, are easily accessible by vehicle. www.grandfather.com The Linville Gorge and Linville Falls are also nearby. They are most easily accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 316 (for reference, Blowing Rock is located at milpost 294). There is a visitor center located here, and trails to views of the massive falls. Sometimes called the “Grand Canyon of North Carolina,” the gorge is one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern US. The rough terrain is home to miles of old-growth forests and a diverse plant and animal community. The Falls mark the northern end of the gorge. http://ncnatural.com/Resources/Adventure/Gorge/Linville-Gorge.html Linville Caverns is just another 12 miles from the Linville Falls Parkway Visitor Center. Located just off Hwy 221, the caverns are surprisingly accessible. They are the only limestone caverns open to the public in North Carolina. Visitors can take tours inside the mountain to see the beautiful formations and colors within the caverns. www.linvillecaverns.com
© 2024, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
