A 20-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway opened yesterday, October 23, from Milepost 285 to Milepost 305. This includes many people’s favorite spots such as Beacon Heights, Rough Ridge, and Price Lake. Color on this section of Parkway is varied depending on location. Some spots are completely devoid of leaves and others are little pockets of vibrant color. We saw color at Green Mountain Overlook, Wilson’s Creek Overlook, and Stack Rock. Mileposts 300 – 305 also have a lot of places with colorful orange leaves.
Some of the oaks have waited to turn and are showing a deep red color. It really depends on how shielded the areas are from the wind as to how many leaves are left. The leaves are at a very normal place for the end of October with most of them having fallen at higher elevations and a few patches hanging on. Leaves at lower elevations are starting to turn now and so there are lots of colors showing at overlooks and The Blowing Rock Attraction.
As always, a hike can be a great way to enjoy the fall weather and foliage. However, it’s important to note that Parkway officials urge hikers to use extreme caution at this time. Many of the trails on the Parkway are still being assessed for safety. Please respect all signage and closures on the Parkway. It is also possible to get out on an open trail and have to turn around due to a downed tree or a landslide. Please do not try to circumvent obstacles like this as it is not safe. The Boone Fork Trail is currently closed, however, there are a couple of trails near there that are open such as Green Knob and The Price Lake Trail.
To see the current state of color on the Blowing Rock section of the Blue Ridge Parkway see the images below.
