Mount Pisgah features one of only two lodging facilities along the North Carolina section of the parkway, Pisgah Inn. If roughing it suits your style better, Mount Pisgah Campground sits across the road from the lodge. Several trails lead from the campground and lodge, guiding hikers into Pisgah National Forest and to the summit of Mount Pisgah.
Graveyard Fields features three picturesque waterfalls and some of the finest parkway views. A few miles farther south, take a side trip on Forest Road 816. The scenic drive climbs about a mile to a dead end at a parking area. Numerous trails fan out from here, providing hikers access to the popular Shining Rock Wilderness Area.
At Waterrock Knob, you can watch the sunset from the western end of the parking area, then return the next morning and watch the sunrise from the eastern side. For a good leg stretcher, take the short trail from the parking area to the 6,292-foot summit. In September, goldenrods, asters, jewelweed, dodder, and numerous other late-blooming wildflowers line the trail.
Of course, like everywhere else on America’s Most Scenic Drive, there really is no best place. Every curve reveals a new discovery and every overlook provides a wonderful glimpse into the southern Appalachian landscape.
In April and early May, wild azaleas add a splash of color to the monotone woodlands along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Foggy sunrises are common at the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This view is from the Graveyard Fields area of the parkway.
