Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway
There has never been a better time to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway! This updated edition of Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway is ideal for anyone who uses the Parkway as a portal to the Southern Appalachian experience. It includes the best trails in the national forests, state parks, and private preserves that line the 469-mile roadway—from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina—making it a single-volume solution for the serious explorer, whether on foot or by car.
Look inside to find:
- Hikes suited to every ability, from 0.1-mile nature walks to 13-mile backpacks, with options for longer treks
- Accurate directions to both popular and less-traveled trails
- Up-to-date trail descriptions and detailed trail maps
- Difficulty ratings and elevation gain for each hike
- Mileage log for the entire Parkway and a guide to wildflowers
- Tips for zero-impact hiking, trail etiquette, and hiking with kids
Randy Johnson is an authority on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the author of Hiking North Carolina and Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway (both FalconGuides). He was previously the longtime editor of United Airlines’ award-winning in-flight magazine, Hemispheres.