Hikes of WNC: Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center Loop

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is one of Asheville’s lesser-known treasures. In addition to an interactive museum, an information desk and a gift shop, the visitor center is home to a 1.2 mile trail loop, complete with a road crossing on the parkway itself.

Fast facts

• The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 384
• The loop runs along just over a mile of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with signage which points the way toward the nearby Folk Art Center, another stop along the trail
• There is a road crossing toward the end of the loop. Look both ways and be careful

Looping toward springtime

Nothing is more “spring” to me than a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. When the leaves are green and the temperature is warm enough to roll the windows down, the mountain road is like Persephone’s personal parkway. While we aren’t quite there yet, calendar-wise, the next best thing is a visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center. The interior of the visitor center is packed with fun facts, interactive exhibits and adoptable (plushie) black bears, all a terrific billboard for the parkway’s spring and summer season.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center from the parking lot.

Interior exhibits at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center.

A Junior Ranger activity station.

A map of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

After exploring the space, head to the far end of the parking lot, where the terminus of the 1.2 mile loop is marked with a brown sign reading “MTS Trail Access.” There is also a station for younger explorers to check in with park animal mascots, “Track” and “Kip.”

The beginning of the loop.

“Track” and “Kip” say hello.

Begin your hike by heading downhill. The beginning of the path is a little washed out, so pick your way down carefully to the sign marked with trail directions. Note the trail blazes: on the first half of the hike, blue and yellow spots are the indicators you are heading in the right direction.

Make your way carefully at the start of the loop.

Blue and yellow blazes are the colors of choice for most of the hike.

Trail signage pointing the way.

Make your way to the left, passing by two fallen trees in the shape of an X, adorned with a blue blaze at the center. Much of the trail runs immediately alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway itself, which can be a little noisy. Don’t get too distracted by cars, though. At certain junctures, the trail has trenches cut into the path, which could trip you up if you aren’t careful.

X marks the spot.

Pretty, skinny trees grew on both sides of this trail section.

Much of the loop runs alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Watch out for trail trenches.

The trail will next curve up back toward the visitor center. Keep to the blazed trail and ignore the offshoots, but be sure to say hey to the squirrels.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is visible from part of the path.

Several trail offshoots should be ignored for lacking blazes.

Follow the yellow and blue.

Hi squirrel!

Follow the trail downhill toward the first of two road crossings. This one goes through a tunnel beneath the parkway, with cars passing by overhead.

Blue skies and log vines.

A Prime truck drives over the trail tunnel

Graffiti marked the inside of the tunnel.

On the other side of the tunnel, you could have convinced me that it was spring after all. The immediate exit was lush with greenery.

Gorgeous green foliage.

Gorgeous green foliage.

The trail then leads to its most confusing juncture, requiring attentive adherence to trail blazes. There is a three-pronged fork in the road with an accompanying sign. To the left, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail continues toward the Folk Art Center. Straight ahead, a fun, roller coaster path ends in a vine-strewn dead end. To the right, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail curves back toward the visitor center. If you get confused, remember to look for the yellow and white blazes, the cardinal colors of the second half of the trail.

A fork in the trail.

Left to the Folk Art Center…

…straight to a dead end…

…straight to a dead end…

…right to the rest of the loop.

…right to the rest of the loop.

This leg of the trail has some pretty sights. At one point, thinner flora offers a view of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. At another point, a thick, green and red ivy covered the sides of the path. The path led up wooden steps, then curved sharply down wooden steps.

A clearing amid the trees.

Ivy along the loop.

Up the steps…

…down the steps.

Of course, say hello to the squirrels on this side of the parkway, too.

Next up, the second road crossing. This one is a little more involved than its tunnel brother, considering it requires an actual dash across active Blue Ridge Parkway lanes. Look both ways and exercise haste and caution when crossing to the other side.

Up to the road.

Look right.

Look left.

Race across to the fence.

Safely on the other side, signage will announce that you only have .5 miles to go until you return to the visitor center. The hike is more than halfway over.

This half of the hike is less eventful, with few detour trails or distractions. It does, however, make for more of a climb, with a few more wooden staircases to ascend. As you hike, try to spot the following landmarks: manhole cover, diminutive blue blaze and stone bridge.

Up a few more steps.

Manhole cover.

Diminutive blue blaze.

Stone bridge.

The end of the trail will be marked by the blue and yellow blazes you know and love. If you skipped out on exploring the visitor center before the hike, I certainly recommend doing so after. Find more information about the center at www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/blue-ridge-parkway-visitor-center.