Update
NPF Invests in Park Partner Organizations to Further Capacity-Building Goals
Blue Ridge Parkway
The idea is to fit the Parkway into the mountains as if nature has put it there.
The All-American Road
Relax and enjoy the tradition of a lazy drive through the countryside. Protected by the National Park
Foundation for the first 10 years, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers 469 miles of unparalleled views of some of our
country’s beautiful landscapes.
The Blue Ridge Parkway borders both the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, offering
stunning views of Appalachia.
The Blue Ridge Parkway, noted for its relaxing pace and scenic beauty, also showcases a cross-section of Appalachian mountain culture and history. Stretching 469 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, it encompasses some of the oldest pre-historic and early European settlements.
Visitors can trace much of the history of Appalachian culture through overlook signs, visitor center exhibits, restored historic structures, and developed areas, all of which reveal the many communities along the route that make the region so special. Fall leaf peeping is a hugely popular activity along the Parkway, as are hiking and wildlife viewing.