VIRGINIA OUTDOORS
 

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VIRGINIA

Mile 0 to Mile 10 -

Mile 10 to Mile 50 

Mile 50 to Mile 80 

Mile 80 to Mile 110

Mile 110 to Mile 160

Mile 160 to Mile 190

Mile 190 to Mile 220

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Mile 220 to Mile 270

Mile 270 to Mile 300

Mile 300 to Mile 320

Mile 320 to Mile 340

Mile 340 to Mile 380

Mile 380 to Mile 410

Mile 410 to End

Heintoga Spur

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Mile 320 - Chestoa View

320.8 - Chestoa View parking area, elev. 4090.
323.1 - Bear Den parking overlook, elev. 3359. OD.
325.9 - Heffner Gap parking overlook, elev. 3067.
327.3 - North Cove parking overlook, elev. 2815.
327.5 - McKinney Gap, elev. 2790. Public crossing, right S mi. to Spruce Pine; left 10 mi. to U.S. 221.
328.6 - Apple Orchard parking overlook, elev. 2980.5.
329.4 - Swafford Gap, elev. 2852.
329.7 - Table Rock parking overlook, elev. 2870.
330.9 - Gillespie Gap, elev. 2819. N.C. 226, right to Museum of North Carolina Minerals, Spruce Pine, 6 mi.; Marion, 14 mi.; N.C. 226A, Little Switzerland, 3 mi.

Mile 331 - Museum of North Carolina Minerals

At the junction of the Parkway and North Carolina Highway 226 (milepost 331), the Museum of North Carolina Minerals has a visitor center and exhibits on the varied and interesting minerals and precious gems found in the state. There is also a book store and area information.

332.6 - Lynn Gap, elev. 3109.
333.4 - Little Switzerland Tunnel, 547 ft. long.
333.9 - McCall Gap public road,elev. 3490. Left to Little Switzerland.
335.4 - Bearwallow Gap and Crabtree public road (no access), elev. 3482.
336.3 - Gooch Gap, elev. 3360. Wildacres public road.
336.8 - Wildacres Tunnel, 249 ft.long.
337.2 - Deer Lick Gap parking overlook, elev. 3452.
338.8 - Three Knobs parking overlook, elev. 3880.

Mile 339 - Crabtree Meadows

Crabtree Meadows marks the last stretch of the Parkway through the Blue Ridge Mountains. At approximately milepost 354, the road enters the Black Mountain Range, passes through the Great Craggies, and ends at the Atlantic-Gulf drainage divide. One legend has it that these Meadows were originally created by the Native American practice of -clearing, and were probably not settled by the Europeans until several years after the Revolutionary War.

The area makes a natural stopping place for visitors along the Parkway. Besides its proximity to the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, which features artifacts from the nearby Spruce Pine mining district, the visitor can stop for the night or for a meal. In the early summer, the Meadows becomes a showplace of wildflowers, including the hawthorne, beard tongue, mountain laurel, and gentian. The enterprising visitor can even hike the steep trail down to Crabtree Falls - as long as they are prepared for the quite strenuous climb back up!

Trails

From the developed area, the Crabtree Falls Loop Trail is a strenuous 2.5 mile hike to beautiful Crabtree Falls. This is an especially impressive hike during spring wildflower season.

Restaurant/gift shop

The Crabtree Meadows Coffee Shop is open during the summer months and offers both light refreshment and includes a souvenir shop and camp store.

Campground

The Parkway operates a campground with sites for 71 tents and 22 trailers. Facilities include water, comfort stations with flush toilets and sinks but no showers or hook-ups.

 

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Outdoors Virginia is privately owned and operated by Mark Beaver.

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