Blue Ridge Parkway-15 Great N.C. Photo Spots
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs for 469 miles from Rockfish Gap, Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina. Along the way, drivers are treated to one stunning overlook after another making it a bit overwhelming to decide where to photograph.
To help traveling photographers find some of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s best spots, I have written this Blue Ridge Parkway -15 Great NC Photo Spots Guide. The guide features some of the best photo locations along the Parkway in North Carolina that are relatively easy to reach, although some effort is required on a few destinations.
This guide is focused solely on the North Carolina portion of the Parkway to limit the size of this post.
About North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway
The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway begins at milepost 217 at Cumberland Knob in Lowgap and ends in Cherokee, North Carolina at milepost 469. Along its stunning 252 miles, there are many picturesque overlooks. With so many choices, how does a photographer know where to go?
Sadly. many Parkway travelers don’t know where to photograph and waste valuable time stopping at the wrong locations and the wrong times. Wouldn’t you like to know the best Parkway stops for photography? Is you answered yes, keep reading as I begin my list of 15 Great Photo Spots in North Carolina.
Blue Ridge Parkway – 15 Great Photo Spots
1. Thunder Hill Overlook
Thunder Hill Overlook is located at milepost 290.4 just a few minutes north of the Blowing Rock/Boone exit. The overlook does not look out into any spectacular particular landscape but its expansive views almost 180 degree views more than make up for it. In fact this overlook is one of the top sunrise locations on the Parkway.
On all three of my sunrise visits to Thunder Hill Overlook I encountered extremely windy conditions rendering photographing from a tripod impossible. In fact, I could barely stand and hand hold my camera without feeling like I was about to be blown over. I doubt that level of wind is always present but I sure encountered it. Regardless Thunder Hill’s vast views will keep me coming back and are why I included this location as one of the 15 great photo spots.
Thunder Hill Overlook Photo Tips
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2. Moses Cone Memorial Park
Moses Cone Memorial Park is a 3500 acre estate on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of the Blowing Rock exit at milepost 294. The estate, also known as Flat Top Manor was the homesite of Moses H. Cone and features a 20 room colonial manor that is very photogenic. Additionally, the park includes 25 miles of carriage trails, a 10,000 apple orchard and two lakes surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. Moses Cone offers a multitude of photography subjects, especially in fall and is definitely a stop to put on your list!
Moses Cone Memorial Park Photo Tips
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3. Price Lake
Price Lake is a 47 acres lake as part of the 4200 acre Price Memorial Park and a very popular tourist stop on the Parkway. The Lake’s main overlook is directly off the Parkway at milepost 297 while a side road leads to a canoe rental and boat launch area. In the mid to late afternoons, both locations can be photogenic, depending on the overall quality of light and clouds.
In addition to the pretty lake , there is a picnic area on the west side of the Parkway with a stream that can also be quite photogenic in fall. As an FYI, Price Lake area also has a large campground situated on both sides of the road that I have used as a base for photographing portions of the Parkway.
Julian Price Lake Photo Tips
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4. Linn Cove Viaduct
Linn Cove Viaduct, considered an engineering masterpiece, twists around Grandfather Mountain with curves that make it a favorite subject for photographers. In fact a photograph of the Linn Cove Viaduct is one of the iconic shots of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
There are two locations from which to photo the Viaduct.
1. For the best images of the Viaduct, park at the Linn Cove Visitor Center at milepost 304 and follow a paved trail on the north side of the parking lot for 1/3 mile. ( Note: the Visitor Center itself appears to be permanently closed). After the pavement ends, continue hiking on a dirt trail until you come to a huge boulder (I don’t have the exact distance) and climb the trail by the boulder. From here it is about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile to a rock that offers the best photo locations for images looking down on the Linn Cove Viaduct. Note, this is not easy to locate so follow other photographers heading in that direction.
2. The most accessible place to photograph the Linn Cove Viaduct is from the Yonahlossee Overlook at milepost 303.9 as you head north immediately past the Viaduct. Once at the Overlook, there is a trail by the road to a rocky area that offers good views of the Viaduct looking up on the Viaduct instead of down on it as you would from the Visitor Center trail. I encourage you to take photographs along the trail as well as from the rocky ledge at the end of the trail for different perspectives of the road.
Both above locations are best photographed in the morning once the sun has come up enough to light the road and trees.
Linn Cove Viaduct Photo Tips
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5. Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain, of the highest mountains east of the Mississippi at 5964 feet, is just one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305 on Highway 221. Photo subjects include a famous mile high swinging bridge, a nationally known nature preserve, and rugged mountain vistas.
The mountain also has miles of hiking trails to photograph from but many are quite steep and should only be hiked by experienced hikers. Please see Grandfather Mountain Hiking Trails for additional information.
Access to Grandfather Mountain is now by reservation for a designated entry time however entry can usually be obtained onsite on weekdays without a reservation with the except in peak fall time. Once in the park, you can stay as long as you wish. Discounts are only available with online booking. For additional information, please visit Grandfather Mountain Reservations.
For photographers, subjects include expansive mountain vistas such as the image below as well as the swinging bridge and captive wildlife.
Grandfather Mountain Photo Tips
I do not believe I can offer any meaningful advice on photographing Grandfather Mountain. The mountain provides such a variety of subjects that recommending lens choices and camera settings is not practical. However, I can recommend the best times to visit Grandfather Mountain.
BEST TIMES TO VISIT
6. Linville Falls
Linville Falls is one of the most photographed and beautiful waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a 90 foot drop into the spectacular Linville Gorge which is known as the Grand Canyon of Eastern United States. There is also a small waterfall called Dugger’s Creek that is well worth photographing. Please see the Linville Falls Trail Map for complete directions to each overlook.
The Erin View Trail is a 1.6 mile round trip moderate hike with 4 different views of Linville Falls. First up on the trail is a view of Upper Falls at just past the .5 mile mark, then about another 10th of a mile you will come to Chimney View named for chimney shaped rocks by the falls. Leaving Chimney View walk about another 10th of a mile to Gorge View which has a expansive view of the waterfall and river. Finally hike a short distance to Erins View with views the include the upper and lower falls as well as the river.
The Erin View trail itself is not a difficult hike, however, the spur trails to Chimney View and other views has sections with steep stairs and rough sections but they are short and the views are worth the effort.
The Linville Gorge Trail is the second trail with parts that are strenuous and involve numerous stairs and steep climbs. In fact, I could not complete the hike to the second overlook due to bad knees.
For those who are physically able, I encourage you to spend time photographed Linville Falls from both trails to capture all the different viewpoints of Linville Falls. If you are not able to do both trails, don’t worry, the views from Erin View Trail offer some of the best photo shots.
Linville Falls Overlook Photo Tips
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7. Crabtree Falls
Crabtree Falls is a 70 foot beautiful waterfall that is reached by one of two options. One hike involves a moderate hike of 3 miles to the Falls while the second hike involves a 3.5 mile hike that is strenuous but will take you to a ridge above the Falls.
The trailhead for Crabtree Falls is located directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 339.5 at the same exit as the Crabtree Falls campground. Instead of going straight into the campground, turn left and you will immediately come to the Crabtree Falls parking lot. (This is also a campground I have stayed in and recommend it for anyone planning to photograph the Falls.
A a rule, I never include any place in my photo guides that I have not actually photographed. That being said, I have never photographed Crabtree Falls. However, due to its beauty, I felt compelled to include this waterfall in my 15 Great Blue Ridge Parkway Photo Spots although can’t offer any personal photo advice.
8. Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell is the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi at 6684 feet. The entrance to Mt. Mitchell is located at milepost 335.4 on Highway 128 and involves driving a two lane paved road to a parking lot at the top. From the parking lot, take a 1/4 mile paved trail to the summit. Although the trail is handicapped accessible, the steep grade I believe would require assistance. Once at the top, a viewing platform provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains that can be very photogenic in the right light.
For photographers, the views from the summit should not be missed. Years ago there were also east facing photography opportunities from the parking lot itself but they no long exist due to the overgrowth of trees and shrubs. There are many other photography opportunities along a couple of Mt. Mitchell’s hiking trails however, the most photogenic trails are difficult and strenuous hikes.
Mt. Mitchell Overlook Photo Tips
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9. Craggy Gardens and Picnic Area
Craggy Gardens, at milepost 364 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, was named for the twisted rocky formations in the area. Although the craggy rocks are interesting, it’s the expansive views from its visitor center parking lot, the hiking trails, the mountain laurel and the beautiful Catawba rhododendron that draw photographers to this overlook.
There are many places to photograph amazing landscape photos from the Craggy Gardens area with the most popular being the following:
Craggy Gardens Overlook Photo Tips
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10. Pounding Mill Overlook
Located about an hour south of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 413 is one of my favorite Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks for sunrises. The Overlook is on the east side of the Parkway and offers views to the north, east and south of Pisgah Forest including Mt. Pisgah Inn to the north and Looking Glass Rock to the south.
Pounding Mill Overlook Photo Tips
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11. Graveyard Fields
Graveyard Fields is one of the most popular stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 418. With two waterfalls, beautiful trillium in spring and scarlet red blueberry bushes in fall, Graveyard Fields has no shortage of subjects to photograph. In fact I highly recommend spending at least half a day here photographing in spring and fall.
This is an extremely popular area and gets very crowded so plan to arrive early and avoid weekends if at all possible.
One waterfall, Lower Falls, can be photographed from a very small roadside pull-off just north of the Graveyard Fields parking lot to capture images that include the surrounding trees, especially during peak fall color.
Lower Falls can also be photographed from a 1/3 mile relatively easy hike from the Graveyard Field parking lot. Although the hike is short, it does involve a number of stairs, some that are steep. For some unknown reason, I have always had difficulty capturing pleasing photographs of Lower Falls from this location despite seeing beauty images from other photographers of this location.
The next waterfall, Upper Falls in Graveyard Fields involves a 3.5 mile easy hike through some pretty areas including the Yellowstone Prong River surrounded by blueberry bushes. However, the waterfall itself is also disappointing from a photogenic prospective unless it has a lot of water in it. I will leave it to your discretion as to if you wish to make the hike to the Upper Falls but can offer my thoughts that without good water-flow, it will not be worth the hike.
Graveyard Fields Photo Tips
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12. Black Balsam Area
The Black Balsam spur road off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 420.2 leads to some of the most photogenic balds anywhere off the Blue Ridge Parkway including Black Balsam Knob, Sam Knob, and Tennent Mountain. This entire area is a photographer’s delight, even the roadside blueberry bushes and the woodlands directly off the parking lot scream please photograph me. Days could be spent photographing this area and is beautiful balds.
For photography, I highly recommend everyone at least hike the 1/2 mile trail to Black Balsam Knob which offers high alpine meadows and mountain views. For those who are fit, the Sam Knob trail should also be high on your list.
For those short of time or not able to hike, even pullouts on the right side of the drive around the Art Loeb trail offer excellent photo opportunities both at sunrise and in the late afternoon light. In fact the Black Balsam Area is one of my favorite photography locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway, both in spring and in fall. Warning, avoid summer months and weekends here due to the excessive crowds!
Black Balsam Road Photo Tips
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13. Devil’s Courthouse Overlook
Devil’s Courthouse Overlook is located at milepost 422.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and named for a rock resembling a devil on the mountain top. ( I don’t see it but others do) The courthouse part of its name is related to a cave inside the mountain where the devil is suppose to hold court according the tales from locals. None the less, this location provides good photo opportunities and is a place deserving of some photo time.
In late afternoon light, Devils Courthouse can be photographed from the overlook parking lot as seen in the photo below. For those seeking panoramic views of the area, a short but strenuous trail of just less than 1/2 mile will take you to the top of the mountain where views are some of the best in the area making this a great place for photography. The uphill trail is mostly paved and climbs through beautiful forest areas until the very end where it gets rocky but doable.
Devils Courthouse Photo Tips
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14. Cowee Overlook
Cowee Overlook is my absolute favorite place to photograph sunsets on the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially in spring and fall. It is located at milepost 430 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and unlike other overlooks, is open in the foreground. This allows for wonderful views of the terrain below that most overlooks do not offer. As of the writing of this post, I have not been able to locate any of my Cowee Overlook photographs and will post them as soon as I figure out where they are hiding!
Cowee Overlook Photo Tips
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15. Waterrock Knob
For photographer’s looking for mile high 360 degree views, this is the place! Waterrock Knob is located at milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a large parking area, picnic tables, a very small visitor center and a couple vault toilets. The views of all the surrounding mountains are amazing, though I must admit, not as photogenic as some of other places listed above.
From the parking lot, there is a 1.2 mile round trip, Waterrock Knob Trail, to the summit at 6273 feet which is also the highest accessible point on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although the views are nice from the summit, I found the view at the end of the paved portion of the trail at 1/4 mile to be better for photography. In fact, the trail past the 1/4 mile mark turns to dirt and becomes moderately strenuous.
For those who do not wish to hike, there are sunrise and sunset opportunities directly from the parking lot. I find the sunrise locations better than the sunset locations since the sunset spots have become a bit overgrown as you can see in the photo below.
Waterrock Knob Photo Tips
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Closing Thought on the Blue Ridge Parkway – 15 Great Photo Spots
Photography on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing experience or a very frustrating endeavor if you don’t know where to go. Even if you research and pick photo locations, it is always helpful to have insight from people who know a given location from a photographer’s perspective.
Hopefully this Blue Ridge Parkway – 15 Great N.C. Photo Spots will help you to be in the right place at the right time of year in order to capture the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway landscapes and scenics.
As previously mentioned there are some popular photo Blue Ridge Parkway spots that I have excluded from my above list since they involve difficult hikes and rock scrambles. However, if you would like for me to send you a list of those locations, please drop me a comment.
For all you mountain lovers, you may want to check out my Mountains, Meadows and Waterfalls gallery to see not only images from North Carolina but also the Rocky Mountain area.
As always, thanks for joining me on another Photo Road Trip and happy photo travels to all.