LINVILLE FALLS (Blue Ridge Parkway)

The Linville Falls are located at mile 316 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was a beautiful drive up the Parkway to get to the falls.  At this elevation, the colors are at their peak.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

The Blue Ridge Parkway on the way up to Linville Falls.

 Two sweet horses.

This is the view right near the Visitor Center.

 The trail to view the falls from above is very, very long!

 But, the views of the pretty colors made it worth the trek (almost!)

 The trail continued on FOREVER

 It said the trail was only .3 miles - but it
was more like 3.0 miles!

 And, it was very rugged and UPHILL!  Whine, whine.

 FINALLY - I reached the top.  Spectacular view.

 The falls are waaaaay down there!

After seeing the upper falls, I trekked down to see the lower ones.

 Another trail - with never ending stairs to climb!

 Seriously, how am I supposed to fit through there?

 The trail back doesn't end either!

 And, this little guy greeted me in the restroom when
I was done with my hundred-mile hike up to the falls!



LINN COVE VIADUCT (Blue Ridge Parkway)

The Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway was the last section of the Parkway to be completed.  It hugs the face of Grandfather Mountain and is recognized internationally as an engineering marvel (looks like a regular, ordinary overpass to me).

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

The views from this area are pretty spectacular.

At this point on the Parkway you can see the

Grandfather Mountain Swinging Bridge

 There's a trail where you can walk up to the viaduct

 This is it - the great viaduct.

 It looks pretty ordinary to me.

 Nice, but "engineering marvel?"  I don't know about that!

 Enough of that overpass!  The walk up to it was

the best part - lots of pretty trees and flowers.

 This was a symbol on a tree on the path; but 

I didn't know what it was.

COLORFUL DRIVE (video)