Untethered : Global Nomads: 9 Days Blue Ridge Parkway Cherokee, NC to Front Royal, VA

Blue Ridge Parkway

We accessed the Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 469.1 to head north at 16:40. New journey and adventure. We got off for Route 19 1.5 miles to Soco Falls, heading towards Maggie Valley, we entered the Cherokee Indian Reservation to stop at Soco Falls, glad we did, its really beautiful.

Oconaluftee River Elevation 2200

Big Witch Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Plott Balsam Overlook

The Plott Balsam Range is famous for Henry Plott, a German immigrant son of Johannes "George" Plott. (Originally from Germany, in 1750 Johannes "George" Plott emigrated to the English colony of North Carolina. He brought a few wild boarhounds (five Hanoverian Hounds, used for bear and boar hunting) with him. These dogs had been bred for generations for their stamina and gameness. George and his wife Margaret with their family settled in the mountains of North Carolina.) Henry settled in western North Carolina around 1801 to 1810 and was responsible for the Plott Hound's later development. The State Dog of North Carolina.

Soco Falls in Maggie Valley

Soco Falls Trail - Maggie Valley

Back on the BRP stopped at Thunderstruck Gap Overlook.

Browning Knob, Maggie Valley

View out our door at Richard Balsam Overlook

Highest elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway 6053'

We stopped often along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the overlooks, see the wonder of the Blue Ridge, immersing ourselves in nature hiking some amazing trails, seeing waterfalls and natural beauty before us.

Sunset after dinner at Richard Balsam Overlook

We left Richard Balsam in the morning driving around 9 miles to Devil’s Courthouse hiking 1.0 mile to the overlook for Courthouse.

Sunrise and flowers

Sunrise over the valley

Later we drove 4 miles to hike Graveyard Fields Loop to Upper Falls Trail up the Yellowstone Prong. Beautiful hike, outstanding falls at the top. We took bath and quick swim at the Upper Falls. We hiked 3.07 miles in 2 hours across creeks, roots, boulders, mud and boardwalks. Nice trail to hike upwards in elevation.

Upper Fall Trail at Graveyard Fields

Last stop of the day is Sleepy Gap, we hiked 1.76 miles downhill across and ATV pass to the end of Sleepy Gap trail, could not find other trails back for a loop. We were hot and sweaty from the hit, temps rose today.

We finished the day at 393.7, total day 37.7 miles, 11 overlooks and 5.27 miles hiking, temperature and humidity increased this afternoon 89° feels like 91°.

Sleepy Gap Overlook, looking towards Asheville

Day 3 of our Blue Ridge Parkway journey, we completed 159 and stopped along the way hiking 3.52 miles today.We hiked 1.6 miles Craggy Garden Trail from the Visitor Center to the Craggy Garden Picnic Area. Really pretty covered hike with many wildflowers.

Three Knobs Overlook

We left Asheville Watershed area to enter Pisgah National Forest for 48 miles. Stopped at Crabtree Falls Campground, Ranger Levi called Price and they have many RV spots available if we wanted to stop there. We stopped at Three Knobs Overlook (3875’ elev.) for lunch at 14:40.

We found Upper Creek Falls parking lot and trailhead at milepost 22 off Rt 181 junction of 181. We hiked 1.92 strenuous miles down Upper Creek then to the large swimming hole, Keith played on the rope swing and I went for a quick cold swim. Definitely cooled down. The hike back was all uphill. like it so much we spent two days there.

Upper Creek Falls Mt. Pisgah National Forest (Jonas Ridge)

Upper Falls Creek

Lower Falls trail

Upper Falls Creek has so many waterfalls and swimming holes to enjoy, most secluded

We spent all day swimming and hiking

There were so many wildflowers to enjoy

After enjoying the hikes, swimming and being in nature we hit the road putting on 98 miles, stopping along the way at destinations we planned or were told to see. We decided not to hike Grandfather Mountain due to the weather and proceed forward up the Blue Ridge. We stopped at Rough Ridge to hike to the top and see Linn Cove Viaduct.

Rough Ridge

Linn Cove Viaduct at Rough Ridge Overlook

Linn Viaduct

Eventhough, we stopped hiked and viewed overlooks we made it to the NC/VA borders around 16:46. We stopped for gas in Meadows of Dan then drove to Mabry Mill Restaurant but it was close, we did a self guided tour around Mabry Mill.

We went into Floyd, VA country store was closed. We found Dogtown for pizza, they were having open mike night for entertainment Dogtown and The Sun Music Hall.

End our day at Devil’s Backbone Parking Overlook milepost 144 at 20:43, 15 overlooks, 1 hike 0.58 miles, we put 162 miles behind us

today.

Brinegar Cabin was built about 1880, and is a one-story log house covered with lapped siding and resting on an uncoursed fieldstone foundation. Also on the property is a contributing frame outbuilding. The property is part of the lands comprising the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the cabin houses a display of mountain crafts and weaving.

The US government purchase the Brinegar Farm to build the BRP.

The Brinegar Cabin, a compotent landscape of Doughton Park, is significant on the state level as an Appalachian farmstead and was listed in the National Register in 1972. The landscape provides a view of middle class Appalachian farming and family life from 1885 to 1935, interpreting activities such as loom weaving, traditional subsistence agriculture, regional use of springhouses, and the family cemetery of the Brinegars.

Meadows Of Dan

Mabry Mill

Matthew’s Cabin: Not one of the original Mabry buildings, Parkway designers relocated this historic cabin from close by. Now, Matthew’s cabin adds to the area’s picturesque and historic nature. In summer and fall, catch up with rangers and volunteers during cultural demonstrations.

After an overnight at Devil's Backbone, we make a trip to find Keith's great grandparents home in Roanoke, VA. We figured out the home had been torn down and a convenience store is no in its place. We got back on the Blue Ridge. There was another detour in this area for 3 miles, drove towards Roanoke Explorer Park/Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center. They backed up to the BRP past the detour.

We returned to BRP at MP112. We headed towards Peak of Otters Visitor Center, drove another 3 miles to Fallingwater Cascades trailhead. We stopped and hiked Fallingwater Cascade National Scenic Trail 1.6 miles in 55:46 moderate to strenuous hike, elevation and terrain changes.

The Fallingwater Cascades Trail is located at Milepost 83 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, three miles north of the Peaks of Otter. It's a segment of the Fallingwater - Flat Top National Recreation Trail. This moderately difficult loop trail is approximately 1.7 miles. The hike will include a view of the nearby Flat Top and Sharp Top Mountains, as well as numerous spots to see Fallingwater Creek and Fallingwater Cascades, the 100-foot waterfall that makes its way down two winding drops over a large rock outcropping.

Fallingwater Creek

Fallingwater Cascades

Bee and Beetle

The Greenstone Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a small window of view into the valley below where you can see the southern end of the Lyndhurst / Stuart’s Draft communities. There are no picnic tables or other facilities, but there is a short .25 mile nature trail, the Greenstone Trail view.

Sunset at Greenstone Overlook

Ever changing sky and clouds, same place same sunset

Serene Sunset

We did 6 overlooks, 2 hikes 1.85 miles, saw 2 minks and 5 deer. Traveled 135.2 miles this day. We have traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway 460.3 miles in 6 days.

Before we left the Blue Ridge we stopped at Humpback Rocks Visitor Center and Farm Museum, toured the outdoor exhibit then drove back south .2 miles to Humpback Rocks Trailhead to hike the loop at Humpback Gap Overlook. We saw a deer just before we turned into the Overlook parking lot.

Humpback Rocks Farm Museum, the building were move here by the National Park Services for the appearance of an old Appalachian Farm.

Garden with like vegetables and flowers to deter insects and animals from the period

Friendly visitor was not scared of us at all

We hiked Humpback Rocks, spectacular trail view after the ascent. 1.91 mile hike uphill at first then easier downhill. 1:35:29 in total time.

So worth the hike.

Bee and Mountain Bergamot

Gorgeous view from Humpback Rocks even on a hazy day

Keith at the overlook

Wayne at the overlook

The descent on Humpback Rocks Loop

We were so looking forward to our arrival at Monticello to view this important American Historical Home and President. Monticello is a UNESCO site with an

impressive history and facts on Thomas Jefferson, as a man, philosopher, architect, visionary for the future and birth of the United States. Believed in John Locke’s theories and philosophy.

Monticello

Jefferson was impressed by the French style for bedroom

View from Monticello of Jefferson Poplar Forest

Black Swallowtail in the flower garden

After a wonderful day at Montecello, meeting Bill Baker (who portrays Jefferson and stays in amazing character) we return to finish the Blue Ridge Parkway and entered Shenandoah and Skyline Drive that evening.

The last two days on Skyline Drive, we made a number of stops, 3 more hikes, stopped at 14 overlooks, took a bunch of photos and finished our journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, 3 National Parks.

Another gorgeous sunset

Skyline Drive and Shenandoah at Jones Run

We hiked 3.92 miles on Jones Run Trail to Jones Falls. The falls were just a trickle from lack of rain here. Nice hike down and little more strenuous up to the parking lot with elevation increase. We met a group of 20 or so seniors hiking down.

Jones Creek Falls

Beautiful hiking in the cool air of the forest

We left Skyline Drive at Thornton Gap for Lauray Caverns. We were excited to see the caverns and explore. Keith had been there when he was younger. The experience there was incredible, have never seen anything as beautiful of the experience there. With COVID this was a self guided tour to investigate and enjoy the caverns.