Best Blue Ridge Parkway Stops Near Asheville

The mountains are calling and I must go! There is just something so refreshing about that cool mountain area. Asheville, North Carolina has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time and my husband and I finally had a chance to visit this fall. One of the main reasons I wanted to go was to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway. This massive road weaves 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina with countless hikes, overlooks and amazing views the whole way. The parkway is also unique in that big trucks aren't allowed to drive it and the speed limit is 45 mph which allows you to really slow down and take in all the beauty around you. 

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Let's be honest, 469 miles is a lot of ground to cover and unless you're planning a multi-day drive, you'll likely only get to experience a small slice of it. We had only two full days in Asheville so we knew we wanted to get the most bang for our buck while still staying relatively close to the city. Below are the three stops we made (and highly recommend) along the parkway as well as one bonus stop in the Pisgah National Forest on our way back to Asheville. 

Stop #1: Skinny Dip Falls

This was my favorite hike of the day hands down! To get here you'll head south on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville. It takes about 50 mins after leaving the city which was a nice way to get accustomed to the drive and take in the beautiful views along the way. There are overlooks and places to pull off everywhere it seems so we chose one or two to stop at on our way down to this hike. 

If you're following our route you'll come upon Looking Glass Rock overlook (an iconic peak) on your left and can park here. I highly suggest starting the drive early in the morning as the parking lots started to fill up later in the afternoon. The start of this trail was a bit tricky to find. You'll want to cross the road near the left side of the parking lot and look for the trailhead near mile marker post 417. 

This trail is a very moderate hike through the forest - only 0.8 miles roundtrip (out and back) - and the views of the falls at the end are breathtaking. To reach the falls you'll climb down a flight of stairs and cross this bridge. You can wander closer near the top and get right up close to the falls. This is also a popular swimming hole in the summer (hence the name). Be sure to climb down to your right when you return to the stairs to get a unique view of the falls from under the bridge. Also don't miss the unique dragon (or horse we couldn't decide) shaped tree near the start of the trail.

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Stop #2: Graveyard Fields

If you're following this guide this next stop is only located a few miles away. Graveyard Fields is one of the most popular hikes along the parkway which you'll easily see by the overflow of cars alongside the road from the main parking lot. We had to park quite a ways away and walk to the trailhead so this would definitely be a good first stop if you're going early in the morning. 

This area is said to be one of the first places to see color in the fall and when we were there on October 17, most of it was already past peak - but still a gorgeous hike! There are a few different ways you can conquer the trails here depending on how far you're looking to hike. We chose to do the Graveyard Fields loop which connects to the 1 mile out and back trail for Upper Falls. Total hike is around 2 miles round trip. Some sections of this trail were a bit muddy and you also have to cross over a few smaller streams to get here. Overall moderate elevation with some uphill sections closer to the falls. We also saw lots of dogs along the way if you're traveling with your furry friend! 

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Stop #3: Devil's Courthouse

Head south a few miles further and you'll come across the parking lot for Devil's Courthouse. Once you park, follow the paved trail back the way you came toward the tunnel and you'll find the start of the trail. This is a short hike (only .8 miles out and back) but beware it is very steep and you're basically climbing straight up on your way there. However, once you make it to the top you'll be rewarded with these stunning views of the mountains and can take some time to relax (and catch your breath). Legend says the devil used to hold court in a cave beneath these rocks which is where the name originated. 

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Bonus Stop: Looking Glass Falls

The three stops above took us about 5 hours to complete (9am to 2 pm). After Devil's Courthouse you could continue to drive the parkway and see what you stumble across and it will eventually loop back toward a main highway that will take you to Asheville. However, we decided to go back the way we came and cut through a section of the Pisgah National Forest on our way back. This is an equally beautiful drive and will lead you to our bonus stop: Looking Glass Falls. 

I don't really consider this a hike, more of a road side attraction. Parking isn't great here and you'll likely need to find a spot to turn around and come back to park on the right hand side of the road. The falls are massive and one of the most popular in North Carolina. You can climb down a short flight of stairs to get a better look at them from below. You'll likely to get wet standing here though, that's how powerful they are. 

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While there are so many other places to explore along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I felt like we were able to see so much beauty in a short amount of time and really maximize on our time spent driving since all four of these stops are located relatively close to one another. I cannot say enough good things about this drive and my husband and I have already talked about wanting to go back and experience more of it north of Asheville and into Virginia. If you've driven it before I'd love to hear your favorite stops in the comments!