- The Aurora Borealis visible above the Swannanoa Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above the Swannanoa Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Shope Creek Valley on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Shope Creek Valley on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Shope Creek Valley on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Lane Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Lane Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above Lane Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- The Aurora Borealis visible above the fields at Warren Wilson College, during the geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024.
- Pillow-shaped mounds of lichen grow on the ground near Mount Hardy
- Christmas-tree shaped Red Spruce grow on the side of Mount Hardy
- Glade on the side of Mount Hardy
- The summit of 6110 ft Mount Hardy is a broad, nearly flat dome covered in a dense spruce-fir forest.
- Mossy trees growing on Mount Hardy
- Young Red Spruce trees grow around a mossy glade on Mount Hardy
- Glade on the side of Mount Hardy
- Trail to Mount Hardy Summit
- Spruce-Fir Forest on the North Slopes of Mount Hardy on the Mountains to Sea Trail
- Narrow Section of the Mountains to Sea Trail in Middle Prong Wilderness
- Sunset over Deep Creek at the Tom Branch Road bridge.
- Tom Branch Falls drops directly into Deep Creek, not far from the picnic area. This is a popular spot for swimming and tubing in the warmer months!
- Foot bridge over Juney Whank Falls, near Deep Creek.
- Steps leading down to the viewing area of Indian Creek Falls.
- Steps down to the first main overlook on the Chestoa View Trail
- At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view Grandfather Mountain.
- At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view Grandfather Mountain.
- At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view of Table Rock across the Linville Gorge.
- A flat stretch of the easy, short loop Chestoa View Trail.
- Wood fence along the Chestoa View Trail protects visitors from the steep cliffs overlooking the North Fork Catawba River valley.
- View of Table Rock across the Linville Gorge from the Chestoa View Trail overlook.
- Chestoa View Trail in Autumn
- Panoramic view from Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati Trail in early fall.
- View from Eagle Rock on a Late Autumn Gray Day. Some nice fall color still persists in the lower elevations of the Blue Ridge escarpment into mid-November.
- View of the ridge behind Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati trail.
- At the end of the Nuwati trail is Storyteller’s Rock, and this view up to Calloway Peak in early fall.
- At the end of the Nuwati trail is Storyteller’s Rock, and this view up to Calloway Peak in early fall.
- “Up Rock to View Point”. Okay!
- View east toward the Piedmont from Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati trail in early fall.
- The upper reaches of Boone Fork are choked with boulders where the Nuwati trail crosses on its way up to Storyteller’s Rock and The Refuge (campsite).
- Nuwati Trail swings right across the double upper feeders of Boone Fork at this giant sloping boulder.
- Crossing of a small side stream feeding into Boone Fork on the Nuwati trail.
- Sign for the Streamside campsite on the Nuwati trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
- The Streamside campsite on the Nuwati trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
- Big Boulder beside the Nuwati Trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
- Junction of the Tanawha and Nuwata trails at the edge of Grandfather Mountain State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Boone Fork as seen from the Tanawha Trail near the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- View of Grandfather Mountain’s McRae Peak peeking out from behind the clouds on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Linn Cove Viaduct, at the Yonahlossee Overlook.
- Early Fall view of the Linn Cove Viaduct, with Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain in the distance along Linville Gorge.
- View of Pilot Mountain (right) and Hanging Rock (left) on the horizon from near the Cumberland Knob recreation area.
- The picnic area at Cumberland Knob has a modern side in the meadow to the left of this photo, and an older rustic side nestled in the woods, seen here.
- The picnic area at Cumberland Knob has a modern side, seen here, and an older rustic side to the right of this photo.
- Fence and the Cumberland Knob Cemetery
- There are 19 graves in this small family cemetery from 1908 to 1960. Among those buried here are four infants and sixteen year old Rebecaca Smith Moxley.
- Cumberland Knob trail in the meadow adjacent to the picnic area.
- Moss and lichen grow on these classic carved wood signs on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Cumberland Knob.
- Sign for the Cumberland Knob recreation area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway displays some of its awards and recognition in Cumberland Knob Park, just south of the NC/VA State Line.
- Plaque recognizing the achievements of the landscape architects who helped plan, design, and build the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – First rural national parkway. Construction began near here on September 11, 1935.
- NC/VA State Line on the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Aerial view of Asheville, NC in the waning days of summer.
- Swallowtail butterfly on wildflowers growing beside the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
- Red Spruce grow beside the Old Mitchell Toll Road near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail where it joins the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
- Orange blaze along the Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail near the Old Mitchell Toll Road
- Yellow wildflowers growing beaide the Blue Ridge Pinnacle Trail.
- An open forest filled with sedges and ferns on the Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail between the summit and Old Mitchell Toll Road.
- Wildflowers grow in later summer along the Pinnacle trail between the summit and the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
- Blue Bead Lily beside the Pinnacle trail.
- Twisted trees on the trail to Blue Ridge Pinnacle.
- Rhododendrong grows from a narrow crack in the rocks at the summit of Blue Ridge Pinnacle.
- Galax on the Pinnacle Trail
- Sign for the Pinnacle Trail, referring to Blue Ridge Pinnacle and not to be confused with Craggy Pinnacle 9 miles South on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- A gentle curve near the 3200 ft elevation on the Strawberry Gap trail.
- View from Ferguson Peak on the Strawberry Gap Trail. The cliff-top overlook is surrounded by increasingly rare Carolina Hemlock trees.
- The first view you encounter on top of Ferguson Peak on the Strawberry Gap tril.
- Galax surrounds the base of a tree on the Strawberry Gap trail.
- Carolina Hemlock is an increasingly rare species which can still be found along the Strawberry Gap trail, for now (as of 2023).
- Galax blooms along the Strawberry Gap trail.
- S-shaped stairs along a steeper part of the Strawberry Gap trail.
- Galax grows along the Strawberry Gap Trail.
- Ferns along the Strawberry Gap Trail.
- Solomon’s Seal blooms along the Strawberry Gap trail in early June.
- Rock outcrop along the Strawberry Gap trail.
- Steps and fence on the Strawberry Gap trail at a junction with a private trail. Stay on the marked Strawberry Gap trail.
- Private trails lead away from Strawberry Gap Trail. Be sure to stay on the marked trail. It is well signed and easy to follow.
- Strawberry Gap Trail has just one creek crossing, right at the beginning, an easy one via these stepping stones.
- Register, fence, and sign at the start of the Strawberry Gap trail.
- Memorial for Susie Skinner Clarke Hamilton at the start of the Strawberry Gap Trail.
- No dogs are allowed on the Strawberry Gap Trail. Not even the little tiny ones.
- Entrance to the Strawberry Gap Trail.
- The majority of Toxaway Falls, with the US Hwy 64 road bridge, dam, Toxaway Lake, and Toxaway Mountain all upstream.
- The uppermost, highest drop of Toxaway Falls, with the US Hwy 64 road bridge, dam, Toxaway Lake, and Toxaway Mountain all upstream.
- Lake Glenville in spring foliage.
- High Falls of the Tuckasegee River sits below Lake Glenville, and is now normaly dewatered except during recreational flow release days, when it roars.
- Lake Glenville Dam covers what was once called Onion Falls on the Tuckasegee River. The new, much-larger falls of the dam’s spillway (left) is now sometimes called Onion Falls.
- Lake Glenville Dam covers what was once called Onion Falls on the Tuckasegee River. The new, much-larger falls of the dam’s spillway (left) is now sometimes called Onion Falls.