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Sunset over Deep Creek at the Tom Branch Road bridge.
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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!
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Foot bridge over Juney Whank Falls, near Deep Creek.
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Steps leading down to the viewing area of Indian Creek Falls.
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Steps down to the first main overlook on the Chestoa View Trail
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At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view Grandfather Mountain.
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At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view Grandfather Mountain.
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At the start of the Chestoa View trail is the main overlook with this view of Table Rock across the Linville Gorge.
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A flat stretch of the easy, short loop Chestoa View Trail.
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Wood fence along the Chestoa View Trail protects visitors from the steep cliffs overlooking the North Fork Catawba River valley.
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View of Table Rock across the Linville Gorge from the Chestoa View Trail overlook.
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Chestoa View Trail in Autumn
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Panoramic view from Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati Trail in early fall.
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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.
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View of the ridge behind Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati trail.
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At the end of the Nuwati trail is Storyteller’s Rock, and this view up to Calloway Peak in early fall.
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At the end of the Nuwati trail is Storyteller’s Rock, and this view up to Calloway Peak in early fall.
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“Up Rock to View Point”. Okay!
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View east toward the Piedmont from Storyteller’s Rock at the end of the Nuwati trail in early fall.
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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).
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Nuwati Trail swings right across the double upper feeders of Boone Fork at this giant sloping boulder.
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Crossing of a small side stream feeding into Boone Fork on the Nuwati trail.
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Sign for the Streamside campsite on the Nuwati trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
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The Streamside campsite on the Nuwati trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
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Big Boulder beside the Nuwati Trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park.
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Junction of the Tanawha and Nuwata trails at the edge of Grandfather Mountain State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Boone Fork as seen from the Tanawha Trail near the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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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.
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Early Fall view of the Linn Cove Viaduct, with Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain in the distance along Linville Gorge.
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View of Pilot Mountain (right) and Hanging Rock (left) on the horizon from near the Cumberland Knob recreation area.
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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.
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The picnic area at Cumberland Knob has a modern side, seen here, and an older rustic side to the right of this photo.
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Fence and the Cumberland Knob Cemetery
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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.
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Cumberland Knob trail in the meadow adjacent to the picnic area.
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Moss and lichen grow on these classic carved wood signs on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Cumberland Knob.
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Sign for the Cumberland Knob recreation area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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The Blue Ridge Parkway displays some of its awards and recognition in Cumberland Knob Park, just south of the NC/VA State Line.
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Plaque recognizing the achievements of the landscape architects who helped plan, design, and build the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – First rural national parkway. Construction began near here on September 11, 1935.
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NC/VA State Line on the Blue Ridge Parkway
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Aerial view of Asheville, NC in the waning days of summer.
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Swallowtail butterfly on wildflowers growing beside the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
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Red Spruce grow beside the Old Mitchell Toll Road near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail where it joins the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
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Orange blaze along the Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail near the Old Mitchell Toll Road
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Yellow wildflowers growing beaide the Blue Ridge Pinnacle Trail.
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An open forest filled with sedges and ferns on the Blue Ridge Pinnacle trail between the summit and Old Mitchell Toll Road.
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Wildflowers grow in later summer along the Pinnacle trail between the summit and the Old Mitchell Toll Road.
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Blue Bead Lily beside the Pinnacle trail.
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Twisted trees on the trail to Blue Ridge Pinnacle.
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Rhododendrong grows from a narrow crack in the rocks at the summit of Blue Ridge Pinnacle.
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Galax on the Pinnacle Trail
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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.
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A gentle curve near the 3200 ft elevation on the Strawberry Gap trail.
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View from Ferguson Peak on the Strawberry Gap Trail. The cliff-top overlook is surrounded by increasingly rare Carolina Hemlock trees.
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The first view you encounter on top of Ferguson Peak on the Strawberry Gap tril.
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Galax surrounds the base of a tree on the Strawberry Gap trail.
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Carolina Hemlock is an increasingly rare species which can still be found along the Strawberry Gap trail, for now (as of 2023).
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Galax blooms along the Strawberry Gap trail.
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S-shaped stairs along a steeper part of the Strawberry Gap trail.
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Galax grows along the Strawberry Gap Trail.
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Ferns along the Strawberry Gap Trail.
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Solomon’s Seal blooms along the Strawberry Gap trail in early June.
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Rock outcrop along the Strawberry Gap trail.
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Steps and fence on the Strawberry Gap trail at a junction with a private trail. Stay on the marked Strawberry Gap trail.
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Private trails lead away from Strawberry Gap Trail. Be sure to stay on the marked trail. It is well signed and easy to follow.
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Strawberry Gap Trail has just one creek crossing, right at the beginning, an easy one via these stepping stones.
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Register, fence, and sign at the start of the Strawberry Gap trail.
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Memorial for Susie Skinner Clarke Hamilton at the start of the Strawberry Gap Trail.
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No dogs are allowed on the Strawberry Gap Trail. Not even the little tiny ones.
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Entrance to the Strawberry Gap Trail.
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The majority of Toxaway Falls, with the US Hwy 64 road bridge, dam, Toxaway Lake, and Toxaway Mountain all upstream.
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The uppermost, highest drop of Toxaway Falls, with the US Hwy 64 road bridge, dam, Toxaway Lake, and Toxaway Mountain all upstream.
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Lake Glenville in spring foliage.
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High Falls of the Tuckasegee River sits below Lake Glenville, and is now normaly dewatered except during recreational flow release days, when it roars.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Old Fort Gateway Trailhead Map
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Start of the Old Fort Gateway Trails
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Old Fort Gateway Trailhead Sign
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Mossy Trunk and Hickory Branch
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Hemlock on the Hickory Branch Trail
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Junction of Hickory Branch and Lead Mine Gap Trails
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Sign at the Top of Hickory Branch Trail
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Near the Top of Hickory Branch Trail
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View from the Hickory Branch Trail
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View from the Hickory Branch Trail
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Hickory Branch Trail on the Ridge
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Conifer Forest on Hickory Branch Trail
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Hickory Branch Trail Switchbacks Section
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Mossy Stone Face on the Hickory Branch Trail
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Management Areas and their level of restrictions under the new plan
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Potentially harvestable lands along the Twin Falls trail
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The new Mackey Mountain recommended wilderness area near Curtis Creek.
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Rock Steps on the Deep Gap Trail