Boone and Blowing Rock North Carolina Blue Ridge Fall Color

Grandfather Mountain

South of Blowing Rock near Linville, Grandfather Mountain is a privately run nature park managed by a nonprofit stewardship foundation. A winding road climbs to the summit area, where the Mile High Swinging Bridge spans a gap between two rocky peaks with views that stretch across the Blue Ridge on clear days.

For serious hikers, the rugged backcountry trails across the ridge are part of Grandfather Mountain State Park, which is separate from the attraction and includes ladder-assisted rock scrambles along the Grandfather Trail. These routes are strenuous and exposed, so start early and check weather first.

The Mile High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain opened in 1952 and sits at an elevation of about one mile. Photo: Thomson200, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Linn Cove Viaduct and Rough Ridge

The Linn Cove Viaduct curves around the side of Grandfather Mountain on a series of precast concrete segments, an engineering solution that let the Parkway pass without blasting the fragile slope. Completed in 1987, it was the last link in the Parkway.

The Linn Cove Viaduct curves around the flank of Grandfather Mountain and was the final section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be completed. Photo: MBugbey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

Just outside Blowing Rock, this former estate centers on Flat Top Manor, the white colonial revival summer house of textile entrepreneur Moses Cone. The manor now houses the Parkway Craft Center of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, where you can browse pottery, woodwork, weaving and jewelry by regional artisans.

Flat Top Manor was built in 1901 as the summer home of textile entrepreneur Moses Cone. Photo: Doug Coldwell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Julian Price Memorial Park

Adjoining the Cone estate, Price Park has Price Lake, a campground, picnic areas and the Price Lake Loop trail, which circles the water through rhododendron and hemlock. Canoe and kayak rentals are offered in season.

Price Lake lies within Julian Price Memorial Park, right beside the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo: miketnorton, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Downtown Boone and King Street

King Street is the heart of downtown Boone, lined with brick buildings, outdoor shops, bookstores, cafes and a branch of the Mast General Store. Look for the Doc Watson statue at the corner of King and Depot streets and check what is playing at the restored Appalachian Theatre of the High Country.

King Street is the main street of downtown Boone, lined with shops, restaurants and the Appalachian Theatre. Photo: Jeremy Mikkola from Boone, NC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Valle Crucis and the Mast General Store

About fifteen minutes west of Boone, the rural community of Valle Crucis sits in a green valley along the Watauga River. Its original Mast General Store has operated since 1883, with creaky wooden floors, a potbelly stove and shelves of candy, outdoor clothing and household goods; the annex down the road sells more apparel and gear.

The original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis has been operating since 1883. Photo: P. Hughes, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Blowing Rock

The town takes its name from this rocky cliff above the Johns River Gorge, where updrafts are strong enough to push light objects back toward the edge.

The Blowing Rock is a cliff above the Johns River Gorge where strong updrafts gave the town its name. Photo: Leslie Anne Perry, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Tweetsie Railroad

On the highway between Boone and Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad is a Wild West themed park built around a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive that pulls passengers around a three-mile loop. There are also amusement rides, live shows, a petting farm and gem mining.

Tweetsie Railroad runs a historic narrow-gauge steam train on a loop between Boone and Blowing Rock. Photo: ET&WNC12, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0