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Snowshoe the Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge, Virginia

3.3/5
based on 4 reviews

Description

Added by Kenton Steryous

You're likely to have the Parkway to yourself in winter as it's closed most of the time to cars, making it perfect for snowshoeing and cross country skiing after a good snow fall. 

We don't get a ton of snow here in Virginia, but when we do, the Blue Ridge Parkway can be a great place to get out and enjoy a day of snowshoeing or cross country skiing. It's also a great opportunity to get your pup out and let him work out some energy as the chances of running into anyone are much lower than normal.

If there's snow on the ground, then the Parkway will almost certainly be closed to traffic. Park at any of the entrances and enjoy a day of very peaceful snowshoeing or skiing with plenty of scenic overlooks. More information about the Blue Ridge Parkway and where to access it can be found here. 

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Features

Photography
Skiing
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Scenic
Wildlife

Reviews

If you've got snow coming in and have been itching to get on your X-Country ski's/snowshoes, then go for it! If you're not local, this might be difficult to time properly, but its definitely fun if you're able to pull it off.

The route is fairly straightforward--get up to the Parkway and giv'er! There are a few areas where you can access the closed section of the parkway, most notably right near Sharp Top/Flat Top where Route 43 doubles as the BRP. If you head north from there the BRP is closed right past the lodge. You can also access the Parkway from any number of fire roads that go up to the parkway. From the South you could also access near Blackhorse Gap, I imagine. Some exploring the roads that lead up to the BRP will give you plenty of areas to access it.

The route is fairly straightforward--get up to the Parkway and giv'er! There are a few areas where you can access the closed section of the parkway, most notably right near Sharp Top/Flat Top where Route 43 doubles as the BRP. If you head north from there the BRP is closed right past the lodge. You can also access the Parkway from any number of fire roads that go up to the parkway. From the South you could also access near Blackhorse Gap, I imagine. Some exploring the roads that lead up to the BRP will give you plenty of areas to access it.

Some planned routes or sections with parking directions would be cool.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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