Blue Ridge Parkway Ridge District

The Ridge District is the northern half of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. stretching from Rockfish Gap at Shenandoah National Park, the northern terminus of the parkway, to milepost 106.

Points of Interest:

The following points of interest are in ascending order by milepost.

Milepost 61.4: View Terrapin Hill - No views of the hill, but there is a connector to Otter Creek Trail to James River.

Milepost 62.5: Lower Otter Creek Overlook - Views of Otter Creek and access to Otter Creek Trail to James River.

Milepost 63.1: Otter Lake - A small lake on Otter Creek with a 1-mile loop trail and connection to James River.

Milepost 63.7: James River Visitor Center with access to trails along the river and Otter Creek.

Milepost 75.2: View Arnold Valley - Great views of Arnold Valley with at a boulder pile. 

Milepost 75.3: View Arnold Valley - Another great view of Arnold Valley just south of the other viewpoint.

Milepost 78.4: Sunset Field - Views from the crest of the Blue Ridge and trail access to Apple Orchard Falls in Jefferson National Forest.

Milepost 79.7: Onion Mountain Overlook - Overlook towards the Piedmont with a short trail to a rock outcrop.

Milepost 79.9: View Black Rock Hill - Black Rock Hill is named for diorite, a black rock similar to granite.

Milepost 83.1: Fallingwater Cascades Parking Area - Access to the Fallingwater-Flat Top Trail that leads to Fallingwater Cascades.

Milepost 83.5: Flat Top Parking Area - Access to Fallingwater-Flat Top Trail that leads to Flat Top, the highest point in Peaks of Otter.

Milepost 85.9: Sharp Top Parking Area - Large parking area for Sharp Top Trail and shuttle service to the summit at Peaks of Otter.

Milepost 86.0: Peaks of Otter is a recreation with camping, hiking trails, a scenic lake and a lodge with a restaurant.

Milepost 90.0: View Porter Mountain - Overlook with views of Goose Creek Valley and Porter Mountain.

Milepost 91.8: Mills Gap - Overlook of James River Valley from Mills Gap and provides access to Appalachian Trail.

Milepost 92.5: Sharp Top Overlook - View of Sharp Top Mountain and access to Appalachian Trail.

External Links:

National Park Service website: https://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Virtual Blue Ridge website: https://www.virtualblueridge.com/