Waterfall Hero Hikes: Julian Price Memorial Park

Julian Price Memorial Park is a park along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 297 in Watauga County, North Carolina. The park is named in honor of Julian Price, an insurance executive with Jefferson Pilot Standard Life Insurance Company. Price had purchased the land in the 1930s and 1940s to develop a retreat for company employees. After his death in 1946, the land was willed to the insurance company, who gave it to the National Park Service for public recreational use. One stipulation was that the Boone Fork be dammed to make a lake in Price's honor - Price Lake.

Contact Information:

5580 Shulls Mill Road
Blowing Rock NC 28605

Phone: (828) 963-5911
GPS Coordinates: 36.13889, -81.73111

Directions:

From Blowing Rock, get on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading south and go about 2 miles to the park. There are several parking areas along here. The biggest parking lot at the picnic area is on the right and the campground is also on the right shortly after the picnic area. There are some smaller parking lots to access Price Lake and Tanawha Trail as well.

Map:

Trails:

Boone Fork Trail:

Boone Fork Trail is a 5 mile loop, following its namesake for about half its length. The trailhead is at the picnic area or it can be accessed from the campground. From the picnic area, the trail follows Boone Fork downstream. At about 1.5 miles, it meets the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. MST eastbound crosses Boone Fork on a footbridge, while westbound follows Boone Fork Trail. Right after this split, Hebron Colony Falls is to the left. The trail follows Boone Fork for about another half-mile then heads up along Bee Tree Creek and through an open area. Tanawha Trail and MST split to the right here. Boone Fork Trail then heads through the campground, running parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway back to the picnic area.

Green Knob Trail:

Green Knob Trail starts from Sims Pond Overlook and makes a 2.5-mile loop over Green Knob.

Price Lake Trail:

Price Lake Trail makes a 2.7-mile loop around the lake.

Points of Interest:

Hebron Colony Falls:

Hebron Colony Falls is an interesting waterfall on Boone Fork at the Hebron Rock Colony. It used to be possible to access this waterfall from a short hiking trail off Old Turnpike Road. Due to a lack of parking spaces and congestion on the gravel road, parking is now strictly prohibited and the only legal way to access the waterfall is through Julian Price Memorial Park.

From the picnic area parking lot, cross Boone Fork on a footbridge and turn right on the Boone Fork Trail. There is a sign for the direction to Hebron Falls at the turn. In just under 1.5 miles, there is a short spur trail that leads to the falls. You'll have to climb out onto the rocks for a good view. Always use extreme caution when climbing on rocks, especially if they're wet. This is a popular waterfall, especially with students from nearby Appalachian State University, so expect a crowd on nice days.

Boone Fork Waterfall:

There is a 15-foot waterfall about a quarter-mile downstream from Hebron Colony Falls. Continue on the trail for about 0.3 miles past the turn for Hebron Colony Falls and you should see and hear the waterfall from the trail. There is a very steep but obvious path to the base.