A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special. 

Length	469 miles
States	2 – Virginia and North Carolina
Astronomy Sites	18

Astronomy Sites

These are just a sampling of the many astronomy opportunities in the Blue Ridge Parkway area, and here are a few great options that are reliable. These are not an exhaustive list of every astronomy location, but of an extensive starting point.

Ravens Roost Overlook

Located at milepost 10.7, the overlook has a great view of the west, which includes views of Torrey Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley to the west. The overlook has its name because ravens and buzzards are frequently seen from this point. With this Westerly view, there is much opportunity for viewing the sky and taking photos of objects and the Milky Way when they are in the western part of the sky.

Sunset Field

Located at milepost 78, the Sunset Field offers views of the expansive horizon and is a fairly dark area for stargazing.

The Peaks of Otter

If heading north of Roanoke, the Peaks of Otter is located at milepost 85.6. This campground is a favorite and modern visitors can stay the night at historic Peaks of Otter Lodge. Baratta said the cool air and incredible views are worth the trip.

Cahas Knob Overlook

Located at milepost 139 south of Roanoke, this overlook can be accessed from the city. It is roughly 17-20 miles south, depending on where you enter the Parkway. The view is much wider than many of the pullouts in the area and the looming Cahas Mountain casts an impressive base to the night skies above.

Devil’s Backbone

Located at milepost 144, the Devil’s Backbone is located roughly 5 miles south of Cahas Knob and is a darker spot than Cahas. The Devil’s Backbone is a little off the Parkway, so light intrusion is not a problem, which makes this site an amazing location for astronomy.

The Saddle Overlook

Located at milepost 168, the Saddle Mountain overlook faces East and West, therefore, allowing visitors to see both the sunrise and the sunset. Therefore, this is a wonderful place to view the sky at night!

Doughton Recreation Area

Located at milepost 238, the area is the largest recreation area the National Park Service manages on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Being an expansive recreation area, there is a plethora of opportunities for daytime and nighttime activities.

Stone Mountain State Park

Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Stone Mountain State park is 14,353-acre in size. The site is named after the massive granite dome at Stone Mountain State Park keeps watch on park visitors enjoying nearly every type of outdoor activity – camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding and more. There are more than 18 miles of trails, matched by more than 20 miles of designated trout waters in this park that spreads below the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are a plethora of stargazing opportunities at this park.

Craggy Dome Overlook

Located at milepost 364.1, this overlook is a great place to view the stars, but there is the Craggy Dome hike, which is a 1.3-km out-and-back trail near Black Mountain, North Carolina. It is generally considered a challenging route, which takes an average of 42 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring, and a great place for viewing the stars and take some photographs with your DSLR.

Graveyard Fields

Located at milepost 418.8, this is a popular hiking spot that is several miles, around 3.3 miles, in length. It provides a great viewpoint at the top, plus a great place to view the sky.

Bare Dark Sky Observatory

This Dark Sky Park is only 30 min away from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The observatory a 2,700-foot high peak in a particularly undeveloped stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Equipped with both a 14-inch Meade planetary telescope and a 34-inch custom-built Newtonian telescope, which is the largest of its kind in the Southeast U.S. dedicated to public use. While the community college hosts expert-led community events most Friday and Saturday nights (weather and visibility pending), stargazers are welcome to visit the observatory any night they please. 

Mile High Swinging Bridge

Located at Grandfather Mountain, the Mile High Swinging Bridge provides 360-degree panoramic views. America’s highest suspension footbridge gives easy access to the spectacular views atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak, elevation 5,305 feet. The area is high up, which provides a great opportunity for stargazing and viewing.

Thunder Hill Overlook

Located at milepost 290.4, the overlook is probably one of the most visited overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even though there is not much here, it affords one of the best long-range views of the Piedmont of North Carolina. From this point, it has been said that you can catch the best sunrise available along the Parkway. It is also further away from many light sources and makes an outstanding stop for amateur astronomers.

Yonahlossee Overlook

Located at milepost 303.9, the overlook has great long range views at the south end of this overlook. The views of Linn Cove Viaduct makes this a popular spot during the day. The Southern end provides a great opportunity for some stargazing.

Linn Cove Viaduct

Located at milepost 304, the Linn Cove Viaduct is a great place to view the outdoors and the night sky. With a plethora of hiking options and views of the surrounding areas, the viewing options are great!

Beacon Heights Overlook

Beacon Heights Overlook, at Milepost 305.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, functions primarily as a parking area. To experience the overlook and stunning long-range views, visitors must hike the short but steep Beacon Heights Trail up 1,400 feet to the peak. At the peak, two open expanses of bare quartzite rock are separated by a small patch of wood, which has one facing east and the other west. These views make Beacon Heights a popular place to view sunrises and sunsets, which also makes the areas for a great astronomy opportunities. At any time of day, however, Beacon Heights is famed for its spectacular long-range views of Table Rock, Hawksbill, Grandmother Mountain, and Grandfather Mountain.

Grandfather Mountain Overlook

Located at milepost 338.8, the overlook provides a view that is sensational. The Seven Mile Ridge seems to stretch forever with slopes and ridges filling the foreground. The impressive Black Mountains loom high above Seven Mile Ridge in the background. Early mountain roads would follow a ridge instead of a river valley that could end abruptly. One of these old sled roads still extends across the Seven Mile Ridge. Some parts of the road are still used by farmers in the area.

Three Knobs Overlook

With an elevation of over 4100 feet above sealevel, Grandfather Mountain offers spectacular views from the highest peak of the Blue Ridge. It is located at milepost 306.6, which makes the opportunity a good one for the nights sky and viewing.

Cowee Mountain Overlook

Cowee Mountain Overlook sits 5,950 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful overlook and a popular spot for picnickers. Located just north of Richland Balsam on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this overlook faces southeast, making for great views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Cowee Mountain Overlook is one of the few overlooks that offer 180-degree views without any obstructions. This overlook provides a great astronomical view.

Roy Taylor Forest Overlook 

Located at milepost 433.3, there is a walkway to viewpoint, which is great for viewing the surrounding areas and astronomy. Viewing the stars and DSLR photography of the night sky is great here.

Waterrock Knob Overlook 

Located at milepost 451.2, the overlook is at 5,820 feet in elevation, it is the Parkway’s highest visitor center. Known for its beautiful long-range views of several major mountain chains in the Appalachians, Waterrock Knob is uniquely suited for viewing sunrises and sunsets. The visitor center introduces the area’s rugged terrain and tremendous scenes. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians makes this section of North Carolina their home. The visitor center is open seasonally. It is a great place for astronomy.

Devil’s Courthouse

Located at milepost 422.4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Devil’s Courthouse has a short but strenuous trail climbing a half-mile to its peak with wonderful panoramic mountain views. The mostly-paved trail starts from the overlook parking area beside the mountain.

Hornbuckle Valley Overlook

Located at milepost 453.4, it is a great place for limited astronomy viewing and photos of the Milky Way.

Camping/Lodging

These are just a sampling of the many campgrounds in the Blue Ridge Parkway area, and does not include the options for motels, hotels, or other lodging options in the area. These are not an exhaustive list of every campground, but of an extensive starting point.

Panther Creek Cabins

Panther Creek Cabin sits on over an acre, with 600 feet of creek frontage on Big Reed Island Creek, which provides an opportunity to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of nature, relaxation, and way to unplug from the noise of life.  There are many ways to relax in the scenic area.

Mile High Campground

The rustic campground offers primitive camping, secluded camping sites, sites for tents, pop-ups, trailers and RVs, bunkhouse cabins, clean bathrooms, hot showers, firewood, and a camp store. It is a great place to relax and camp.

Cove Creek Group Campground (Upper and Lower)

These are 2 group campsites nestled along Cove Creek in the lush forests of the Appalachian Mountains. The facility can accommodate large groups of up to 60 people and offers year-round opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, fishing and picnicking in one of the most scenic areas in the state.

Mount Pisgah Campgrounds

One of the most popular of the Parkway’s campgrounds, Mount Pisgah Campground is perched in the rolling mountains of western North Carolina on the southernmost end of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. Surrounded by dense hardwood forests at an elevation of 4980 feet, it offers shady, cool respite from the summer heat. Whichever end of the day appeals, spectacular sunrise and sunset panoramic views can be enjoyed from nearby overlooks. Several popular hiking trails, ranging from moderate to strenuous, are accessible from the campground. The area is very historic and can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Mount Mitchell State Park Campground

Mount Mitchell State Park is a 4,789-acre North Carolina state park in Yancey County, North Carolina in the United States. Established in 1915 by the state legislature, it became the first state park of North Carolina. The nine-site family campground is open from May 1 to October 31. Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table. Restrooms for use during warm seasons are located nearby. Showers and hot water are not provided.

Springmaid Mountain Campground

Springmaid Mountain’s campground offers sites suitable for tents, pop-ups, campers and RVs. Surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery with many on-site recreational opportunities, Springmaid Mountain is the ideal place to relax and have fun. Amenities available at the campground includes a bathhouse with showers, restrooms and sinks.

Linville Falls Campground RV Park & Cabins

Located in Western North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at junction of US 221, this camping location is shaded by a cool forest of stately oaks. This privately owned campground has full hook-up sites, water/electric sites and a secluded, primitive tent area.  Surrounded by mountain laurel and rhododendron, each site is equipped with a grill, fire ring and picnic table. Log Cabin rentals are very popular. 

Julian Price Campground

Located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in the lush green expanses of North Carolina, Julian Price Campground is a top destination for boating, hiking, fishing and more. Whether it’s for a family camping excursion or a peaceful getaway, this campground has something for everyone. The area can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Mountain Side Campground & Cabins

Available from April to October, the site has cabins and RVs for reservations. The standard cabins are all fully equipped with heat & air, and can easily accommodate two adults, with each cabin having its own bathroom, kitchen and back porch overlooking our private pond. There is a 2 night minimum reservation for some of the cabins.

Rocky Knob Campground

Located on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the hills of rural Virginia, Rocky Knob Campground is nestled amid rolling meadowlands with impressive displays of seasonal flowers, endless night skies and green pastures. Numerous nearby overlooks and the winding parkway provide an ideal backdrop for a traditional camping experience. The area can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Peaks Of Otter Campground

The Peaks of Otter Campground is nestled between the bases of two dominating mountains in the rolling hills of Virginia. Campers enjoy a rare serenity in this rustic setting. It is a great place to relax. The area can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Otter Creek Campground

Otter Creek Campground is located at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s lowest elevation, only 649 feet above sea level. Picturesque Otter Creek winds through this quiet, rustic campground. Night skies are spectacular here, and there are several nearby trails to hike including the Otter Creek Trail, which is accessible from the campground. Just imagine enjoying the crackle of an evening campfire with the murmur of the creek in the background! The area can be reserved through recreation.gov.

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