#grandfathermountain

The viaduct is only about a 1.5 mile hike from the Beacon Heights parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I continued closer to 3 miles taking detours on the Tanawha Trail and some of the other trails nearby. So worth it to get to stop and admire the trees, rocks, and still slightly frozen waterfalls along the way.

This winter the call of the mountains has been irresistible and I have been finding myself drawn to the closed Blue Ridge Parkway. The viaduct near Linville was the perfect destination on mild, overcast day. It was strange being out there all alone as it is usually busy being such a spectacular and popular spot. The remnants of the snow from the last storm remained, adding drama to the landscape and drawing me further than originally planned.

It was an awesome experience getting to walk along the viaduct on the closed Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville, North Carolina. It has been on my list for years and finally made the drive to find myself in complete solitude in an area that is usually full of traffic and people. Timed between winter storms, I missed the snow on the road but was awe-struck by the snow laced landscapes, frozen waterfalls, and clear skies. The viaduct is about 1.5 miles from the nearest parking at Beacon Heights.