DID YOU KNOW?
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground
The Parkway follows the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a part of the Appalachian Mountain chain. These mountains span from Georgia to Pennsylvania, containing the highest mountains in the eastern United States.
National Scenic Byway
GROTTOES, VA
From MP 0, 4 miles West of the Skyline Drive via US 250 and 12 miles North via US 340. Grand Caverns - America’s oldest continuously operated show cave & voted #2 in U.S. by Parade magazine. Experience nature’s handiwork. Open daily. www.grandcaverns.com (888) 430-CAVE.
Explore “Where America Happened” and discover the land of conflict and reunification. This journey will take you through America’s heritage with key locations during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. This historic byway will give you and your family a well-rounded excursion through the Piedmont Region of Virginia. Starting and ending points in Virginia: Leesburg and Charlottesville Time to Drive: 4.5 hours The Virginia section, of the 180 mile long byway, begins near Leesburg at the Virginia and Maryland border just south of Point of Rocks on US 15 and ends near Charlottesville. You’ll pass through: Leesburg, Haymarket, Warrenton, Remington, Culpeper, Orange and Old Somerset. There is no park admission fee and the speed limit varies. This byway travels through a region with exceptional historic value. With five Virginia presidential homes found on this journey, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, it’s sure to be a great history lesson! Don’t forget to stop in Charlottesville for rich cultural, natural and artistic history. Charlottesville will also offer a selection of first-rate museums, galleries, wineries, shops and parks dispersed throughout the area. The northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park are only a half hour west via US 250 or I-64.
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Hightop Mountain Parking, at an elevation of 2,635 feet, is on the west side of the Drive and provides access to the Appalachian Trail and outstanding views on the summit of Hightop Mountain.
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Swift Run Overlook offers a view of the Piedmont to the east and Flattop to the south.
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Simmons Gap Ranger Station personnel are responsible for the southern portion of the park. Stop if you need assistance from the Rangers.
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Rockytop Overlook good view of the Big Run watershed.
For more information:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/ byways/2343/directions 32
Turks Cap Lily grows here | Photo by Matt Celko