| Begun as a Depression-era public works project, | | | | your itinerary when you reach this spot, you will |
| the Blue Ridge Parkway was | | | | want to stop and siton the Manor House lawn |
| America's first rural parkway. When ultimately | | | | with your dog and take in the views. In another |
| completed it was also the nation'slongest - 469 | | | | 10 milesyou cross the Linn Cove Viaduct, an |
| miles of uninterrupted mountain roads linking | | | | engineering marvel skirting the side of |
| Shenandoah National | | | | Grandfather Mountain. |
| Park in the north to the Great Smokey Mountains | | | | Ground was broken on the Blue Ridge Parkway |
| National Park in the south. The | | | | on September 11, 1935 at |
| Blue Ridge Parkway is far and away the most | | | | Cumberland Knob on the North Carolina-Virginia |
| popular destination in the National | | | | border, near the mid-point of theproposed route. |
| Park System - more than 19 million recreation | | | | By 1967 all but seven and one-half of its 469 |
| visits per year. One of theexplanations for its | | | | miles were complete. |
| enduring popularity could be that the Blue Ridge is | | | | The final section, around the rocky slopes of |
| also one of | | | | Grandfather Mountain, one of theworld's oldest |
| America's most dog-friendly destinations. | | | | mountains, would not be finished until 1987. To |
| Designed for leisurely motoring, the speed limit | | | | finish the Parkwaywithout massive cuts and fills |
| never exceeds 45 mph on the | | | | on the fragile mountainside would call for the |
| Parkway and roadside parking is permitted on the | | | | mostcomplicated concrete bridge ever built - the |
| shoulders the entire way. Much ofthe beautiful | | | | serpentine Linn Viaduct. |
| road is lined by low stone walls. At times the | | | | The 12 bridges of the Viaduct were constructed |
| route shrinks to scarcely | | | | from the top down at anelevation of 4100 feet |
| 25 yards in width. You will never see a billboard | | | | to eliminate the need for a pioneer road. In fact, |
| and scarcely any development. | | | | the onlytrees cut down during the entire project |
| Parks and recreation areas - several spanning | | | | were those directly beneath the roadbed. |
| thousands of acres - appear roughlyevery 30 | | | | The only construction on the ground was the |
| miles, although most are located in the Blue Ridge | | | | drilling of seven permanent piers uponwhich the |
| Mountains, the 355miles that comprise the | | | | Viaduct rests. |
| northern part of the route. The lower 114 miles | | | | Exposed rock was even covered to present |
| windthrough the powerful Black Mountains, named | | | | staining from the concrete epoxybinding the |
| for the dark green spruce that coverthe massive | | | | precast sections. To further minimize the intrusion |
| slopes, and they offer more limited leg-stretching | | | | on the mountain,concrete mixes were tinted with |
| opportunities. | | | | iron oxide to blend with existing outcroppings. |
| There is no reason for you and the dog to enjoy | | | | Trails lead to views underneath this engineering |
| the Blue Ridge solely throughyour car windows. | | | | marvel and access the 13.5-mile |
| Dogs are allowed on the more than 100 varied | | | | Tanawha Trail from Beacon Heights to Julian Price |
| trails throughoutthe Blue Ridge Parkway, ranging | | | | Park. You and the dog can pickyour way along an |
| from easy valley strolls to demanding | | | | interpretive trail to close-up views of the Viaduct. |
| mountainsummit hikes. Travelers and canine hikers | | | | A most-anticipated highlight of the Blue Ridge |
| can spend a week motoring on the | | | | Parkway will be the upcoming |
| Parkway and barely sample all its treasures. And it | | | | Linville Gorge, one of the most remote locations in |
| is no trouble to slow down andtake as much time | | | | the Appalachians. Unblazedtrails lead deep into the |
| as you like on the trails - all the nine first come, | | | | wilderness but most canine hikers will stick to the |
| first servedcampgrounds on the Parkway | | | | two mainhiking trails surrounding Linville Falls. |
| welcome dogs. You will find many of the inns | | | | Erwins View Trail is a sporty walk that takesin |
| andrestaurants in the small towns that flank the | | | | four distinct overlooks of the plunging waters in |
| Parkway to be dog-friendly as well. | | | | its .8-mile journey. Morechallenging is the hike on |
| Tracing the route from the north, an early | | | | the opposite side of the water into the gorge |
| highlight comes within the first tenmiles at the | | | | thatdescends through a virgin hemlock forest via |
| Humpback Rocks where the Greenstone nature | | | | a switchback to the water's edgebeneath the |
| trail leads to theunusually shaped boulders. A | | | | Falls. This is a great place for a doggie dip. |
| strenuous climb accesses the Appalachian Trail | | | | South of Linville Falls the elevations climb and the |
| inanother two miles. Canine hikers will look | | | | canine hiking opportunitiesfade away. Craggy |
| forward to the Peaks of Otter, in thevicinity of | | | | Pinnacle Trail at 364.4 miles is a narrow ridge trail |
| the highest mountains on the Virginia section of | | | | that tunnelsthrough purple rhododendron to a |
| the Parkway, beginningaround the 75-mile mark. | | | | hilltop opening in a veritable sea of trees. Asecond |
| Three mountains - Sharp Top (3,875 feet), Flat | | | | moderate trail here is the Craggy Gardens nature |
| Top | | | | trail. Nearby, a spur roadleads up Mount Mitchell. |
| (4,004 feet), and Harkening Hill (3,364 feet) | | | | Your dog can make the final paved ascent to the |
| comprise the Peaks of Otter, a popularhiking | | | | 6684-foot summit and stand on the highest point |
| destination since Colonial days when Thomas | | | | of ground east of the Mississippi River. |
| Jefferson was an enthusiasticvisitor. The 4.4-mile | | | | The mountain was named for Dr. Elisha Mitchell, |
| trail to the Flat Top summit is graded most of the | | | | who fell to his death when trying toprove the |
| way untiljumbled rocks provide athletic dogs a | | | | actual height of the peak. |
| tail-wagging workout. | | | | The last major recreation area on the Parkway |
| Also in the Peaks of Otter are a quick loop hike | | | | comes south of Asheville at |
| threading throughrhododendron and mountain | | | | Mount Pisgah, once part of the 125,000-acre |
| laurel on Onion Mountain and the 1.6-mile loop of | | | | Biltmore Estate owned by George W. |
| the | | | | Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt directed trail building efforts |
| Fallingwater Cascades National Scenic Trail. Both | | | | across his vast property toprovide access for |
| offer splendid views in exchangefor moderate | | | | hunting and horseback riding. It was the first large |
| effort. At the 167-mile mark comes Rocky Knob, | | | | tract ofmanaged forest land in America. The trail |
| with 15 miles oftrails across 4,800 acres. The | | | | to summit views of Mt. Pisgah (5,721feet) is a |
| marquee walk here is the rugged 10.8-mile Rock | | | | hardy 1.26-mile climb. While it is not a prime |
| Castle Gorge National Recreation Trail. Just down | | | | destination for dog owners,you may want to |
| the road is picturesque Mabry Millwith an easy, | | | | make arrangements to visit the Biltmore Estate, |
| self-guiding trail spiced with interpretive exhibits | | | | America's largestprivate home. Construction on |
| and in-seasondemonstrations on rural Appalachian | | | | the French Renaissance-style mansion began in |
| life. Water-powered Mabry Mill is the | | | | 1889 and 250 rooms later was finished in 1895. |
| mostphotographed landmark on the Blue Ridge | | | | Admission to Biltmore Estateincludes a self-guided |
| Parkway. | | | | tour of the non-occupied parts of the house, |
| The first canine hiking after the Parkway crosses | | | | access to theformal gardens and the Biltmore |
| the Virginia state line into | | | | Estate Winery. |
| North Carolina comes on Cumberland Knob at the | | | | The final gasps for canine hiking on the Blue Ridge |
| 217.5-mile mark. A quick 15-minute loop here leads | | | | Parkway before entering |
| to the knob and a more challenging 2-mile loop | | | | Great Smoky Mountain National Park - where |
| that traces | | | | dogs are not allowed on the trails -occur at |
| Gully Creek. Next up is 7,000-acre Doughton Park, | | | | Milepost 431 where Richard Balsam's self-guiding |
| the largest recreation area onthe Blue Ridge | | | | trail wanders throughthe remnants of a spruce-fir |
| Parkway. More than 30 miles of trail and a | | | | forest on the highest point on the Parkway |
| dog-friendly campgroundare the prime attractions | | | | (6,047 feet)and at Waterrock Knob at Mile 451.2. |
| here. | | | | Here a mountain trail leads to the knob andits |
| The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is a popular | | | | panoramic, 4-state views of the Great Smokies. |
| stopping point for relaxing orexploring. Many miles | | | | Allow yourself three to five days to explore the |
| of horse and carriage trails jump off from the | | | | Blue Ridge Parkway with yourdog - a distance |
| Historic Cone | | | | that could be covered in six hours of driving on |
| Manor House and many more trails crisscross | | | | the Interstate. |
| neighboring Julian Price Memorial | | | | Even that may not be enough time. Don't be |
| Park, which includes Price Lake, one of the few | | | | surprised if you find yourself wantingto turn |
| lakes along the Parkway. Even ifhiking isn't on | | | | around and do it all again. |
