If you live around Lake Norman, you know how it goes. Exit 28 backs up, the boat ramps fill on Saturday mornings, and construction never seems to end. Everything is close, but nothing is quick. Every so often you need to get somewhere the only traffic jam is a few hikers stopping on a boardwalk to take in the view.
For me, that somewhere is Rough Ridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I've done a lot of hikes in the North Carolina mountains, and this is one of the best. On a clear fall day with the colors at their peak, I'm not sure anything beats it.
Close Enough for a Weekend
Rough Ridge sits on the side of Grandfather Mountain at Milepost 302.8, just above Linville. From the Lake Norman area it's roughly a two-hour drive, so you can leave Friday after work or early Saturday and still be on the trail in the morning. It's about 30 minutes from Boone and less than 20 minutes from Blowing Rock, so either town is a good base for the weekend.
There's no fee and no permit. You just need good shoes, some water, and an early start.
The Short Version or the Full Hike
Most people do the short version. From the Rough Ridge Overlook parking area, the trail climbs log and stone steps, crosses an arched wooden bridge over a small cascade, and reaches the famous boardwalk in about a third of a mile. From there, rocky switchbacks lead to the summit at 4,773 feet. That's about 1.2 to 1.5 miles round trip, short but steep.
If you want a real morning on the mountain, do what I did and hike the longer stretch of the Tanawha Trail between Rough Ridge and the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center at Milepost 304.4. It's about a five-mile out-and-back, and it turns a quick photo stop into a full hike. You can start at either end. Starting at Linn Cove gives you restrooms and a bigger parking lot, which counts for a lot on a busy fall weekend.
The Tanawha is no sidewalk. The National Park Service says the sections above the Viaduct and along Rough Ridge are strenuous. From Linn Cove the trail passes under the Viaduct, climbs stone steps past a huge boulder wall, then winds through rock gardens, caves, and wooden bridges before climbing to Rough Ridge. Plan on a few hours, and plan on stopping a lot.
Why Fall Is the Time to Go
The view from the boardwalk is what makes this hike special. The top of Rough Ridge is covered in low-growing mountain heath instead of tall trees, so nothing blocks the view. The view runs out over the Piedmont and takes in the Linn Cove Viaduct curving around the mountain, plus Grandmother Mountain, Hawksbill, and Table Mountain. On a clear day you can see Mount Mitchell on the southern horizon.
Now add fall color. The hillsides below turn red, orange, and gold, the Viaduct cuts through it like a ribbon, and the air at the top is crisp and cool. When I hiked it on a beautiful fall day, I couldn't stop taking pictures. It's the kind of view that makes the drive, the early alarm, and the climb all worth it.
A Few Tips Before You Go
- Start early. The Rough Ridge lot is small and fills up quickly on fall weekends. Getting there early, or starting from Linn Cove or Wilson Creek Overlook, will save you some frustration.
- Wear real hiking shoes. The trail is rocky, rooty, and often muddy near the bottom, and the rocks get slick after rain.
- Bring a layer. The ridge is exposed and can be windy and much cooler than it was back home on the lake.
- Stay on the boardwalk and marked paths. The plants on top are rare and fragile, and the boardwalk and cables are there to protect them.
- Check the Parkway before you leave. Weather and road work sometimes close sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so look at the NPS Tanawha Trail page and current road conditions on the day of your hike.
Making a Weekend of It
The best part about Rough Ridge is how easily it becomes a full weekend. Hike Saturday morning, then spend the afternoon in Blowing Rock or Boone with a good lunch, a walk through the shops, and maybe a scenic drive along the Parkway. Stay overnight and you can catch sunrise at an overlook Sunday morning before heading back down the mountain.
By the time you're back on I-77, you'll be rested and probably already planning your next trip up (for me back to the investment world at Livingston Financial). Lake Norman will still be there, traffic and all. But every so often it's worth trading the congestion for a cool ridgeline, a sea of fall color, and one of the best hikes in the North Carolina mountains.