Scenic Overlook – Welcome To Hendersonville, NC

Blue Ridge Parkway

Company Name: Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, NC

Telephone: 828-298-0398

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**As of 11/7/24,

the National Park Service restored access to nearly 55 miles the Blue Ridge Parkway from:

Milepost 382.5 at US 70 near the Folk Art Center, to milepost 393.6, at NC Route 191 near the NC Arboretum, including the French Broad Overlook at milepost 393.8
- The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is open
- The Folk Art Center is open
- Use extreme caution on trails as hazards may remain
Milepost 405.5 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:
- Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.
- All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:
- All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
- Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.
- Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until November 11, 2024.

The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the mountain ridges from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The Parkway’s 469 toll-free miles combines natural beauty, mountain forests, wildlife, wildflowers and magnificent views. Located 15 miles north of Hendersonville, a portion of the most famous drive in America weaves through Henderson County. The closest access to the Parkway from Downtown Hendersonville is near the North Carolina Arboretum, at BRP milepost 393.6.

Managed by the National Park Service. Be sure to check out the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Folk Art Center and Southern Highland Craft Guild while driving the parkway through the Asheville area.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is known for:

Hiking
Mountain & Road Biking
Scenic Drives & Overlooks
Picnicking
Camping
Fishing
Berry picking
Waterfalls
Motorcycle rides
Breathtaking sunsets and sunrises
Open year-round (but often has seasonal closings due to weather or poor road conditions)
Check website for closings

Popular hiking options in the area include:

Graveyard fields (great for berry picking)
Mt. Pisgah/Frying Pan Tower
Black Balsam
Skinny Dip Falls
Bent Creek
Shining Rock Wilderness Area
Sam Knob
Cold Mountain
Craggy Gardens
Rattlesnake Lodge
Devil’s Courthouse
Richland Balsam

Cabin Ridge

Company Name: Cabin Ridge

323 Shadow Run Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28792

Telephone: 828-687-0233

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Experience one of Western North Carolina’s most peaceful and unforgettable places to say I do!

Cabin Ridge is a scenic, open-air wedding venue atop Sugarloaf Mountain, just 25 minutes from Hendersonville, and 45 minutes south of Asheville. Exchange vows with sweeping Western-facing views, then toast your next chapter as the sun sets and stars emerge over the Blue Ridge Mountains. With delicious, locally sourced, in-house catering, staffing, and bar packages; two comfortable dressing suites; and so many pristine places to relax and retreat, Cabin Ridge is perfect for couples seeking a spacious, nature-inspired, mountain-top wedding experience. We also welcome retreats, reunions, and heartfelt gatherings of all kinds—if it’s worth celebrating, it’s worth celebrating here!

Jump Off Rock

Company Name: Jump Off Rock

4501 Laurel Park Hwy.
Laurel Park, NC 28739

Telephone: 828-693-4840

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Just 15 minutes from downtown Hendersonville, Jump Off Rock provides one of the grandest panoramic views in Western North Carolina.

The rock is the centerpiece of a small, well-maintained mountaintop park. From the parking area, visitors follow a relatively short, flat path through the park to the rock, which is perched on a west-facing ridge with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains.

On a clear day, four states are visible – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. It’s also a popular spot to watch gorgeous sunsets.

Throughout the year, Jump Off Rock is utilized for concerts, weddings, group yoga and family picnics.

There are three hiking trials at Jump Off Rock, varying in length and difficulty. The trails dip down and circumnavigate the rock. The Blue Trail is rated as an easy trail and takes about eight minutes. The Yellow Trail is rated moderate and takes around 15 minutes. The Red Trail is the most difficult and the longest.

For a diagram and more information about the trails, see the sign at the edge of the parking area.

The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. No admission charge. Pets are welcome on a leash, and there is a foot-pump spigot to get water for the pups.