Location: Southwestern North Carolina. The drive starts on the southwest side of Asheville, at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and NC 191. To get there from I-26, take Exit 2 and follow NC 191 south about 2.5 miles.

Drive route name: Blue Ridge Parkway.

Travel season: Spring through fall is best. Snow and ice can close the parkway in winter.

Special attractions: Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest, Devils Courthouse, Graveyard Fields, Shining Rock Wilderness, Middle Prong Wilderness, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking, scenic views, fall colors.

Camping: The National Park Service maintains campgrounds at Mount Pisgah, at Balsam Mountain, and Smokemont in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Pisgah National Forest manages several campgrounds within a few miles of the parkway.

Services: All services are available in Asheville, Mount Pisgah, and Cherokee.

Nearby attractions: Other sections of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Pisgah National Forest, other segments of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nantahala National Forest, Cradle of Forestry in America, Looking Glass Falls, Looking Glass Rock, and Biltmore Estate.

This route travels from the southwest side of Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, both worthy destinations in themselves. Drive 2 describes the section of parkway just north of this one, from Blowing Rock to Asheville. Between Asheville and the Smokies, the Blue Ridge Parkway reaches its highest point (6,047 feet) and some of its most spectacular views. It crosses a large portion of public lands in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, leading to exceptional opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, and other activities.

Start the drive on the edge of Asheville where the parkway crosses NC 191 and the French Broad River, a large waterway flowing west toward Tennessee. The river's wide banks encouraged its use as a travel route through these mountains during the early days of area settlement. In warm weather you may see boaters floating downstream here. The parkway's first overlook, on your left, offers good views of the river and boaters.

From here, at about 2,000 feet above sea level, the parkway climbs and climbs. It enters the Pisgah National Forest almost immediately. The 87,000-acre heart of this forest unit was once part of the Biltmore Estate, established by George Vanderbilt (see Drive 2). The U.S. government purchased the land after Vanderbilt's death in 1914. As you continue up the road, you will get occasional views back toward Asheville and the old Biltmore Estate.

By the time you arrive at Chestnut Cove Overlook in another 4.9 miles, you will have climbed to an altitude of 3,035 feet. Until 1904, the American chestnut was one of the dominant trees in this cove. In that year, a blight introduced in New York City began wiping out all the chestnuts in America. A favorite shade tree, the chestnut provided wood for split-rail fences like those seen along the parkway. Both humans and wildlife ate its flavorful nuts. Today, chestnuts that sprout from old root systems still cannot survive the blight. Forest specialists are trying to hybridize a resistant variety.

Drivers along this stretch will have passed through the Grassy Knob Tunnel before reaching Chestnut Cove. Now, in less than a mile, you will reach Pine Mountain Tunnel. At 1,462 feet long, this tunnel is the longest of the 26 found on the parkway. All but one of the tunnels lie in the southernmost 136 miles of the parkway; 18 of them lie along this segment alone. Only one tunnel is in Virginia, near the parkway's northern end.

The parkway next climbs a long ridge leading to Mount Pisgah, with numerous overlooks and tunnels. Drivers pass the 4,000-foot mark just before the Mills River Valley Overlook, about 11 miles into the drive. The river that runs far below this overlook was named for William Mills, an early settler in the area. In the early 1800s, Mills saw an elk near the river; it was the last reported elk in North Carolina. Even in the early nineteenth century, mankind had a significant impact on this natural area.

The road continues to climb. In another 3 miles, it reaches the 4,995-foot Mount Pisgah parking area. Mount Pisgah was named for the biblical mount from which Moses first viewed the Promised Land after leading his people out of slavery in Egypt. From the parking area, a moderately strenuous hiking trail climbs more than 700 feet to the mountain's summit. One mile beyond the parking area is Pisgah Lodge on the mountain crest. With attendant great views, visitors can find food, lodging, gas, campsites, a picnic area, and a gift shop here. The lodge tends to book up early, so reserve a room ahead of time if you want to stay.

The parkway now follows the crest of the mountains on a nearly level route. Look for the Frying Pan Fire Lookout tower on a ridge above the road, a little past the lodge. After some distance, The Cradle of Forestry Overlook appears on the left. Signs at this overlook tell about the birth of modern forestry in the valley far below when it was part of the Biltmore Estate. About 0.8 mile past the forest overlook, drivers reach the junction with US 276. If you do not plan to drive the entire Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (Drive 10), consider making a short side trip down US 276 south toward Brevard to the Cradle of Forestry in America Visitor Center. The center's historic buildings, displays, and living history demonstrations are all very interesting.

Pigeon Gap lies less than a mile past the US 276 junction. Passenger pigeons once flew through here in immense flocks that sometimes numbered in the millions. Hunting and possibly diseases from domestic fowl led to their extinction early in this century. The area along the road to the right after the gap is part of the Shining Rock Wilderness, a 19,000-acre preserve favored by hikers and backpackers. Many miles of trails wind through its high peaks lush forests, and past rushing streams.

An overlook about 5 miles from the US 276 junction offers a good view of Looking Glass Rock. This rocky knob lined with curving cliffs got its name from the sparkling reflections it gives off when wet or icy. Hikers and rock climbers love this peak, which is accessible from trails along Drive 10. In another 1.9 miles, a pullout marks the site of Graveyard Fields. Much of the area here is open or brushy. In 1925, after a long dry spell, hunters started a fire here on Thanksgiving Eve. Burning out of control, it decimated 25,000 acres. The blaze destroyed standing trees, cut timber, logging camps, and slash piles. The fire was so hot that it burned up stumps, roots, and much of the soil itself. Because it so damaged the soil, the area has been slow to recover. Graveyard Fields is a well-known hiker destination because it offers easy access to the Shining Rock Wilderness and high peaks such as 6,214-foot Black Balsam Knob. Another area attraction is Yellowstone Prong (a prong is a creek), visible below the road. The Graveyard Fields Loop Trail leads to three attractive waterfalls and many smaller cascades. In summer, don't expect to have this popular area to yourself.

After another 1.4 miles of parkway, you will pass another trailhead on the right. Routes lead from here to the Shining Rock Wilderness. Another popular parkway stop, known as the Devils Courthouse, follows in 2.2 miles. Legend tells us that the Devil holds court in a cave within the bowels of this mountain. The Cherokee people also speak of a "nice" devil in this place. According to their story, a giant named Judaculla sat in judgment here, condemning people who lacked courage or strayed from virtue (Native American and Cherokee Indian: Rock Art, Stone Symbols, Myths, Legends, and Signs). The Devils Courthouse viewpoint lies at 5,462 feet. A short trail climbs nearly 300 feet to the knob's summit. The top is bare and rocky; without trees to get in the way, the 360-degree views are incredible.

In less than a mile, the parkway reaches Beech Gap and NC 215, which is part of the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (Drive 10). Beyond Beech Gap the parkway turns northwest and passes between two prominent peaks, Mount Hardy and Tanasee Bald. Great views are plentiful in the next few miles as you travel along the crest of the Great Balsam Mountains. Along the right (north) side of the road, the Middle Prong Wilderness contains rugged terrain. The Cowee Mountains Overlook, about 7.4 miles past the NC 215 junction, gives visitors an impressive panorama of the mountains and valleys to the south and west.

The road soon climbs to an elevation of more than 6,000 feet and reaches the highest point on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,047-foot Richland Balsam Overlook. Nearby Richland Balsam Mountain is the highest peak in the Great Balsams, rising 6,410 feet. If you hike the short nature trail that leaves from the overlook, wear a sweater; it's usually quite cool up here, even in summer. The surrounding forest of Fraser fir and red spruce indicates a cool, wet climate. During cooler times, such as during the last ice age, this Canadian-type forest grew farther down the mountain slopes. As the climate warmed, the trees retreated upward to scattered high peaks and ridges. Sadly, as is obvious here, many of the Southern Appalachian firs are dying from an insect pest known as the balsam woolly adelgid. The red spruces are also not very healthy, victims of acid rain.

From Richland Balsam Overlook, the parkway begins to head downhill. The town of Waynesville and a large, ugly quarry soon become visible below you, on the right. The town is noted for its apple orchards. After a long, 12.5-mile descent, you will reach a low point of 3,370 feet at Balsam Gap. The gap has long been a travel route across the Great Balsam Mountains and was used by the Cherokees before Europeans arrived. Later settlers adopted the route when they arrived on the scene. In 1883, the Southern Railroad built a line through the gap, the highest point on a standard-gauge railroad in the eastern United States. Busy US 23/US 74 also crosses the gap and the parkway here. After traveling down the quiet parkway, the roar of trains and heavy traffic here can be a bit of a shock.

From Balsam Gap, the parkway once again begins a long climb, reaching a second high point in 7.6 miles. Here, at 5,718-foot Waterrock Knob Overlook, visitors can look at exhibits, walk a trail, and find a bathroom. Waterrock Knob rises in the distance to 6,292 feet, making it the second highest peak in the Great Balsam Mountains. It also marks the point where the Plott Balsam Mountains join the Great Balsams. The knob was named for a popular spring that once poured over the rock. Not surprisingly, the all-encompassing view from the top is wonderful.

From Waterrock Knob, the parkway descends once again, this time to Soco Gap and a junction with busy US 19. Like other similar gaps, this one has long been a popular travel route. The Cherokee people remember the gap as a place where they ambushed and defeated a large group of invading Shawnees in the mid-1700s. From Soco Gap, the parkway climbs yet again, reaching the boundary of the Cherokees' Qualla Reservation in about 1.8 miles. A series of wars with white settlers and other Indian tribes pushed the Cherokees out of North Carolina by 1838. They were forcibly removed to a reservation in Oklahoma via the well-named Trail of Tears. During the removal, a band of refugees hid in these mountains while their white agent, Will Thomas, purchased land for them. In time they were allowed to return to this land, which makes up part of the present-day reservation.

About 2.7 miles from Soco Gap, the parkway arrives at 5,100-foot Wolf Laurel Gap. Here Balsam Road leads into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where there is a campground, picnic area, hiking trails, overlooks, and a back route to the town of Cherokee. Beyond this junction, the parkway descends through the reservation, dropping off the Balsam Range past overlooks and through tunnels. In about 11 miles, the parkway ends after crossing the Oconaluftee River at Newfound Gap Road. You are now in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can turn left to go a short distance into the busy tourist town of Cherokee, or turn right to get to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and a route into the heart of the park.