The Blue Ridge Mountains are famed for their stirring scenic vistas, and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Fall is arguably the crème de la crème.
My wife Emma and I both have October birthdays, and autumn is our favorite time of year for many reasons.
As avid gardeners, it means the fruits of our labors are coming in. As nature lovers, it means the weather is getting cooler and the Fall colors in NC are reaching their peak.
Luckily for us, we live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, just a mile from Doughton Park (the largest recreation area on the Blue Ridge Parkway).
So we get to see all those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Fall colors without even leaving home!
Still, we always make an annual road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Fall to sample what’s happening at all the amazing overlooks, waterfalls and BRP hikes.
With over 469 miles of scenic roadway, there are 200+ Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks to soak in, and we’re fortunate to have some humdingers near our house.
Read on for our in-depth guide to the 20 best overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway for Fall color, including photos, descriptions of what you’ll see, and a handy map for planning your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels & Cabin Rentals in NC & VA
Blue Ridge Parkway in Fall Guide
- Ravens Roost Overlook (Milepost 10.7)
- 20-Minute Cliff Overlook (MP 19)
- Lower Otter Creek Overlook (MP 62.5)
- James River Overlook (MP 63.7)
- Thunder Ridge Overlook (MP 74.7)
- Apple Orchard Mountain Overlook (MP 76.5)
- Peaks of Otter Overlook (MP 86)
- The Great Valley Overlook (MP 99.6)
- Devil’s Backbone Overlook (MP 143.9)
- Mabry Mill (MP 176.1)
- Price Lake Overlook (MP 296.7)
- Rough Ridge Overlook (MP 302.8)
- Linn Cove Viaduct Overlook (MP 304.4)
- Beacon Heights Overlook (MP 305.2)
- Grandfather Mountain Overlook (MP 306.6)
- Craggy Dome Overlook (MP 364.1)
- Tanbark Ridge Overlook (MP 376.7)
- Looking Glass Rock Overlook (MP 417)
- Devil’s Courthouse Overlook (MP 422)
- Cowee Mountains Overlook (MP 430)
READ MORE: 20 Things to Do in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
1. Ravens Roost Overlook (Milepost 10.7)
Located near the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 10.7, the Ravens Roost Overlook stands about 1,800 feet above the Shenandoah Valley, and a whopping 3,200 feet above sea level.
In other words, there’s an awful lot of vivid Virginia fall foliage to see from up there!
This spot faces west and is great for catching sunsets. It also has lots of cool rocky outcrops and a photogenic tree.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Waynesboro VA (Augusta County)
2. 20-Minute Cliff Overlook (Milepost 19)
Located at MP 19, the 20-Minute Cliff Overlook offers a magical panorama of the Blue Ridge Mountains scenery.
It’s set high above a valley, with mountains coming in perpendicularly, and is a fantastic place for an afternoon picnic.
The site is called 20-Minute Cliff because, when viewed from the Virginia mountain town of White Rock in summer, the sun disappears almost exactly 20 minutes after hitting the face of the rocks.
READ MORE: Where are the Blue Ridge Mountains? A State-by-State Guide
3. Lower Otter Creek Overlook (Milepost 62.5)
Not all vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains have to be expansive views that stretch into the horizon.
Located at MP 62.5, the Lower Otter Creek Overlook offers terrific views of the creek and bridges, as well as the 3.5-mile Otter Creek Trail.
When they’re juxtaposed with the drab colors of the water and stone, the Virginia autumn leaves in this area really pop to make for something exquisitely tranquil.
We also love Otter Lake (one of our favorite little lakes in Virginia), which is just around the corner.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lexington VA & Natural Bridge VA
4. James River Overlook (Milepost 63.7)
The James River Overlook at MP 63.7 offers amazing views of the river itself, but it also has a visitor center, picnic area, and several hiking trails.
In our experience it’s a must-do stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, not to mention a great place for fishing, kayaking, and other water-based activities.
Plus, rivers and lakes offer a 2-for-1 deal with Blue Ridge Mountains fall colors: Not only do you see it on the trees, but it’s reflected in the water as well!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Places for River Tubing in Virginia
5. Thunder Ridge Overlook (Milepost 74.7)
Located at BRP Milepost 74.7, the Thunder Ridge Overlook provides elevated looks at both the Thunder Ridge Wilderness Area and the James River Face Wilderness Area.
It’s also situated along the Appalachian Trail in VA, and the Thunder Ridge trail is 1/10 of a mile on the world-renowned 2190-mile hiking route.
But the overlook is equally well-known for its picturesque beauty: The stone platform is frequently used as a setting for wedding and engagement photos.
READ MORE: Camping and Hiking in Natural Bridge State Park, VA
6. Apple Orchard Mountain Overlook (Milepost 76.5)
Located at MP 76.5, this popular BRP overlook isn’t actually for seeing Apple Orchard Mountain.
Instead, it’s all about looking out from Apple Orchard Mountain, which is the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia (4,224 feet).
Part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, the mountain gets its name due to resembling an abandoned apple orchard with lichen-covered trees.
READ MORE: Apple Picking in Virginia: The 15 Best VA Apple Orchards to Visit
7. Peaks of Otter Overlook (Milepost 86)
A historic bastion of mountain relaxation in Virginia, the Peaks of Otter has been serving tourists as a place of respite for centuries now.
There is a Peaks of Otter Lodge, visitor center, campground, picnic area, living history at the Johnson Farm, a bridge, and lots of hiking trails nearby.
It’s all set around Abbott Lake, with stunning views of Sharp Top Mountain and gorgeous reflections of the Autumn leaves shimmering in the water.
READ MORE: The 13 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds to Visit
8. The Great Valley Overlook (Milepost 99.6)
Forests abound around the Great Valley Overlook, providing the signature vistas of fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway: grand, expansive, and undeniably picturesque.
The Great Valley stretches hundreds of miles, from Quebec all the way south to Alabama. Virginia‘s portion is the largest, with narrow and elongated 3,000- to 4,000-foot ridges.
It once functioned as an important passageway through the Appalachian Mountains region for both Native Americans and European settlers.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Roanoke VA
9. Devil’s Backbone Overlook (Milepost 143.9)
With its jagged rocks and rough surfaces, the Devil’s Backbone at BRP Milepost 143.9 warrants its ominous name. However, the view from the overlook it is anything but scary.
The Devil’s Backbone Overlook mostly offers a view of the valley below, with side dishes of Grassy Hill and Cahas Knob.
Blackwater Valley is a patchwork of farms and fields, making this a bucolic setting for a picnic or leg-stretcher.
READ MORE: The 8 Best Breweries in Roanoke VA, the Heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge
10. Mabry Mill (Milepost 176.1)
Although it’s technically not an overlook, Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia is one of the most popular, most picturesque, and most photographed of the 200+ BRP stops.
And since we aren’t working technically here– we’re looking for vivid autumn colors– it HAS to be on the list!
Mabry Mill operated as an early 20th century grist mill, sawmill, and community center for the Meadows of Dan VA area.
It has a beautiful pond and a historic building with a waterwheel, as well as a great restaurant and occasional living history demonstrations and live music.
READ MORE: The 10 Best National Parks in Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway North Carolina
11. Price Lake Overlook (Milepost 296.7)
The centerpiece of the 4,200-acre Julian Price Memorial Park, Price Lake ranks high among our favorite mountain lakes in North Carolina.
It has all the trimmings you could want from a great Blue Ridge Parkway attraction, including a picnic area, campgrounds, hiking trails, and stunning views almost everywhere you turn.
Price Lake is open for fishing and kayaking, and the overlook offers a stunning photo op of the lake with a magical backdrop of mountains.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Blowing Rock NC
12. Rough Ridge Overlook (Milepost 302.8)
Possibly the best overall spot for Blue Ridge Parkway fall colors in North Carolina, the Rough Ridge Overlook can be accessed by a short, but steep hiking trail.
Located at BRP Milepost 302.8, it’s a 1/3-mile section of the more challenging 13-mile Tanawha Trail.
When you’re hiking to the overlook, the trail will cross over an attractive wooden bridge before beginning to climb a set of rough stone steps up the mountain.
At the top you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Grandfather Mountain, the Linn Cove Viaduct, and the famous Blue Ridge peaks stretching for miles.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Banner Elk NC
13. Linn Cove Viaduct Overlook Trail (Milepost 304.4)
The Linn Cove Viaduct was the final section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be completed. Although construction of the BRP began back in the 1930s, this 7.7-mile stretch wasn’t finished until 1987.
This viaduct is generally considered a marvel of engineering, clinging to the slopes of Grandfather Mountain and protecting the vast stretches of wilderness below it.
While there are certainly better overlooks for viewing the viaduct itself, the Linn Cove Viaduct Overlook Trail is a paved portion of the Tanawha Trail, taking hikers into the forest beneath the structure.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Mount Airy NC (& Surry County)
14. Beacon Heights Overlook (Milepost 305.2)
If you’re seeking wide-angle panoramas, sunrises, and/or sunsets on your Blue Ridge Parkway day trips, you’ll find they’re all available at the Beacon Heights Overlook at MP 305.2.
From here, viewers can spot the majestic peaks of Grandfather Mountain, Grandmother Mountain, Table Rock, and Hawksbill.
Note that making the most of this Blue Ridge Parkway overlook does require trekking a short, steep hiking trail that might deter some folks. But it’s totally worth it for those who can manage the climb!
READ MORE: The 50 Best North Carolina Waterfalls to Visit
15. Grandfather Mountain Overlook (Milepost 306.6)
The Grandfather Mountain Overlook offers views from Grandfather Mountain, rather than providing a view of it.
It’s the tallest mountain in the region, iconic to the area’s original Cherokee inhabitants, and offers sweeping scenic vistas.
Nearby Grandfather Mountain State Park and the privately-owned Grandfather Mountain attraction offer more exploration of the mountain itself, including some great hikes and the famous swinging bridge.
READ MORE: 15 Best Things to Do in Little Switzerland NC (BRP MP 334)
16. Craggy Pinnacle (Milepost 364.1)
There are several awesome viewpoints in the Craggy collection of overlooks just northeast of Asheville. But the 5,892-foot-tall Craggy Pinnacle summit at Craggy Gardens is the very best of them.
It requires an easy-going 1.4-mile hike, but the payoff is a 360º panorama that includes Mount Mitchell (the tallest mountain in the east) and horizons that stretch into Tennessee.
The trail itself is amazing and full of North Carolina wildflowers such as rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and twisted birch trees that have been stunted by the harsh climate of the altitude.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina
17. Tanbark Ridge Overlook (Milepost 376.7)
The history of Tanbark Ridge isn’t so alluring: It’s named after a foul-smelling tannery that was built there in order to keep the odors away from nearby towns.
But the views from the overlook are pretty spectacular, and it’s located just 7.4 miles from downtown Asheville.
The ridge overlooks a small community on Bull Creek Road, with High Swan, High Knob, and Lane Pinnacle serving as a lofty mountain backdrop.
Pisgah National Forest covers the mountain slopes, so you’ll see lots of fall leaves changing color in peak October.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit
18. Looking Glass Rock Overlook (Milepost 417)
Normally, people go to Looking Glass Rock Overlook to admire the shimmering rock face that juts skyward out of the Pisgah National Forest.
Located about 26 miles west of Hendersonville NC at BRP Milepost 417, it’s also home to a popular hiking trail.
However, when autumn arrives, the same viewpoint offers an award-winning perspective of the famous forest changing to glorious gold, red, and orange before the arrival of winter.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places for Horseback Riding In/Near Asheville NC
19. Devil’s Courthouse Overlook (Milepost 422)
Rising through spruce forests, the Devil’s Courthouse is a dark swath of exposed rock that has inspired ghost stories dating back to Cherokee legends.
This overlook is located at BRP Milepost 422, about 25 miles northwest of Brevard NC.
While spruce are evergreens, the forest surrounding the Devil’s Courthouse is dotted with deciduous hardwoods that make the contrast of conifer, rock, and autumn leaves all the more stunning.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Waynesville NC & Haywood County
20. Cowee Mountain Overlook (Milepost 430)
Located just north of Richland Balsam, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll find the Cowee Mountain Overlook at BRP Milepost 430.
This overlook sits at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level and offers up an endless expanse of Blue Ridge Mountain ridges for viewers to appreciate.
It faces southeast and offers an uninterrupted 180º panorama, making it an ideal spot for seeing the sunrise. –by Jonathon Engels; featured photo of the Chestnut Cove Overlook by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
