Milepost 440 to the Parkway End
We woke up early and were back on the Parkway by 8AM. It is only a short drive to the end of the Parkway in Cherokee, NC. We stopped many times along the way to take photos at scenic overlooks. We enjoyed the Waterrock Knob area at milepost 451.
We arrived in Cherokee by mid morning and stopped to take a photo of the last mile marker. The end of the Parkway is in the Cherokee Indian Reservation and at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We stopped at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center and picked up information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The best value at the Visitors Center was the $5 Introduction Kit. This kit has ample information about the National Park including hiking trails and auto tours. We will spend a few days exploring the park before heading home on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
When you stop at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, just inside the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to take a walk on
the River Trail. It is a 1.5 mile trail in each direction for a total of 3 miles to and from your car. This trail is next to the Oconaluftee River and wildflowers were abundant in late April. The trail actually goes under the last bridge of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bring your camera for many photo opportunities.
Later in the d
ay, we drove into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and visited Clingmans Dome. There is a half mile hike to the observation deck. This is a paved walkway with benches along the way. Be warned that this trail is steep, but the views are worth the effort.
We also drove to Gatlinburg, TN on the other side of the National Park but found this area to be too touristy. We quickly returned to Cherokee.
We had a BBQ dinner at Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery. They had a nice buffet with their famous pulled pork BBQ. It was a nice dinner for $10 each.
We woke up early and were back on the Parkway by 8AM. It is only a short drive to the end of the Parkway in Cherokee, NC. We stopped many times along the way to take photos at scenic overlooks. We enjoyed the Waterrock Knob area at milepost 451.
We arrived in Cherokee by mid morning and stopped to take a photo of the last mile marker. The end of the Parkway is in the Cherokee Indian Reservation and at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We stopped at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center and picked up information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The best value at the Visitors Center was the $5 Introduction Kit. This kit has ample information about the National Park including hiking trails and auto tours. We will spend a few days exploring the park before heading home on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
When you stop at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, just inside the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to take a walk on
the River Trail. It is a 1.5 mile trail in each direction for a total of 3 miles to and from your car. This trail is next to the Oconaluftee River and wildflowers were abundant in late April. The trail actually goes under the last bridge of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bring your camera for many photo opportunities.
Later in the d
ay, we drove into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and visited Clingmans Dome. There is a half mile hike to the observation deck. This is a paved walkway with benches along the way. Be warned that this trail is steep, but the views are worth the effort.We also drove to Gatlinburg, TN on the other side of the National Park but found this area to be too touristy. We quickly returned to Cherokee.
We had a BBQ dinner at Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery. They had a nice buffet with their famous pulled pork BBQ. It was a nice dinner for $10 each.
