I concluded my June 2017 drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a twenty mile segment from Cascades Parking Overlook at mile 271.9 to the interchange with US 221 north of Blowing Rock at mile 298.1.
The Cascades Parking Overlook, as well as the Cascades Trail, is part of the 600 acre E. B. Jeffress Park established in 1968. In 1934, Mr. Jeffress was the Chairman of the North Carolina Highway Commission. In that capacity, he successfully campaigned against making the Blue Ridge Parkway a toll road.
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| Several picnic tables at Cascades Overlook |
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| Blue Ridge and Yadkin River Valley from Elk Mountain Overlook at mile 274.3 |
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| Stony Fork Valley from the overlook at mile 277.3 |
Distant views on both sides of the parkway are visible at View Osborne Mountain Overlook at mile 277.9. However, trees block the view of Osborne Mountain.
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| Wildcat Creek drainage area |
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| Elk Ridge |
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| A grand view from Grandview Overlook at mile 281.4 |
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| View from Raven Rocks Overlook at mile 289.5 |
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| Yadkin Valley from the overlook at mile 289.8 |
The Thunder Hill Overlook at mile 290.4 also provides views on both sides of the parkway. In addition, the Mountain to Sea Trail (MST) also crosses the parkway at this location.
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| Green Hill in Blowing Rock |
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| MST across the parkway from the overlook |
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| View from MST at fence |
Entry to the parkway is free.
The parkway website is https://www.nps.gov/blri.
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