Mile
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Hiker Rated
Parking Safety |
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Directions
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Number of Vehicles
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Map &
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Parking area is on north side of USFS 35, 300 feet west of Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 71). Further to the west USFS 35 becomes VA 781 where state maintenance begins. USFS 35 may be gated at the parkway during winter. The location of the parking and trail crossing is indicated by the red marker. GPS: N37.5594 W79.44586 If you use the street view option from the point of the marker labeled Petites Gap Milepost, the west view will show USFS 35.
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The first photo for the Pictures for this section (23) shows the parking area and trail crossing. At the trail crossing the northbound trail to Section 22 goes north (right if coming from parkway). The southbound rail to Section 23 goes lsouth (left). 11/26/2009 Updated 06/30/19
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6
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David Cullen
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Parking for this overlook is at the end of a short access road from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The entrance is at Mile 74.7 of the Blue Ridge parkway. The marker on the attached map indicates the parking area. GPS:N37.5399 W79.4903 Note: People who wish to park overnight should be aware of the following from the Blue Ridge Parkway FAQ page.
Anyone wishing to leave a vehicle in an overlook for approved camping/hiking purposes must contact the Comm Center (828-298-2491) either the day before or the morning of their excursion to advise detailed information regarding their excursion and vehicle.
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A trail leads a few hundred feet from the northeast corner of the parking lot north to the AT. A few feet beyond this intersection is a stone overlook with excellent views west. At the AT junction, the southbound trail is left, the northbound is right. There is also access to the trail at Mile 3.4 from the parking lot. The combination of these two spur trails and the AT between them are designated as a loop. To see a rotatable view from the overlook, go into street view mode on the map. Click on the blue circle near the north end of the parking area. The northbound AT can be seen in the east view while the southbound AT is visible in the south view. 07/01/19
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Ample parking
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David Cullen
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The AT crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile 74.9. No parking here. If you really want to access the trail here, park in the Thunder Ridge Lookout parking area where there is ample parking. See Mile 3.3. Walk along the access road and the parkway to reach crossing. Entrance to parking area is only 0.2 miles east of this crossing. The access road can be seen on the right side of the attached map. The marker on the map indicates the crossing. GPS: N37.5377 W79.4954 If you rotate the street view from this point, the lack of parking opportunities at the crossing will be obvious.
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Rotate the street view on the map to the north to see the northbound trail. Rotate it to the south to see the southbound trail. . 07/01/19
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0 at crossing
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David Cullen
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The AT crosses Blue Ridge parkway at Mile 76.3 of the latter. The AT Guide to Central Virginia calls this Upper Blue Ridge Parkway Crossing. The red marker on the attached map indicates this crossing. GPS: N37.5246 W79.5052. Parking here is very limited at best. It can be used as a drop-off point (as I did when I hiked this section). The Apple Orchard Mt. Parking Overlook is 0.2 miles south at Mile 76.5 of the Parkway. This overlook however is small, hardly more than paved roadside parking. The map shows the position of this overlook. GPS: N37.5221 W79.5040. Rotate the street view at this point from north to east to south to see the overlook parking. If you plan to park overnight be aware of the Blue Ridge Parkway notification rule. Se mm 3.3. From the overlook walk 0.2 miles north to the trail crossing.
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At the crossing, the northbound AT goes west towards Apple Orchard Mt. The street view to the south from the point of the marker shows this. Across the road the northbound trail goes east towards Thunder Hill Shelter. 07/02/19
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0 at crossing 6 at overlook
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David Cullen
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When I was hiking in this area I saw cars parked at the entrance to a gated fire road a short distance north of the trail crossing. GPS: N37.5253 W79.5056 I am not sure of the legality of this but it might be OK if the road or gate are not blocked. It would seen the BRP overnight parking notification would be especially pertinent here. See mm 3.3. 07/02/19
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1-2
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David Cullen
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Sunset Field Overlook is at Mile 78.4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is 14.5 miles south of US 501 and 7.6 miles north of the point where VA 43 enters the Parkway from Bedford, VA. The marker on the attached map indicates the north entrance. GPS:N37.5077 W79.5235 The street views to the north and west from this point shows the overlook parking. USFS 812 is the road going off to the right on the north view. USFS 812 (Parker's Gap Road) soon becomes gravel. People wishing to park overnight should be aware of the BRP notification policy See Mile 3.3
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To reach the trail crossing of Parkers Gap Road (USFS 812) either walk down the road for 0.3 miles or take the Apple Orchard Falls Trail from the parking area. For a short distance this is paved. Via that route it is 0.2 miles to the AT. Go right (northbound) for 0.1 miles to reach the USFS 812 crossing. There is little to no parking at the crossing. The trace of the AT is marked on the map. GPS of crossing: N37.5106 W79.5255 07/02/19
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Ample at Sunset Field
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David Cullen
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USFS 812 leaves the Blue Ridge Parkway at the north end of the Sunset Field Overlook (Mile 78.4 of the parkway) and heads north. The AT crosses USFS 812 0.3 miles from the parkway. See attached map. The marker indicates the crossing. GPS: N37.5106 W79.52255 Note: Vehicle approach from the other direction is not recommended. Although USFS Rd. 812 is passable by car, it winds nearly 10 miles from VA 781 in Arnold Valley through mountainous terrain to the AT.
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Parking right at the AT crossing is virtually non-existent. Fr better parking is available at the nearby Sunset Fields Overlook. This is labeled as Apple Orchard Falls Trailhead on the map. Either walk down US 812 or follow the Apple Orchard Falls Trail (initially paved) 0.2 miles to the AT, then turn right (northbound) on the AT 0.1 miles to the USFS 812 crossing. At the crossing the northbound trail to Section 23 goes east (right if coming via the road from the Parkway) while the southbound goes west (left) to Section 24 07/02/19
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Probably 0 at crossing. Use Sunset Field
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David Cullen
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