Rough Ridge Trail
Hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway - 2015 - Rough Ridge (Boulder Field)
This is a hike I have done some many times. The first was in 2010 and I also have some video from my early Samsung Android. While smart phones took great pictures in 2010, the video was no where near this good. I have had to reduce the quality some for youtube, but I am impressed with the phone optics.
This YT channel shows progress of smart phones, particularly Samsung/Android. Basically I have updated my smart phone annually since 2010 and have stayed with Samsung.
This is a great day hike and I highly recommend it. It is north of the Viaduct near Grandfather Mountain. You take a trail to a deck for amazing views, and then can continue the hike to the top for more views. At the top you can see the deck from the last main stop (there are also many views along the way) and a great well maintained trail.
This trail will take you to the lookout south of Rough Ridge at Wilson Creek. Before Wislon creek are some great rock formations that I never can capture with my smart phone or prior years with the handy cam (See end of video). You just have to see this one.
This time I turned around and hiked back after resting at the interesting rock formations. You can make it a loop and hike from Wilson Creek overlook and walk the parkway back to Rough Ridge overlook.
Trail Just Off Blue Ridge National Parkway Near Whittier, NC
Was driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway near Whittier, NC. Found a trail off the parkway and decided to drive down. Was driving a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ 2 lift, 31 tires, and a 3.7 V6. Shot in 4K via an iPhone 6s Plus
Amazing Winter Drive! - NC Highway 105 & Wiseman's View
Old NC 105 is one of the hidden gems of scenic driving in the Eastern United States. The sometimes rough dirt road twists and turns its way along the western rim of the rugged Linville Gorge, with amazing views of Shortoff Mountain, Lake James, the Catawba Valley, Spence Ridge, the Chimneys, Table Rock, Hawksbill Mountain and much more. It's a wild and surprising ride that's best taken when the leaves are off the trees so you can peek at the jagged landscapes to the east, and the higher Appalachians to the west. In this video I show the drive up from the Paddy's Creek end where the pavement ends on the southeast, and continue up to the popular Wiseman's view, where many people claim to have seen the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights. I end up with some views from Wiseman's View shot with my GoPro Hero 3 on the end of a 13-foot golf ball retriever. Still shots were taken with a Nikon D5100. Hope this makes everyone want to come experience western North Carolina - even in the dead of winter!
Here are coordinates for where this video starts - at the end of the paved road on Old NC 105: +35°47'29.88, -81°55'17.22
Viaduct Caves Hiking Tanawha Trail
Hiking North Carolina Mountains. This video I explore Caves along Tanawha Trail and Viaduct in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina . The trail is accessible from Viaduct lookout on Blue Ridge Parkway NC.
Green Knob Lookout Tower - Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
The NC High Peaks Association rarely opens the Green Knob lookout tower cab, and I always seem to miss it. Except on April 14. Since the tower was only open from 8-12, I decided to drive up to the Green Knob Overlook and skip the longer hikes. Thanks to the association, the trail from the parkway is in great shape and easy to spot. Years ago when I hiked from the south the trail was completely obscured by branches. Unfortunately the combination of clouds and gnarly wind made it difficult to take good pictures with my phone. It was still nice seeing the top of the tower. It is in fantastic shape, and is kind of a shame that it remains closed year-round. I stopped by the north view from the trail, and also checked out the water access trail for the first time. There is a large, cement block with a faucet tap, but nothing came out. It is likely that years of rust, cement collapse, and clogging has made the spring box useless. I also included clips from the Mt. Mitchell Overlook and Black Mountains Overlook taken on the way to my next hike.
Hike was 1.4 miles with 787 feet elevation gain in 45 minutes.
Hike location
Blue Ridge Parkway Near Doughton Park, N.C.
Recorded on August 25, 2010 using a Flip Video camcorder.
Doughton Park Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Mountains on the Parkway, Craggy Gardens North Carolina Montanas
fantastic views of Blue Ridge mountains Recorded on August 14, 2011 using a Flip Video camcorder.
Linn Cover Viaduct MP304 and Tanawha Trail
The Linn Cover Viaduct at MP304 and the connecting Tanawha Trails are hiking at it's best. Located close to many nice spots for hiking camping and fishing, this trail just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina Appalachian Mountains is a good one to take.
You do get noise from vehicles on the parkway from some of the rocks that you can relax on, but it is neat as the Viaduct is interesting as is the traffic that crosses. There were always nice breaks between traffic, but I typically hike several miles back into the woods to get away from machines, however the Viaduct has a some sweet views... then consider how far you can go along the trail systems.
The viaduct trail starts on a paved trail that allows an easy access to views of the viaduct road structure and the NC mountains, and then the trail continues and junctions with other trails alone the Tanawha Trail System.
6. The Blue Ridge Parkway Exemplifying the Evolution of the NPS Planning and Design
Woody Ridge and Colbert Ridge loop - Pisgah National Forest, NC
Beautiful weather on the first day of October for hiking in the Black Mountains. I tackled a loop that I did a few years before in reverse. The Woody Ridge Trail is one of the steepest sustained climbs in the state, with an elevation change over 2,900 ft in 2.6 miles. This is the best access to the northern Blacks and the best stretch of the Black Mountain Crest Trail. There are two nice viewpoints near the top of Woody Ridge, the second being a large cliff with big views northeast. I think this actually might be Horse Rock. The maps are very inconsistent with the labeling of Horse Rock and Percys Peak at the crest.
When I reached the Black Mountain Crest Trail I first did a side trip north to Horse Rock Meadows below Celo Knob, which has the best views in the region. On my way south I bagged Gibbs Mountain (6,220 ft) using an overgrown flagged manway, which was the last significant peak I hadn't bagged in the Blacks. There are more great views on the rocky ridge between Gibbs and Winter Star where I stopped for lunch. After the descent from Winter Star to Deep Gap there are no more open views. The upper third of the Colbert Ridge Trail was rough. Halfway down I left the main trail on primitive forest road to connect with old forest roads on the east side of the range, eventually connecting to the Woody Ridge parking lot. This connection via a myriad of old roads is consistently flagged, thanks to Rick Morris and PHOC for tracking this route. Last time I completed the loop by walking 4+ miles on the highway, so this was definitely quicker.
This is a long video, and could've been much longer. I cut about 10 minutes of clips. So enjoy it however you want, it's kind of an accidental love letter from me to the Black Mountains haha.
Hike was 11.2 miles in 7 hours and 15 minutes.
Hike location
Hike report
Blue Ridge Parkway - Craggy Gardens section hike of Douglas Falls Trail
The waterfall is about a 4.5 mile hike each way (down and then up for 9 miles total). I have been taking this trail to the intersection of Mountain to Sea Trail (around 2 miles) and have not made it to the waterfall ...yet. Last time I took this hike was after hiking the ridge at Mt Mitchell. I came here next and did the trail to the crazy looking tee. I think the tree has been hit by lightening.
Craggy Gardens is South of Mt Mitchell on the Parkway before Asheville.
There are several hikes including the Pinnical Trail (0.7 miles).
The tree that favors a deer or whatever you think (leave a comment) is from South of Asheville neat Mt Pisgah. It is at the Looking Glass Roack Lookout at Mile Marker 417 and known as Skinny Dip Falls.
Beacon Heights @ Blue Ridge Parkway ( Best Hiking Trails NC )
Cosmic Woodsman here and welcome to the new nature adventures channel!
Here I'll be posting videos and picture slideshows from my outdoor adventures (hikes, climbs, builds, camps, exploration, etc.)
I love to hike and free climb mountain spots and I have some beautiful footage and pictures to share!
So turn on those notifications and stay tuned for nature videos, primitive shelter builds and more!!
Follow me on IG and twitter: Cosmic Woodsman Photography
Camping, shelters, survival, climbing, hiking, mountains, woodlands, outdoors, wildlife, adventure, woods, primitive living, bush craft, cooking, caves, exploring, gathering, primitive skills, GoPro, camp, backpacking, solo, shelter, vlog, vlogs, nature,
Cosmic Woodsman
Beacon Heights @ Blue Ridge Parkway ( Best Hiking Trails NC )
North Carolina - Blowing Rock - Green Knob Trail
Hike Around the Green Knob Trail Near Blowing Rock NC.
A big woobuddy for Shug Emery
From our adventures at the Linville Gorge at the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. A must see viewpoint called Wiseman's View not far from Linville Falls. I don't recommend hitting the trails without a map though!
Nantahala National Forest, NC - August 2017
Times Like These - Jack Johnson
Hiking the Nantahala Headwaters Loop along the AT, August 9-13, 2017
Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors and Hiking
We went for a drive and hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway in October of 2019. Ended up doing the Rough Ridge and Linville Falls Hikes. All the videos were taken with a DJI Osmo Pocket. It was quite windy and we didn't have our mic adapter setup so we apologize for the audio in some of the clips.
Music:
Hiking Chimney Rock State Park North Carolina
Follow along as we hike the steep and majestic Chimney Rock trail system. Please note that there is a noteworthy per person fee as you enter the park in your vehicle. At the time of this video release it cost our family of four (two children and two adults) $44 total. Additionally, the road up to the parking lots is somewhat treacherous as there are many switchbacks as you go up and down in a car, so take it easy and be wary of vehicles (especially buses) cutting corners.
Pretty sure we hiked every trail, and our favorite by far was the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. In second place was Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock is pretty amazing but the crowds are going to be large because you have access via an elevator from one of the parking lots. This opens up the outlook to people who normally could not make the hike on the stair system up the mountain, hence the larger crowds.
From Chimney Rock you can continue up into the forest and all the way to the top of the falls. But, as you will see in our video, the work and effort to get to the top of the falls is not necessarily worth the awe factor once you get there.
LINKS...
Chimney Rock State Park Website:
Cameras and gear:
1. Gitup G3 Duo Action Camera Pro:
2. Sony A6300 mirrorless camera:
3. SanDisk 32GB Micro SD:
4. Selfie Stick (actually a laundry rod):
5. Phone Holder:
6. Tactical AO Knife (less than $10!):
Green Knob Overlook - Blue Ridge Parkway
Green Knob Overlook - Blue Ridge Parkway NC
A couple pictures and a short video from an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway from August 2015.
Blue Ridge Parkway by David Neal Carroll
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY by David Neal Carroll
Way back when in 1935, FDR was up on Skyline Drive
Build a road from Shenandoah Park
To the Great Smokey Mountains way down south
It took 26 tunnels to get that road put in
Stopped for WWII, but it started again
Take you 16 hours to drive it all the way
Over 50 years of work the American Way
(C) Talkin' 'bout the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway
From Humpback Rock all the way to Cherokee
The Linn Cove Viaduct almost brought defeat
But it kept on blastin' rock, fire in the hole
Spirit to succeed is in the soul
(Chorus)
(Bridge)Mile 1 ~ it's lookin' tough, you know we've just begun
Mile 20 ~ White Rock Falls, land of milk and honey
Mile 60 ~ Otter Creek, they don't play there anymore, but People do....
Mile 216.9 ~ That's the State Line
Mile 316.3 ~ Grand Canyon of the East
Mile 469~ That's the end of the line
For the Blue Ridge Parkway
You can build a road, a country or a man
That's the only way our kids will understand
What made this country grow up strong and pure
On a bed of rock we stand safe and secure
America needed work right here at home
We put our sweat and bucks into our own
Help your brother, reaching out your hand
Keep the promise in the Promised Land
(Bridge - uploaded via