North Carolina – Blue Ridge Parkway Part 7

Section 6 – mm 295-238

Bill took a 2.3-mile early morning hike at Julian Price Park on the Green Knob Trail around a pond and through a meadow on a hill.

Then we went to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.

The 3600-acre mountain estate of Moses Cone was donated to the National Parks as a public “pleasure-ground” in 1950. It includes the former home (now a craft shop), outbuildings, and 25 miles of carriage trails. We hiked the carriage trail to Flat Top Tower, 2.5 miles one-way. The wide gravel path gently switches back and forth up the mountain.

Barbara climbed the tower and tried to get a panorama despite what she guessed were 30-mph wind gusts.

Barbara on the top of the tower

view from tower

On our way down we took the shortcut paths between the carriage trail switchbacks, shortening the 2.5-mile return hike.

the shortcut path goes straight while the carriage trail zigzagged

We continued driving north along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Barbara was pretty tired, but Bill took a few short hikes on the Cascades Trail,

Lump Trail,

our trailer from Lump Trail

and Jumpingoff Rocks Trail.

Campground: Doughton Park, Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway miles traveled: 57 miles today