BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS - NORTH CAROLINA

The Blue Ridge Mountains are noted for their bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color. The highest peak in the Blue Ridge (and in the entire Appalachian chain) is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet (2,037 m). There are 39 peaks in North Carolina and Tennessee higher than 6,000 feet ; by comparison, only New Hampshire's Mt. Washington rises above 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in the northern portion of the Appalachian chain.

Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks: the Shenandoah National Park in the northern section and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern section. The Blue Ridge also contains the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile long scenic highway that connects the two parks and is located along the ridge crestlines with the Appalachian Trail.

North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains region includes the counties that make up the Blue Ridge Mountains, plus all of the counties bordering Tennessee and having the Black Mountains. Some of the most scenic views in the entire Eastern United States are found here. Get around using the drop-down box on the right or by clicking on a county on the map below.
To visit the Smoky Mountains click here.

You can locate any town or city in the state by clicking here.
Each county will have links to places in that county... what to do, where to stay, where to eat, shop, local county real estate agencies... and much more.