Blue Ridge Parkway Prepares for 2017 Visitor Season

As spring begins, staff along the Blue Ridge Parkway are preparing campgrounds for visitors, planning engaging family programs, and readying other facilities for the millions of visitors that enjoy the Parkway each year. This historic, 469-mile route, and National Park Service site, is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country, providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to make meaningful connections to the nature, history, and culture of the southern Appalachian mountain region.

Visitors to Parkway campgrounds need to be aware of two changes for the upcoming season. Beginning May 1, 2017, only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought onto the Parkway. Campers may also collect dead and down wood found in the immediate vicinity of campgrounds and picnic areas.

Additionally, the overnight camping fee on the Parkway will be $20.00. “We are committed to keeping the Parkway camping opportunities affordable and providing visitors with the best possible experience,” said Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods. “The funds generated from camping fees are used to maintain and improve existing campground infrastructure such as picnic tables, tent pads, and visitor facilities.”

The first step in bringing business back to the historic Bluffs operations at Doughton Park, near Milepost 241, will also occur with the reopening of the camp store (previously a gas station) at that site later in May.

Parkway visitors are always reminded to take time to carefully plan their visit. Considering its unique design, the Parkway drive is different than most and this can mean taking extra care to ensure a safe visit. Information is available to help plan a memorable and safe Parkway experience on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/blri, the real time road map site at www.nps.gov/maps/blri/road-closures/, in any Parkway visitor center, and by following Parkway social media sites with the handle @BlueRidgeNPS.

Schedule of opening dates and times can be found here https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com The Smoky Mountain Hiker is the author of the Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog and the online trail guide, HikingintheSmokys.com

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