Sometimes things don’t go as planned. When they don’t, go south. Well, that’s what worked for Charlie and I when we ended up at Doughton Recreation Area (aka Doughton Park) instead of Cumberland Knob.

We regularly send our campground guests to Cumberland Knob. They always come back with positive comments. So, when a warm day in December dawned, we thought our chance to test the trails had come. We grabbed our boots, filled up our water bottles and loaded up the dogs for the fifteen-mile drive. The locked gates when we arrived dashed our excitement. Not to be deterred, we continued on the Blue Ridge Parkway realizing that the most northern section of North Carolina’s BRP is one we hadn’t explored.

Views and More Views

Our first stop was High Piney Spur overlook. The panoramic view of mountains, rolling hills and farmland was stunning. The next notable site was Stone Mountain Overlook, which came just after the intersection with Highway 21 that takes visitors to Sparta or to Roaring Gap. From the overlook, you clearly see the granite face of Stone Mountain State Park (NC) from an angle that emphasizes its immensity.

I’m sure most people don’t think about the BRP in the winter. If you decide to go, you won’t be disappointed. The view from every overlook is breathtaking. Ice draping over the rocks and cliffs is magical. The bare trees present a silhouetted beauty accented with green rhododendron leaves, bubbling streams and herds of deer.

Before setting out in the winter (actually any season) check the BlueRidgeParkway.org or National Park Service websites to check for on closures.

Doughton Park

After thirty-five miles, we passed the sign for Doughton Park (NC), which is the largest recreation area on the BRP. Brinegar Cabin was our first stop. The same family inhabited the 125-acre farm for over sixty years. The cabin and out-buildings are in remarkable shape. The educational placards outline the back-breaking work and dedication it took to live in these mountains in the early 1900s.

At the end of the parking lot, we found the Cedar Ridge Trail, which connects to the Mountain to Sea Trail. Our two-mile round-trip hike along a ridge traversed thick forests where the rhododendrons arch over the path. The view stretched for hundreds of miles all around us. There are no sounds but your footsteps and birds calling. After the hike, we drove through the park finding a picnic area, more trails and two campgrounds. The campgrounds are open June through October. The historic Bluffs Restaurant is slated to open spring of 2021.

We ended the day in Laurel Springs, NC at Freeborne Eatery and Lodge. After an early dinner and a cup of coffee, we headed back to FGCC. When the next warm day comes our way, the Cedar Ridge Tail and another stop in Laurel Springs will top our list of day trips.