Adopt a Trail
The Blue Ridge Parkway has over 100 trails -- covering more than 350 linear miles -- that need our help! Clubs, businesses, families and groups of friends are encouraged to adopt one or more of these trails. Look below for information about the adoption process and for the list of trails that have been adopted or are available for adoption.
Click here for stories about FRIENDS volunteer trail groups and the difference they make on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Adopt-a-Trail Process
- Visit the trail to determine if it is a match for your group or organization. Consider the terrain and length of the trail.
- Review the Trail Maintenance Standards and Adopt-A-Trail Procedure Manual.
- Assess whether your group has sufficient commitment and manpower to maintain the trail for 3 to 5 years.
- Download the Adopt-a-Trail Application or request an application packet by calling 800-228-Park (7275).
- Submit NPS Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) forms for all group members.
- Await approval from the NPS/BRP official in your geographic area before beginning work.
- Once approved, submit regular maintenance forms to report your trail work and hours of service using the downloadable PDF Maintenance Activity Form.
Trail Maintenance Standards
Adopt-A-Trail Procedure Manual
Adopt-A-Trail Group Application
Adopt-An-Overlook Volunteer Application
Official Parkway Trails
Adopted and Available for Adoption
Ridge District Mileposts (MP) 0 - 106
|
MP
|
Name of Trail |
Feet |
Terrain |
Status |
|
5.8
|
Mountain Farm Self-Guiding Trail |
1717 |
? |
ADOPTED Team Bruno
|
|
5.9
|
Mountain Farm Trail |
1320 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Bruno
|
|
8.4
|
Catoctin Trail |
1060 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Tate |
|
8.8
|
Greenstone Self-Guiding Trail |
1060 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Tate |
|
17.6
|
The Priest Trail |
300 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Pingry
|
|
18.4
|
White Rock Falls Connection Trail |
8557 |
moderate
|
available
|
|
19.8
|
White Rocks Falls Trail |
4582 |
??? |
available
|
|
20.0
|
Slacks Overlook Trail |
4752 |
moderate |
available
|
|
26.3
|
Big Spy Mountain Trail |
845 |
moderate |
available
|
|
34.4
|
Yankee Horse Trail |
792 |
moderate |
available
|
|
38.8
|
Boston Knob Trail |
454 |
easy |
available
|
|
47.5
|
Indian Gap Trail |
1254 |
moderate |
available
|
|
55.2
|
White Oak Flats Trail |
729 |
easy |
available
|
|
60.8
|
Otter Creek Trail |
17974 |
moderate |
available
|
|
63.1
|
Otter Lake Trail |
5603 |
moderate |
available
|
|
63.6
|
James River Canal Trail |
685 |
easy |
available
|
|
63.6
|
Trail of Trees Trail |
1478 |
moderate |
available
|
|
74.7
|
Thunder Ridge Trail |
530 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Phillips NBATC
|
|
78.7
|
Apple Orchard Falls Trail |
644 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team Phillips NBATC
|
|
79.7
|
Onion Mountain Loop Trail |
773 |
easy |
available
|
|
83.1
|
Fallingwater Cascades Natl Rec Trail |
7953 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Evans
|
|
83.5
|
Flat Top Natl Rec Trail & Cross Rock Spur |
25796 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Phillips NBATC
|
|
85.7
|
Abbott Lake Trail |
5280 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Barrett
|
|
85.8
|
Peaks Campground Trails |
1799 |
??? |
available
|
|
85.8
|
Peaks Picnic Area Trails |
5471 |
??? |
available
|
|
85.9
|
Elk Run Self-Guiding Trail |
4263 |
easy |
available
|
|
85.9
|
Johnson Farm Loop Trail |
10842 |
moderate |
available
|
|
85.9
|
Harkening Hill Trail & Balance Rock Spur |
17430 |
moderate |
available
|
|
86.0
|
Sharp Top Trail Including Summit |
10560 |
strenuous |
available
|
|
86.1
|
Abbott Lake to Campground Trail |
1584 |
??? |
available
|
|
86.2
|
Buzzards Roost Trail off of Sharp Top |
530 |
??? |
available
|
|
96.0
|
Spec Mine Trail (USFS) |
10769 |
??? |
available
|
|
97.7
|
Glenwood Horse Trail |
??? |
??? |
available
|
Plateau District Mileposts (MP) 106 - 217
|
MP
|
Name of Trail |
Feet |
Terrain |
Status |
|
110.6
|
Stewarts Knob Trail |
638 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Gardner
|
|
114.9
|
Roanoke RiverTrail |
2447 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Desper
|
|
120.4
|
Roanoke Mountain Summit Trail |
1905 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Gardner
|
|
120.5
|
Chestnut Ridge Trail
|
27672
|
moderate
|
ADOPTED Team Craft
|
|
121.4
|
Roanoke Valley Horse Trail |
31160 |
moderate |
available
|
|
123.2
|
Buck Mountain Trail |
2802 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Adams
|
|
154.5
|
Smart View Loop Trail |
7700 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Thompson
|
|
154.5
|
Rennet Bag Trail |
6650 |
??? |
available
|
|
167.1
|
Rock Castle Gorge Natl Rec Trail (includes Hardwood Cove Self-Guiding Nature Trail) |
53000 |
strenuous |
available
|
|
169.0
|
Black Ridge Trail |
10138 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Stringfellow
|
|
169.0
|
Rocky Knob Picnic Loop Trail |
6441 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Hilton
|
|
176.2
|
Mabry Mill Trail |
1003 |
easy |
available
|
|
176.2
|
Mountain Industry Trail |
1786 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Pruehsner
|
|
179.2
|
Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail |
2120 |
moderate |
available
|
|
213.5
|
High Meadow Trail |
5808 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team Bramley
|
|
213.5
|
Fisher Peak Loop Trail |
18500 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team Bramley
|
Highlands District Mileposts (MP) 217 - 305
|
217.5
|
Gully Creek Trail |
13200 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team Fansler
|
|
217.5
|
Cumberland Knob Trail |
3170 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Arrington
|
|
218.6
|
Fox Hunters Paradise Trail |
250 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Arrington
|
|
230.1
|
Little Glade Mill Pond Trail |
2000 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Dillon
|
|
235.2
|
Mountains to Sea Trail from Montogery Rock to Brinegar Cabin |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
238.5
|
Cedar Ridge Trail |
24444 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Merritt
|
|
238.5
|
Bluff Mountain Trail (and Mountains to Sea Section) |
39072 |
moderate |
available |
|
241.0
|
Fodder Stack Trail |
5280 |
moderate |
available |
|
241.0
|
Bluff Primitive Tr (AKA Bluff Ridge) |
14790 |
strenuous |
available |
|
241.0
|
Wildcat Rock Trail |
1003 |
??? |
available |
|
243.7
|
Grassy Gap Fire Road Trail |
36432 |
moderate |
available |
|
243.7
|
Basin Creek Trail |
17424 |
moderate |
available |
|
244.7
|
Flat Rock Ridge Trail |
26400 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Merritt
|
|
244.8
|
Mountains to Sea Basic Creek Overlook to Hwy 18 |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
248.1
|
Mountains to Sea Hwy 18 to NW Trading Post |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
258.8
|
Mountains to Sea NW Trading Post to Hwy 16 |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
260.3
|
Jumpingoff Rocks Trail |
5280 |
easy |
available |
|
264.4
|
The Lump Trail (Includes Mountains To Sea from Lump Overlook to HWY 321 in Blowing Rock) Trail |
1584 |
easy |
available |
|
271.9
|
Cascades Self-guiding Trail |
5174 |
moderate |
available |
|
272.5
|
Tompkins Knob Trail |
3168 |
easy |
available |
|
290.5
|
Thunder Hill Overlook Trails to cemetary and down mountain |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Bass Lake Carriage Trail |
8980 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team Schaedler
|
|
294.0
|
Maze Carriage Trail |
12150 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Mountains-to_sea (Bluffs-South Dist) |
316800 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Rich Mountain Carriage Trail |
22704 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Flat Top Mountain Carriage Trail |
15840 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Watkins Carriage Trail |
17424 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Black Bottom Carriage Trail |
2640 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Deer Park Carriage Trail |
8976 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Duncan Carriage Trail |
13200 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Rock Creek Bridge Carriage Trail |
8980 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Deer Park Carriage Trail #2 |
5296 |
??? |
available |
|
294.0
|
Bridle Path Carriage Trail |
3960 |
??? |
available |
|
294.1
|
Figure-8 Self-Guiding Carriage Trail |
2300 |
??? |
available |
|
294.6
|
Trout Lake Carriage Trail |
5280 |
??? |
available |
|
295.0
|
Mountains To Sea from Carriage Trails to Boone Fork Trail |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
295.9
|
Green Knob Trail |
10560 |
moderate / strenuous |
available |
|
296.2
|
Johns River Road Trail |
5000 |
??? |
available |
|
296.5
|
Boone Fork Trail |
26510 |
moderate / strenuous |
available |
|
297.0
|
Price Lake Loop Trail |
13200 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Schaedler
|
|
298.6
|
Gwyn Memorial Trail |
100 |
??? |
available |
|
299.9
|
Asuti Trail |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
304.4
|
Linn Cove Viaduct Access |
890 |
easy |
available |
Pisgah District Mileposts (MP) 305 - 469
|
MP
|
Name of Trail |
Feet |
Terrain |
Status |
|
305.2
|
Beacon Heights Trail |
1848 |
moderate |
available |
|
305.5
|
Tanawha Trail |
74710 |
easy / moderate |
ADOPTED Team ASU
|
|
308.2
|
Flat Rock Self-Guiding Trail |
3700 |
easy |
available |
|
315.5
|
Camp Creek Trail |
687 |
easy |
available |
|
316.0
|
Linville Falls Picnic Area Trail |
1056 |
??? |
available |
|
316.4
|
Linville Falls Natl Rec Trail |
11090 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team Baggett
|
|
316.4
|
Linville Gorge Trail |
3700 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team Baggett
|
|
316.4
|
Duggers Creek Trail |
1320 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Rosson
|
|
316.5
|
Linville River Bridge Trail |
1056 |
easy |
available |
|
320.8
|
Chestoa View Trail |
3326 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team Smith
|
|
339.5
|
Crabtree Falls Loop Trail |
13200 |
strenuous |
available |
|
345.4
|
Mountains to Sea at Sling Cat Ridge Overlook |
??? |
??? |
available |
|
361.2
|
Glassmine Falls Trail |
270 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
364.2
|
Craggy Pinnacle Trail |
3700 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Mauzy
|
|
364.2
|
Craggy Gardens Self-Guiding Trail |
4200 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
364.3
|
Douglas Falls Trail |
10560 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
366.0
|
Bear Pen Gap |
5280 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
367.2
|
Craggy Vista Trail (From Picnic Area to Shelter & Vista) |
??? |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
374.4
|
Rattlesnake Lodge Trail |
2323 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
382.0
|
Mountain-to-Sea Trail |
528000 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
382.0
|
Folk Art Center ADA Trail |
1716 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
384.3
|
Destination Center Loop Trail |
7497 |
??? |
available |
|
391.0
|
Mountain-to-Sea Loops |
4860 |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
393.7
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Bent Ck - Walnut Cove |
16370 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
396.4
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Walnut Cove - Sleepy Gap |
9510 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
397.3
|
Grassy Knob Trail |
5280 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
397.3
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Sleepy Gap - Chestnut Cove |
4760 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
398.3
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Chestmnut Co - Bent Ck Gap |
15780 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
400.3
|
Shut-In NR Traill/ Bent Ck Gap - Beaver Dam Gap |
10040 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
401.7
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Beaver Dam Gap - Stoney Bald |
4760 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
402.6
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Stoney Bald - Big Ridge |
6340
|
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
403.6
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Big Ridge - Mills Rvr Vall |
5810 |
moderate / strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
404.5
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Mills Rvr Val - Elk Pasture Gap |
6340 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
405.5
|
Shut-In NR Trail/Elk Pasture Gap - Mt Pisgah |
10040 |
strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
407.6
|
Mt Pisgah Trail |
6600 |
moderate / strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
407.6
|
Buck Springs Trail |
5600 |
easy / moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
408.5
|
Frying Pan Mountain Trail |
10032 |
moderate / strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
418.8
|
Graveyard Fields Loop Trail |
11620 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
419.4
|
John Rock Trail |
530 |
easy |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
422.4
|
Devil's Courthouse Trail |
2270 |
moderate / strenuous |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
427.6
|
Bear Pen Gap Trail |
1162 |
easy |
available |
|
431.0
|
Richland Balsam Self-Guiding Trail |
6150 |
moderate |
ADOPTED Team Miller
|
|
433.8
|
Roy Taylor Overlook Trail |
250 |
easy |
available |
|
443.0
|
Mountains to Sea Trail South of Balsam Gap |
??? |
??? |
ADOPTED Team CMC
|
|
451.2
|
Waterrock Knob Trail |
2700 |
moderate / strenuous |
ADOPTED Team Philyaw
|
|
458.2
|
Masonic Marker Trail |
1500 |
??? |
available |
