Rocky Knob / Blue Ridge Parkway
Rocky Knob Recreation Area | Mabry Mill | Blue Ridge Parkway | Meadows of Dan, VA | August 2023
We began our time on the Blue Ridge Parkway in and around the Rocky Knob Recreation Area. We entered the Parkway in Meadows of Dan, VA, and drove 10 miles up the road to our first campsite. We were honestly shocked to find it nearly empty — why is everyone suffering on the hot and humid coast when the mountains are so much cooler? We happily claimed a spot and paid for 2 nights.
On our first evening here, we crossed the road and walked a trail through a pasture to watch the sunset at the Saddle Overlook. The sunset was lovely, and the moonrise and clouds were equally as beautiful. We enjoyed a much more comfortable and restful night camping here than the night before on the coast.
Since we had spent the day before driving across North Carolina, we decided to take it easy on our second day and just enjoy the lookouts and attractions nearest to our campground. After a slow morning waking up and enjoying breakfast, we drove down to Mabry Mill and walked the interpretive trail. The Mill is very picturesque; so much so that it’s known as the most photographed spot along the Parkway. Normally walking the interpretive trail would take 30 minutes tops, but we took our time, played Pokemon, attempted a letterbox, and let Charlotte nap in the grass. There was a steady stream of people walking through, but it was still enjoyable. Before leaving, we checked the restaurant to see if we could take something to go, but it turned out to be dine in only. Thankfully we could still get ice cream and eat outside with Charlotte.
After our time here, we drove a little further up the road to another lookout, where we stopped to read, do some work, and let Charlotte sniff around and take another nap in the shade. Curtis went on a short hike to look for another letterbox.
That evening, we drove to the same lookout we had hiked to the night before to see the sunset again. This time, we hiked up to the little hut and summit of the knob. There was some scent that Charlotte picked up on the steps of the shelter which spooked her out, but we saw nothing unusual so we’ll never know what it was. That evening, we enjoyed another quiet and cool night in the Rocky Knob campground.
The next morning, we packed up to continue our slow drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tonight’s chosen spot was the Peaks of Otter Campground, which was only a couple of hours away. Along the way, we stopped to hike a short trail to another lookout near Roanoke, VA. Curtis chose it because it looked to be easy enough for Charlotte and it had a letterbox on it. Unfortunately there wasn’t really a view, but that’s alright because the Parkway has plenty of views to enjoy.
We made it to Peaks of Otter, and found the campground just as quiet as the one before. We decided that the Blue Ridge Parkway might just be the best kept secret in the summer. The best way to escape the heat, humidity, and the crowds that normally make the East Coast so unappealing to us. We talked to another ranger that told us the “busy season” is really in the Fall when the leaves are changing. We’ll remember this whenever we find ourselves having to return to Wilmington in the future!
