If you’re a mountain lover, then you know that the Blue Ridge Mountains offer some of the most picturesque views in America. The Blue Ridge Parkway makes it even easier to explore as it takes you through North Carolina and Virginia offering gorgeous views at every turn, making it easy to see why this national treasure has been voted “the most beautiful drive in America” by countless publications over the years. Here are some breathtaking pictures of the Blue Ridge Mountains that I’ve taken over the last couple years. Each can be purchased as prints, canvas or other wall art by clicking on the photo or accompanying link. Enjoy!
Humpback Rocks
One of the most accessible hiking trails that I know of, but also one of the busiest. It’s a tough yet short hike up and the views are spectacular, especially at sunrise. If you add this to your travel list, be sure to get there early. Even in the cold it can get pretty packed up on the rocks.
For the image below, I took a quick last minute trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway specifically to catch the sunset at Humpback Rocks. For me, that’s a 1hr 20min then approx. a 45 min hike to hopefully get a beautiful sunset. It did not disappoint, see below. I even witnessed a proposal at the top of the mountain and took their celebratory photo.
Raven’s Roost Overlook
Another really popular spot with a beautiful view that’s easy to get to. If I’m looking for a quick mountain trip for Blue Ridge Parkway photos, there’s a good chance I’ll stop by here because of how close it is to the parkway itself. No hikes or long treks, just a quick pull off. Sunset and then at night is my favorite time to visit Raven’s Roost. You get a really good view of the stars over the valley. See below!
One of My All-Time Favorite Images
I actually took one of my all-time favorite images at Raven’s Roost Overlook, shown below. It was quite crowded that night and I couldn’t really get to a good spot for pictures. So I decided to include everyone in the picture. Reminds me of a drive-in theatre, except with a beautiful sunset.
Sunrise On The Actual Blue Ridge Parkway
These below images were not completely planned. Although I was in the mountains with my camera, the initial spot I was hoping to catch a sunrise at was blocked by trees and wasn’t really any good. I had camped out the night before at Three Ridges, hiked a mile or so back to my car, then just started driving down the parkway hoping to find a good pull-off to capture the sunrise. But it ended up happening right in front of me.
Fall Shots From The Blue Ridge Parkway
These are a few of the fall related images from the area. I wish I had more but don’t make it up there during the peak times as much as I would like. For the below image with the bridge, I took a wrong turn hopping of the parkway and happened to catch this scene. Also just missed a black bear crossing the street where I was. Someone else had pulled over in the same spot.
Max Patch & Mount Mitchell
I’ve made several trips down to this area, even though it’s about 9 hours away, because of the breath-taking views and ease of producing amazing pictures. And Asheville, NC isn’t too far away, so I’ll often include that in a long weekend trip.
Few More Pictures Of The Blue Ridge Mountains
These last couple images are a random assortment of images I’ve taken while exploring the Blue Ridge. I hope to continue adding to this. I’ll start off with a super random but very photogenic snail.
Wrapping Up
I hope you enjoyed my pictures of the Blue Ridge Mountains. All the prints are available for purchase here! They make a perfect addition to any home or office and are sure to brighten up your day as much as they have mine. Just go through the collection to find out more about selecting the right size print for your space and how it will be delivered straight to your door in pristine condition. Thanks again for taking a look at my blog post today – I really appreciate all of your support! Originally posted on my personal photography website.