There are many spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway, such as the picnic grounds at Craggy Gardens, where repairs are needed/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

The Blue Ridge Parkway makes access to nature easy, providing so many opportunities to enjoy spectacular trails, mountain views, campouts, and outdoor adventures. For decades, the iconic national park, known as America’s Favorite Journey, has served as a source of pride for those lucky enough to call the Blue Ridge Mountains home.

Sadly, that is changing. More and more, visits reveal eroded hiking trails and worn-out boardwalks. Many campgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms have gone from rustic to rundown. Overlooks are overgrown. Trail signs and historical markers are damaged or even missing. 

As the National Park Service faces an astonishing price tag to repair all aspects of the park, coupled with impending budget cuts, the care of trails, campgrounds, and overlooks is falling to the bottom of the long list of priorities. 

Many trails throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway need upkeep/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

That is why the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is launching the Trails & Views Forever Fund to revitalize trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, overlooks, and additional places that provide opportunities for all visitors to immerse themselves in this breathtaking landscape.

To jump-start the effort, an anonymous donor has offered a challenge grant of $300,000, that must be matched within just a few months. It is an “all or nothing” challenge, which means the Foundation must raise the total by the deadline or forfeit the gift. 

The new fund will build upon the Foundation’s past projects, including the clearing of carriage paths at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, trail repairs and the construction of a boardwalk at Price Lake, the addition of a shower facility at Price Campground, and the building of boardwalks on Rough Ridge Trail for safety and habitat protection.  

Trail signs, such as the one for the Shut-In Trail, need repairs or replacement/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

The work on the ground will be completed through collaborations between National Park Service staff, volunteers, and youth conservation crews. Introducing young people to outdoor conservation is a bonus of the program as the Foundation looks to engage a new generation of public land stewards.

Those who give $1,000 or more will receive a limited edition patch as a thank you gift. To learn more and give, visit BRPFoundation.org/trailsandviews. 

Blue Ridge Parkway by the Numbers

There is so much to maintain within this national park, including:

369 miles of trails
216 overlooks
8 campgrounds
942 campsites
14 picnic areas