Overlooks and curves on the Parkway
Not every adventure is on foot. In June 2018 we spent a day on the motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 469-mile road along the crest of the mountains from Virginia to the Great Smokies. There is no entrance fee, and the speed limit is 45 mph, which is perfect for looking around.
🥾 Basin Cove Overlook
One of our stops was Basin Cove Overlook at milepost 244, above Doughton Park. The National Park Service says it looks down on the Basin Cove community, which was wiped out by a flood in 1916.
🥾 The Lump
Farther south we stopped at The Lump overlook, with long views across Wilkes County.
🥾 Ride facts
- Blue Ridge Parkway: 469 miles, milepost 0 near Waynesboro, VA to milepost 469 near Cherokee, NC; no entrance fee
- Speed limit: 45 mph, lower in some sections
- Basin Cove Overlook: milepost 244
- After Hurricane Helene: about 200 miles of the North Carolina parkway were damaged in 2024; most has reopened. Check the NPS road status page before you ride.
- Managed by: National Park Service
Trail facts checked October 2026. Sources: NPS: Blue Ridge Parkway, NPS: speed limits, NPS: Basin Cove Overlook. Trails and roads change, so check with the managing agency before you go.
