The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains that connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Parkway travels along the crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains through 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina. With breath taking vistas around every turn, hundreds of miles of hiking trails to stretch your legs and more biological diversity than almost any other region in the United States, the Parkway is a Journey of a lifetime.   

The Blue Ridge Parkway's Asheville Visitor Center TRACK Trail was the first TRACK Trail the Kids in Parks program opened. Located at the Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Visitor Center at milepost 384, the TRACK Trail offers four self guided adventures for kids of all ages. The 1.5 mile long loop trail follows section of the Mountains to Sea Trail on both side of the Parkway. Note: there is a road crossing... be aware of Parkway traffic when crossing. The trailhead can be found at the far end of the visitor center parking lot. Be sure to check out the Visitor Center for exhibits, a film about the Parkway and other Parkway information. 

Blue Ridge Parkway TRACK Trail Adventures

	Nature's Hide & Seek The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature. Download now
	Nature's Hide & Seek Winter Edition The Nature's Hide & Seek: Winter Edition brochure is similar to our original Nature’s Hide and Seek brochure led adventure except that the items you are looking for are common things that are often overlooked in nature during the winter. See if you can help TRACK find all of the items on his checklist. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy; but, best of all the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature. Download now
	Tracking Tree Treasures The Tracking Tree Treasures brochure was designed to introduce you to the various tree treasures found along the trail.  Follow the riddles to find the next tree and discover the natural, cultural and historic tree treasures. Download now
	Nature's Relationships - Everything's Connected In the Nature's Relationships brochure you will discover how everything in nature is connected... even us.  As you walk along the trail, the brochure will tell you a story about a few of the relationships that can be found. Many more relationships exist, so keep your eyes and heart open and you will discover many of nature's relationships - even yours. Download now
	Ferns - A Sketchbook Guide The Ferns - A Sketchbook Guide brochure is our most challenging adventure. Follow the illustrations and clues to find as many of the ferns as possible. You're going to have to be a nature detective to find them all.   Download now
	Fall Foliage: Nature's Painted Landscape In the Fall Foliage: Nature's Painted Landscape brochure, you will discover about the natural processes that cause the leaves of deciduous trees to change color every fall. From greens to yellows to deep reds, you will learn what pigments leaves use to paint the Parkway into an unforgettable autumn landscape. So, get out there along the Parkway (or anywhere outdoors really) and enjoy the colors of fall. Download now
	Buds become Blossoms The Buds become Blossoms brochure was designed to help you identify a few of the most common trees found along the Blue Ridge Parkway based on the tree's buds and blossoms. Simply match the pictures of the buds and blossoms found in the brochure with their proper description. Then, use the pictures and descriptions to help you find as many buds and blossoms as you can as you walk along the trail. Download now

Directions

There are four main entrances to the Parkway that are within a 10 minute drive to the visitor center –  one from the “north” and three from the "south".

From the North

Tunnel Road Entrance: 

From the Tunnel Road entrance to the Parkway, travel “south” for 1.3 miles to the Visitor Center entrance on the right.

From the South

Charlotte Highway / US 74-A Entrance: 

From the US 74-A entrance to the Parkway, travel “north” for 0.7 miles to the Visitor Center entrance on the left.

US 25 Entrance:

From the US 25 entrance to the Parkway, travel “north” for 4.6 miles to the Visitor Center entrance on the left.

US 191 Entrance:

From the US 191 entrance to the Parkway, travel “north” for 11 miles to the Visitor Center entrance on the left.

Blue Ridge Parkway's Asheville Visitor Center TRACK Trail Sponsors

The Blue Ridge Parkway's Asheville Visitor Center TRACK Trail is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.