I have some vacation time coming in the last 2 weeks of April. I was wondering what the riding conditions were like on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's quite a bit south but the elevation could make for colder type conditions. Any suggestions?
It'll definitely be cooler on the BRP. Fog could easily be a major problem, as could snow and road closures due to damage from the winter. There's no shortage of good roads around the BRP though, so having to detour isn't too much of a problem.
Ditto what Tim said, it'll be chilly and probably pretty foggy in the mornings. ("Foggy" can often mean "50-foot visibility" up there.) And there are some seriously washed-out sections down towards Asheville, it doesn't look like they'll be repaired for some time.
What Peaches said - April and May can be challenging up there - lots of fog and the last couple years road closures from storms down around Asheville.
I went the last days of April into May. It was great, little traffic, no motor homes. There will be some washouts, some fog, a bit cold and maybe wet. But that is all part of the adventure. The detour might be better than the BRP in some places!
I guess I'll wait until a bit later in the season to do the ride there. Late September maybe...... Thanks for the info. I really do appreciate it.
late September is crowded up there. I'd rather go in late April. fewer people. you can have fog up there any time of year.
never delay a ride the BRP is doable as soon as they open the snowgates (sometimes even before ) I've been up on Mt Mitchell over Easter and we had great swordfights with 4 ft icicles off the rocks ... really amused the few passersby ... now this was back when I was young and foolish old farts like me would never do anything like that again sometimes a storm will prompt a local closing (Peaks Of Otter, Craggy, Pisgah, Richland Balsam) but the detour is a part of the adventure count on a detour from NC80 down to Asheville, the BRP is gone in two spots "Closures Two short sections of the Parkway between Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell in North Carolina remain closed due to damaging tropical storms during September. These should be repaired by next season. The park information line at (828)298-0398 has the most updated information including on closures and winter weather conditions." whatcha ridin? drop a line and we might can hook up for a part of it
I'll do that. I'll be on a spanking new R12GS. Too bad about the damage to the roadway. I hope that it can be repaired quick like.......
Thought that you guys were gonna ride Honda 650s, sometimes referred to as "Big Red Pigs" (BRPs) at least by dirt riders.
Kneedragon - I say do it despite the closed sections (unless of course, your express goal is to ride the Parkway in it's entirety). In addition to the Linville-Mitchell stretch the road is also closed between Asheville and Mount Pisgah, but that should be open by early April, at the latest. There is a decent detour around Mitchell through the valley to the north, passing through Burnsville and then south to Asheville. I totally agree with the other riders about April-May being one of the best times of the year traffic wise. Big Wheel (BTW - FNG here making my first post. Been lurking for awhile - looks like fun. I hope y'all are nicer that those mean guys over at the BMWMOA forum)
Welcome, Big Wheel!! Another local!! How be ya! There's a few of us 'round here.....the riding can't be beat, eh? http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72123 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71437 Oh, and yes, april would be a great time to hit the brp. If you're prone to alergies, being your meds though. The pollen will be everywhere! (pollen's way better then motorhomes ANYDAY. )
freaking RT & ride twisty, thanks for the greetings. Good to find a home boy here! Hey - I took a wrong turn on the way to the office today (I had a couple hours to spare) and wound up in Hot Springs. (South Asheville -> Parkway to Bull Gap -> Ox Creek -> Reems Creek -> Weaverville -> Hot Springs -> 109 to I 40 and back to Asheville) Yeah baby - really felt like spring. Still a lot of sand on 109; had to hold it down a bit. Otherwise the roads were in good shape. Didn't get much done at the office. Big Wheel
sucks about that 'wrong turn!' boy, i hate it when that happens! so many great roads, so little time. what kind of schedule do you keep? if you'd ever want to hook up for a ride, drop me a pm. given enough notice, i'm sure we could gather a small asheville get together. Chris