#19 of 188 sights in Blue Ridge Parkway
Sight · Blue Ridge Parkway
Live mountain music, museum, and trails at MP 213
Overview
At milepost 213, the Blue Ridge Music Center blends a top‑notch outdoor music venue with a thoughtful museum and a seasonal visitor center. It’s the Parkway’s hub for bluegrass, old‑time, gospel, and country blues—performed right where these sounds were shaped.
Few Parkway stops combine performance, place, and interpretation this well. Set below Fisher Peak, the amphitheater feels connected to the landscape that nurtured the music you’re hearing. It’s also a key site on The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy It’s SpecialMap
Local know-how
Arrive early for summer concerts and bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Buy concert tickets online in advance; day‑of online sales close mid‑morning.
Pack a picnic—there’s no onsite dining and food options are limited.
Check the calendar for free Midday Mountain Music sessions.
Confirm seasonal hours; the museum and visitor center are typically open May–Oct.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this place
Blue Ridge Music Center: Live Tunes and History“Up ahead is the Blue Ridge Music Center, the Parkway’s official hub for bluegrass and old-time mountain tunes.”
Plays as you drive up to Blue Ridge Music Center in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Guide
Trails start from the Music Center, offering easy strolls and moderate options through classic Blue Ridge forest. While this isn’t a prime wildlife spot, you might see deer, wild turkeys, and songbirds along the nearby paths.
If you care about Appalachian music or just want a memorable evening on the Parkway, this is a standout stop. Even without a show, the museum and midday tunes make it worth a detour.
Wildlife
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyFisher Peak Loop Trail2.2 mi · 2 hr · At the trailheadModerate loop through High Meadow and Fisher Peak forest
EasyHigh Meadow Trail2.7 mi · 1.5 hr · At the trailheadMeadow and woodland stroll with music drifting from the stage
ChallengingCumberland Knob Gully Creek Trail2.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.4 mi awayStrenuous creek loop with cascades, narrow trail, and many water crossings
EasyCumberland Knob Loop Trail0.9 mi · 45 min · 3.4 mi awayEasy paved loop to Cumberland Knob with CCC history and a picnic-area start
ChallengingGully Creek Trail2.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayStrenuous 2.5-mile loop of cascades, creek crossings, and deep shadeParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
