Picnic area · Blue Ridge Parkway
Shady and sunny picnic hub with trails and Parkway history
Overview
A classic Parkway day-stop at MP 217.5, Cumberland Knob Picnic Area mixes cool, shaded woods with a broad grassy field—great for spreading out, tossing a ball, or just soaking up the calm. It’s also where construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began in 1935 and the first recreation area opened (1937), so you’re picnicking right in Parkway history.
Most Parkway picnic spots don’t give you both a mature forest loop and a big meadow in one place. Here, you can choose deep shade with tables and grills tucked under hardwoods, or set up beside the open field. The comfort station sits in a 1941 stone building that once housed a sandwich shop, preserving that early-parkway feel.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhat makes it differentMap
Local know-how
Bring your own food and trash bags—no concessions or bins on site.
For a view of Pilot Mountain, head to the grassy picnic area’s east side.
Choose the wooded loop for cooler shade on hot days.
Check restroom status in spring and fall—they’re seasonal.
Avoid Gully Creek Trail after heavy rain due to multiple creek crossings.
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 area
Cumberland Knob: The Parkway's Starting Point“The spot you're coming to, Cumberland Knob, is where the whole story of the Parkway began; the very first shovelful of dirt for the road was turned right here in 1935.”
Plays near Cumberland Knob Picnic Area 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
A small historic cemetery (Moxley Cemetery) is also accessible from the main area.
From the grassy picnic area, look east for a view toward Pilot Mountain. The mix of meadow and forest attracts a nice variety of birds and small woodland mammals, making it an easy add-on for casual birding between sandwiches.
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
EasyCumberland Knob Loop Trail0.9 mi · 45 min · At the trailheadEasy paved loop to Cumberland Knob with CCC history and a picnic-area start
ChallengingCumberland Knob Gully Creek Trail2.5 mi · 2.5 hr · At the trailheadStrenuous creek loop with cascades, narrow trail, and many water crossings
ChallengingGully Creek Trail2.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayStrenuous 2.5-mile loop of cascades, creek crossings, and deep shade
EasyFisher Peak Loop Trail2.2 mi · 2 hr · 3.4 mi awayModerate loop through High Meadow and Fisher Peak forest
EasyHigh Meadow Trail2.7 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.4 mi awayMeadow and woodland stroll with music drifting from the stageParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
