Sight · Blue Ridge Parkway
Lake, trails, and big picnic grounds right off the Parkway
Overview
This is the Blue Ridge Parkway’s all-in-one playground: a calm mountain lake for paddling, a big, shady picnic complex, a sprawling campground, and a web of popular trails. It’s right off the road at Milepost 297 near Blowing Rock, so you get maximum payoff with minimal logistics.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap
Local know-how
Arrive early on weekends and in fall; lots and picnic sites fill fast.
Reserve the campground well ahead for peak season dates.
Bring layers—nights run cool at elevation even in summer.
Carry bug spray; mosquitoes and gnats can be active in warm months.
Only non-motorized boats are allowed; rent on-site if you didn’t bring one.
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
Julian Price Park Campground: Lakeside Basecamp“The campground you're seeing is Julian Price Park, the Parkway's main basecamp for hiking and paddling activities on Price Lake.”
Plays on the road 0.5 mi from Julian Price Memorial Park 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
Price Lake is the 47-acre heart of the park—mirror-flat on calm mornings, ringed by forested hills. Boone Fork Creek threads through rhododendron tunnels and boulder gardens, and open lawns make it easy to spread out for a picnic. Expect crowds when the leaves turn or on sunny summer weekends.
Trailheads cluster around the lake, picnic area, and campground, so you can pick your distance and vibe.
Only non-motorized boats are allowed. Don’t have one? Price Lake Boat Rentals operates right on the shore with canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Anglers work the lake for stocked fish—rainbow trout are noted—so bring your gear if that’s your thing.
This is one of the Parkway’s largest campgrounds (tent and RV loops) plus 100+ picnic sites with tables and grills. Comfort stations are seasonal; services can be simple. Interpretive programs and evening talks run in peak season at the amphitheater.
Deer often browse the edges of the campground and picnic fields, and the lake-and-forest mix draws plenty of birdlife. Around streams like Boone Fork, watch for songbirds and seasonal wildflowers. Anglers may encounter stocked trout in the lake.
Named for insurance executive Julian Price, the land was gifted for public recreation after his death, with a stipulation to dam Boone Fork and create the memorial lake. The result is an unusually complete recreation hub right on the Parkway.
If you want a classic Parkway day—paddle, picnic, hike a crowd-pleasing loop—this is an easy yes. It’s busy for good reason; plan around peak times and you’ll love it.
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
EasyPrice Lake Trail2.7 mi · 1 hr · 0.6 mi awayEasy 2.7-mile lakeside loop around Price Lake
EasyPrice Lake Loop Trail2.7 mi · 1 hr · 0.7 mi awayEasy 2.7-mile lakeside loop with mountain views, wildlife, and family-friendly stops
ModerateBoone Fork Trail5.5 mi · 3 hr · 0.8 mi awayA varied loop to Hebron Falls with creeks, ladders, and meadows
EasyOld Johns River Road3.2 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.1 mi awayA quiet 3.2-mile out-and-back on a gated road through Julian Price Memorial Park.
ModerateSims Pond Loop Trail2.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.2 mi awayModerately strenuous loop from Sims Pond over Green Knob with creeks, pasture, and Parkway views
ModerateGreen Knob Trail2.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.6 mi awayLush loop of creek, meadows, and rhododendron with playful rock hopsEasyCold Prong Pond Loop0.4 mi · 15 min · 2 mi awayShort, easy loop from Cold Prong Pond Overlook through rhododendron, forest, and a former pond meadow.
ModerateRich Mountain Carriage Trail8.2 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayLong, gentle carriage-road climb from Trout Lake to Rich Mountain views
Campground · 0.5 mi awayJulian Price Memorial Park CampgroundThe Parkway’s big lakeside basecamp for hiking and paddling
Scenic pullout · 0.6 mi awayPrice Lake OverlookMirrorlike lake views and an easy loop right from the pullout
Sight · 0.7 mi awayPrice Lake Boat RentalsEasy paddle rentals on a tranquil lake with big mountain views
Sight · 0.8 mi awayPrice LakeSerene mountain lake with an easy loop and classic Grandfather views
Picnic area · 0.9 mi awayJulian Price Park Picnic AreaShady creekside picnic grounds with trails and lake nearby
Sight · 1.6 mi awayHebron Colony FallsBoulder-choked cascades and summer swimming holes on Boone Fork
Sight · 2.2 mi awayTrout LakeShady 1.3-mile loop around a quiet, wildlife-rich mountain lake
Sight · 2.6 mi awayMoses H. Cone Memorial ParkGrand manor, lakes, and 25 miles of carriage roads to wanderParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
