Parking
Park at the Cumberland Knob Picnic Area near Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 217.5. Begin near the old concession stand; the picnic area provides a shelter, picnic facilities, and seasonal restrooms.
Overview
About Cumberland Knob Gully Creek Trail
Gully Creek is a strenuous 2.5-mile total loop at the Cumberland Knob Picnic Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Starting near the old concession stand, the route drops into a cool, wooded creek valley, follows Gully Creek past cascades and mossy rock, and returns by the west connector. The National Park Service describes seven or more water crossings, narrow trail, and substantial elevation change; allow about 2–3 hours and use extra care after rain. The Cumberland Knob Recreation Area includes picnic facilities, a shelter, and seasonal restrooms. There is no grand long-range overlook on this hike—the reward is the stream, cascades, forest, and quiet Parkway history.
Why go
- Stream, cascades, and shaded Southern Appalachian forest provide a water-focused hike
- Historic Cumberland Knob Recreation Area adds context and convenient picnic facilities
Heads up
- No long-range views from the loop
- Seven or more water crossings, slick rocks, narrow sections, and steep elevation change
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Blue Ridge Parkway map
Full mapElevation2,051–2,848 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
- ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
- ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Your drive to Cumberland Knob Gully Creek Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
Cumberland Knob: The Parkway's Starting PointListen
“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 as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Cumberland Knob: The Parkway's Starting Point
- Rocky Knob Picnic Area and Trail Hub
- The Leaf that Named a Town
- Scenic Easements: The Invisible Park that Protects the View
- 277 audio storiesacross Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 112 trails, 232 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…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.”
Wildlife
Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway
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.
