Price Lake Trail in Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway, NC · VA

Price Lake Trail

Easy 2.7-mile lakeside loop around Price Lake

Photo: National Park Service
Length
2.7mi
Time
1hr
Elev. change
79ft
Difficulty
Easy
  • Loop
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 3,481 ft

Hear the audio tour

Price Lake and its Famous Mountain View

Overview

About Price Lake Trail

Price Lake Trail is an easy loop around the shoreline of 47-acre Price Lake in Julian Price Memorial Park. The full visitor loop is 2.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour, with modest elevation change. Access is available from Price Lake Overlook (Milepost 296.7) and Boone Fork Overlook (Milepost 297.1) NPS.\n\n## What you will see\nExpect lakeshore views, low evergreens, rhododendron, wetlands, and occasional beaver sign; ducks and loons use the lake seasonally. The route includes natural tread, roots, rocks, boardwalks, footbridges, and paved campground or roadside segments. The first roughly 1 mile from the overlook and boat-rental area is relatively level and includes the Price Lake TRACK Trail and accessible lakeside sections NPS Explore Boone.\n\n## Access and route notes\nPark at Price Lake Overlook (Milepost 296.7) or Boone Fork Overlook (Milepost 297.1); additional access is available near the boat rental and campground. Restrooms are available when the campground is open. Follow the marked loop through the campground and across the designated trail and road crossings. Seasonal canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals operate at the lake, and fishing is permitted with a valid license; motorized boats and swimming are not allowed. Leashed pets are allowed on Blue Ridge Parkway trails NPS NPS trail page.\n\n## Trail character\nThis popular, family-friendly loop is generally gentle but can be wet or slick around roots, rocks, boardwalks, and bridges. The lake and surrounding forest provide scenic viewpoints, wildlife habitat, and a quiet winter walking or cross-country-ski setting when conditions permit.\n\n## Is it worth it?\nYes—this is an easy, scenic loop with convenient Parkway access, shoreline views, and a useful accessible section near the boat-rental area. It is a strong short stop in Julian Price Memorial Park, especially when paired with paddling or fishing.

Why go

  • Level, accessible lakeside section near the boat-rental area
  • Convenient loop with shoreline views, seasonal paddling, and fishing

Heads up

  • Popular on summer and fall weekends
  • Roots, rocks, boardwalks, and wet sections can be slick

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Blue Ridge Parkway map
Full map
Elevation3,402–3,481 ft
TrailheadPrice Lake Overlook36.13910, -81.73267
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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Park at Price Lake Overlook (Milepost 296.7) or Boone Fork Overlook (Milepost 297.1); additional access is available near the boat rental and campground. Restrooms are available when the campground is open NPS.

Safety

Expect roots, rocks, wet ground, boardwalks, and footbridges; surfaces can be slick after rain. Follow the marked route through campground and roadside crossings. Leashed pets are allowed on Blue Ridge Parkway trails NPS.

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
Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
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Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide

Your drive to Price Lake 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.

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Recorded for this trailhead

Price Lake and its Famous Mountain View
Listen
“The large body of water coming into view is Price Lake, famous for its head-on view of Grandfather Mountain. On calm days, the lake acts like a giant mirror, creating a perfect reflection of the mountain and sky.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Julian Price Park Campground: Lakeside Basecamp
  • Julian Price Park and Lake Activities
  • Julian Price's Creekside Picnic Spot
  • Price Lake Boat Rentals: Get on the Water
  • 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
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Wildlife

Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway

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Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

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