Blue Ridge Parkway, NC · VA
A rugged, shuttle-friendly Blue Ridge descent from Bald Mountain to Torry Furnace
Overview
Torry Ridge Trail is a rugged, point-to-point ridge descent in the George Washington National Forest. The route follows Forest Trail 507 from the Bald Mountain access near Forest Road 162C toward Torry Furnace, with long Blue Ridge views and a forested, rocky tread. Arrange a shuttle or a pickup before starting; this is not the separate Sherando Lake/White Rock Falls loop.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
Plan your hike
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
White Rock Falls: A Hike to a Shady Wading Pool“The trailheads for White Rock Falls are coming up. This is a really pleasant and underrated hike through a shady forest to a 30-foot cascade.”
Plays on the road 1.1 mi from the trailhead 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.”
Trail guide
The mapped corridor is about 7.0 miles one way. It is commonly hiked downhill from the high Bald Mountain trailhead, crossing or joining several shared-use corridors before reaching the Torry Furnace end. The line is continuous and follows the named Torry Ridge way; it does not include the White Rock Falls or Sherando Lake loop connectors. Allow about 4 hours for a strenuous one-way hike, with extra time for rocky footing, navigation, and a vehicle shuttle.
Expect a narrow, uneven surface with rocks, roots, steep pitches, and sections shared with mountain bikers and equestrians. The ridge offers filtered forest views and more open vistas in leaf-off seasons. Blue blazes and junctions help with navigation, but carry an offline map and do not count on a round-trip walk unless you have planned transportation.
The upper access is at Bald Mountain near the Forest Road 162C junction; use only signed/legal roadside parking and verify current forest-road access before driving in. The lower end is near Torry Furnace, so arrange a pickup or stage a second vehicle. Carry water, wear sturdy footwear, and use extra caution on wet rock, winter ice, and when approaching faster downhill bicycle traffic.
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
ModerateWhite Rock Falls Trail4.7 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.8 mi awayModerate waterfall loop with gorge scenery and mountain views off the Blue Ridge Parkway
ModerateWhite Rock Gap Trail3.4 mi · 2 hr · 1.8 mi awayWhite Rock Gap out-and-back to a series of cascades through a shady ravine.
EasyMountain Farm Trail0.5 mi · 20 min · 9.7 mi awayEasy out-and-back through an 1890s Appalachian farmstead
ChallengingHumpback Mountain Trail4.2 mi · 3 hr · 9.7 mi awayStrenuous loop to Humpback Rocks with Appalachian Trail ridge walking
ChallengingHumpback Rocks Trail2 mi · 2 hr · 9.7 mi awaySteep mile to knockout summit views, with history on the side
ModerateAlbright Loop Trail3.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 9.7 mi awayQuieter Humpback Rocks alternative with a forest loop, Appalachian Trail section, and optional overlook spur
EasyWigwam Falls Trail0.2 mi · 15 min · 9.9 mi awayBlink-and-you’re-there walk to a photogenic falls and logging rails
Sight · 1.1 mi awayWhite Rock FallsShady waterfall hike with wading pools and surprise mountain views
Scenic pullout · 1.5 mi away20 Minute Cliff OverlookQuiet roadside perch with big westward views and a quirky name story
Scenic pullout · 2.4 mi awayThe Priest OverlookQuick roadside view toward The Priest and Three Ridges
Sight · 4.6 mi away3 Ridges Mountain OverlookClassic Three Ridges view from a quick Parkway pull-off
Scenic pullout · 6.1 mi awayRaven's Roost OverlookWest-facing overlook with an iconic tree and knockout sunsets
Scenic pullout · 6.4 mi awayRock Point OverlookQuiet pullout with broad views over Back Creek Valley
Scenic pullout · 7.5 mi awayCatoctin OverlookQuiet Parkway pullout with wide mountain views
Scenic pullout · 7.6 mi awayGreenstone OverlookQuiet overlook with a short geology loop and valley viewsParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
