Walnut Cove View – Mills River Valley Overlook loop from Royal Pines

Bike touring routes & trails

Walnut Cove View – Mills River Valley Overlook loop from Royal Pines

Hard

3.3

(14)

riders

Walnut Cove View – Mills River Valley Overlook loop from Royal Pines

05:04

70.9km

1,460m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Blue Ridge Parkway

Pisgah National Forest

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

11.3 km

Bridge crossing the French Broad River

Highlight • Bridge

The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the French Broad River via a bridge open to both foot and motorized traffic. The bridge offers views of the river in both directions. If you travel past the eastern end of the bridge, you are headed towards Asheville. If you bike west of the bridge, you immediately enter Pisgah National Forest.

Tip by

15.9 km

Walnut Cove View

Highlight • Viewpoint

Situated at Milepost 396.4, Walnut Cove View is an official overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's the first viewpoint on the parkway in Pisgah National Forest when headed south from Asheville. There are a few different window views from the parking area through the trees and shrubs growing in the area.

Tip by

21.3 km

Bad Fork Valley Overlook

Highlight • Viewpoint

At mile marker 399.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Bad Fork Valley Overlook offers a pull-off parking area to take in the overlook. There are also a couple of nearby hiking trails that have an open view of the overlook from a little higher above the road.

Tip by

24.4 km

Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7)

Viewpoint

27.4 km

Big Ridge Overlook

Highlight • Viewpoint

Big Ridge Overlook is located at mile marker 403.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is nestled in the trees overlooking a wide valley to the southeast.

Tip by

28.5 km

View of Hominy Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

Hominy Valley View is located at Milepost 404.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are several rows of mountains running parallel to the viewpoint, and you can see just how far back the mountains stretched from up here at 2,400 feet.

Tip by

29.1 km

Mills River Valley Overlook

Highlight • Viewpoint

At mile marker 404.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mills River Valley Overlook is the first of many close by scenic overlooks heading north. There are actually viewing areas of the valley on both sides of the parkway, and there is hiking trail access at this pull-off.

Tip by

35.6 km

View from Pisgah Inn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pisgah Inn offers luxury dining, lodging, shopping, and event hosting from its location on the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are inspiring panoramic views from the inn's observation areas, and trail access from the parking area opens the door to outdoor adventures for people looking for overnight and single-day treks.

Tip by

45.2 km

Stony Bald View

Highlight • Viewpoint

Stony Bald View is a lookout area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at mile marker 402.6, the observation area is at 3,750 feet overlooking Stony Bald at 4,563 feet.

Tip by

70.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

61.0 km

6.60 km

3.02 km

361 m

Surfaces

63.4 km