Approximate 50 miles. Time is relative to how many stops you make along the way - because there are so many. Most of the overlooks are short stops - 5-10 minutes to shoot some great photo's and just breathe in the... More
Approximate 50 miles. Time is relative to how many stops you make along the way - because there are so many. Most of the overlooks are short stops - 5-10 minutes to shoot some great photo's and just breathe in the smells.
Others like Waterrock Knob, Graveyard Fields, and those with hikes will take much longer. Waterrock is 1/2 mile hike from parking lot to the top, but you can go beyond that for a long way. Graveyard Fields has 2 falls - upper and lower. The lower falls is approx 1/2 mile to it, but the upper falls is more like a mile one way.
If you stop at Socco Falls outside of Maggie Valley - it is a short drive off the BRP and then maybe a 1/8 mile short hike down to the viewing platform. You can go further down and closer to the falls - very short, but not an easy thing. Socco Gap has a hike from the parking lot - not sure how far it is as I've not done that one yet.
It would be best to start early and expect to be on the BRP all day. Once you start your decent towards Asheville - about where the "Highest Point" on the BRP Parkway sign and Devils Courthouse are - not as many spots for good photo's along the way - so that goes pretty quickly.
Enjoy the drive and hikes as much as you can and don't rush - many people do and that is kind of dangerous on that road. If you have a day in Asheville, you can backtrack a bit of you missed some places like the Visitors Center or the Arboretum as they are close to Asheville.
