virginia blue ridge parkway MP 74.7 | THUNDER RIDGE OVERLOOK Gem HIDDEN MP 0-45.6 (US 60) MP 0-45.6 (US 60) OFF THE PARKWAY: A newer destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway is also Virginia's highest elevation winery. 12 Ridges Vineyard in Vesuvius is accessed at MP 25. Their vines were planted in 2019 at 3,300 feet which yields interesting grapes from which to make complex, high altitude wines. Chardonnay is the base for their flagship Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine made by the traditional method, which closely mimics Champagne. The above-the-mountains views will steal your breath in every season and are enjoyed from the tasting room, the expansive terrace or nearly anywhere on the property. The start of the Blue Ridge Parkway includes favorite hikes, waterfalls and access to Virginia's highest altitude winery. A Parkway Highlight: The Humpback Rocks area is a few-mile span from MP 5.8 to 9.3 that includes the trailhead to the pronounced outcrop itself as well as the outdoor farm museum with its one-room log cabin and outbuildings. Seasonally, interpreters demonstrate homesteading in the 19th century with activities like blacksmithing and weaving. FROM MP 25 | 12 RIDGES VINEYARD Gem HIDDEN MP 0-45.6 ON THE PARKWAY: Flowing well in spring and after a soaking rain, the cascading White Rock Falls and its wading pool await at the end of a moderate 1.4-mile hike from the trailhead and parking area at MP 18.5. Another excellent waterfall hike is to Saint Mary's Falls inside Saint Mary's Wilderness by way of the Mine Bank Trail at Fork Mountain Overlook (MP 23). Saint Mary's Falls is a plunging 15-foot cascade with a fantastic swimming hole at its base. Hike with a fishing pole to try landing a native brook trout from Saint Mary's River. Note that only single hook artificial lure may be used, and the creel limit is six trout of at least nine inches each. 10 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY Black Bear. Though rarely seen, black bears should be observed from a responsible distance.