Can you drink beer on Blue Ridge Parkway? Will you see a bear? What to know this weekend
ASHEVILLE - The Blue Ridge Parkway, the most-visited unit of the National Park Service, is sure to see high numbers of sightseers, hikers, campers, picnickers and of course, drivers this Memorial Day weekend.
This weekend is the big kickoff to travel season for the parkway, according to Leesa Sutton Brandon, external affairs specialist with the National Park Service.
"By Memorial Day, it’s our collective goal to be fully operational and staffed, and ready to meet the visitors and meet the season," Brandon said.
Memorial Day is a big travel weekend everywhere, she said: "I would expect to see traffic match that excitement that people have for summer and getting outdoors, and the parkway is a wonderful place to do that."
The parkway had 16 million visitors in 2021, up from 14.1 million in 2020, an increase of 13.3%.
It had nearly 1.4 million visitors in May 2021.
While visitors are expected to flock to the mountain views, Brandon advised drivers that the parkway requires a lot of extra care while driving.
More: Autopsy reveals cause of Blue Ridge Parkway death; FBI unsure of number of suspects
"It is not like driving other roads. There are limited sight distance, steep grades and lots of beautiful but built-in distractions," Brandon said. "And so really having a driver that has their full focus on the road and the way it maneuvers through the ridges and valleys of the route is critical to a safe experience in a car."
She reminded people to stay within the posted speed limits, which don’t exceed 45 mph anywhere on the 469-mile parkway and are lower in congested areas, including surrounding Asheville, where it drops to 35 mph.
Related: Millions more visitors stream to Blue Ridge Parkway during 2021, another COVID-19 year
5 things to know about visiting the parkway this weekend
Can I drink a refreshing craft brew on the parkway?
It can be tempting to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine on a picnic or watching the sunset at the Lane Pinnacle Overlook — or any overlook or pull-off. But it is illegal.
Brandon warned that you could be fined.
The law pertains to any kind of alcohol, and to everyone, whether driving or not, the Citizen Times has reported.
Drinking alcohol or having an open container is also prohibited on trails, trailheads and any public use area, such as Craggy Gardens Pinnacle.
Following are exceptions to the rule:
Designated picnic areas between 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Overlooks not included).
In developed campgrounds by registered campground users and their guests.
People legally occupying backcountry camping areas overnight.
Employee residential areas.
Special events with the superintendent's approval.
Concession operated lodging and dining facilities.
More: What are the rules for drinking alcohol on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Which campgrounds and picnic areas are open on the parkway?
All of the picnic areas in WNC are now open, including Price Park near Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, Crabtree Falls, Craggy Gardens and Mount Pisgah. In addition, the Pisgah Inn and Restaurant, about 25 miles southwest of Asheville, is open.
Price Park Campground and boat rentals and Linville Falls Campground are now open. Crabtree Falls and Mount Pisgah campgrounds open May 27.
Campground reservations can be made online using recreation.gov.
While most WNC visitor centers opened in April, Linn Cove Visitor Center is closed due to building repair work. Linville Falls Visitor Center, North Carolina Museum of Minerals, Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Folk Art Center, Asheville Visitor Center and Waterrock Knob Visitor Center are all open.
A complete schedule of open facilities is also available on the parkway's website.
What is the most famous site on the parkway?
“I mean, everybody has their favorite site. It’s like asking a parent to say what their favorite child is," Brandon said. "It really is a matter of opinion, and that goes back to why so many people love the parkway and why it is so popular.”
While the answer is open to interpretation, the most visited section of the parkway is the Pisgah District, which encompasses the most mountainous region and the highest elevations on the parkway, including the 25-mile stretch through the Asheville area.
This includes Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Eastern United States at 6,684 feet elevation. The peak actually sits within Mount Mitchell State Park, but is only accessible by car at Milepost 355, about an hour’s drive north of Asheville.
More: Record visitation for North Carolina's state parks; Chimney Rock crushes former mark
Heading south on the parkway from Mount Mitchell is the Craggy Gardens area, which sits above 5,000 feet altitude and includes the Craggy Pinnacle Trail famous for its 360-degree views and Catawba rhododendron blooms in mid-June, a picnic area, scenic overlooks and many other hiking trails.
This section also includes the Folk Art Center at Milepost 382, run by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, featuring hand-crafted art for sale from across the region, and often live demonstrations.
The famous Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which is about 1,100 miles long from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Carolina coast – crisscrosses the parkway through Asheville, with many access points, including a hike to Rattlesnake Lodge just north of Asheville.
“There really is something for everybody, and I think everybody would have their own individual favorite site, which is really kind of a beautiful thing about the parkway," Brandon said.
Related: Connecting NC: The push to transform the Mountains-to-Sea Trail
See the Plan Your Visit link on the parkway website.
Are masks required on the parkway?
This season, public health and masking requirements may vary along the parkway based on local conditions, according to a May 25 National Park Service news release.
Weekly updates will be posted on the parkway’s alerts and updates webpage and in park facilities.
In areas the CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings regardless of vaccination status.
In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, but visitors should follow signs and instructions from park staff and volunteers.
Related: Visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway or Great Smoky Mountains? Better bring your mask
Are there bears on the parkway? Will I see one?
Answer: Yes and maybe. The parkway is a wildlife sanctuary and is the natural habitat for black bears. Be aware when hiking, camping and picnicking, and when driving.
"There are bears in Asheville, and if there are bears in Asheville, there will be bears on the parkway,” Brandon said.
She noted it is a time of year when sightings become more frequent, which has been experienced on the parkway in recent weeks, just as there have been reports around town.
"They are out," she said of the area's bear population. She advised people to be "bear aware," smart and keep a distance.
NC Wildlife biologists: Bear that attacked couple on Blue Ridge Parkway climbed onto car
Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing the following:
Do not store food in tents.
Properly store food and scented items like toothpaste by using a bear-proof container.
Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite.
Do not leave food unattended.
Never run away from a bear; back away slowly and make lots of noise
More bear safety tips:
Keep your dog on a leash in areas where bears are reported.
If you notice a bear nearby, pack up your food and trash immediately and vacate the area as soon as possible.
If a bear approaches, move away slowly; do not run. Get into a vehicle or a secure building.
If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or throwing rocks and sticks at it.
If you are attacked by a black bear, try to fight back using any object available. Act aggressively and intimidate the bear by yelling and waving your arms. Playing dead is not appropriate.
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: What to know on Blue Ridge Parkway visit Memorial Day weekend
