This classic Blue Ridge Parkway leg stretcher features an old railroad as well as a nice waterfall.  At milepost 34.4 of the Parkway you'll find the Yankee Horse Overlook Parking Area.  The legend is during the civil war, a hard-riding Union man's horse fell and had to be shot at this location.

The easy 0.2 mile Yankee Horse Trail includes a short stretch of reconstructed narrow-gauge railroad track once known as the Irish Creek Railway, along with an exhibit on logging in the area.  From the parking area, head up the rock steps to the old railroad tracks and turn right.

This railway was built in 1919, completed in 1920 and was 50 miles long.  The tracks were built to haul the lumber from the logging that was happening in the area prior to the parkway.  Be sure to check out how the trestle over the stream was built.  A great photo opportunity here.

Follow the old tracks over a stream and soon after turn left off the tracks.  Follow the well worn path to a bridge over a stream in front of the 30 foot Wigwam Falls.  During the summer, the falls can be just a trickle.  However, during wet times the falls can be very nice.  Continue on the trail back toward the old tracks and soon a sharp left turn brings you back to the parking area.

For more information on this hike, as well as many other hikes along the Parkway, get the hiking guide book Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Be sure to check out this lovely short hike!

Pictures from the Yankee Horse Trail

Rock steps	Rock steps	Old Railroad tracks	Small trestle over stream	log bridge
Wigwam Falls	Logging Exhibit	Yankee Horse	Wigwam Falls	Wigwam Falls
The railroad trestle	Wigwam Falls	Wigwam Falls	Yankee Horse Trail	Huge boulder along trail

  

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