Beacon Heights features a spectacular 360 degree view with little effort.  This classic Blue Ridge Parkway leg stretcher is located at milepost 305.2 of the Parkway.  There is a great view of Grandfather Mountain from the Beacon Heights Parking Area.  This easy hike has an elevation gain of 130 feet. The trailhead at this parking area crosses a small road and then heads up the knob to the 4354 foot summit of Beacon Heights. The trail junction to the left is the Tanawha Trail and this represents the start point of this 13.5 mile trail to Julian Price Memorial Park.

Turn right and this will lead you to the fork junction with the Mountains To Sea Trail.  Turn left at the MST junction and ascend to the top of Beacon Heights.  The summit is only 1400 feet from the parking area. Table Rock, Hawksbill, Grandmother and Grandfather Mountain all can be viewed from the site at the top of Beacon Heights.

The Beacon Heights Trail is featured in the hiking guide book Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Beacon Heights