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North Carolina BRP Highlights Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway

E.B. Jeffress
Park

Cascades Trail, Tompkins Knob Trail,
Jesse Brown's Cabin, Cool Springs Baptist Church

 

 

At milepost 272 off the Blue Ridge Parkway lies the small 600 acre recreational area called E. B. Jeffress Park.  This small park serves to honor a man who played a big role in the development of the Parkway.  Chairman of the North Carolina Highway Commission in 1934, Jeffress was not only a supporter of the Parkway but an outspoken—and successful—advocate against making the Parkway a toll road.

Set along the edge of the Blue Ridge Plateau, the park features two short hikes leading to interesting natural and man-made destinations.  There is also restrooms and a small picnic area at the Cascades Overlook/Parking Area located at milepost 271.9 of the Parkway.

The Cascades Trail leads 0.6 miles to cascades along Falls Creek.  This is a self guiding interpretive nature trail.  Some call this the Parkway's best interpretive nature trails.  The trail is actually a loop and there are signs along the way telling what some of the vegetation in the area is. You can take either way, but most hikers take the right side to the falls and come back the other way. Not too far before the top of the falls, the trail crosses the creek, then follows it down some stairs to a stone wall and the top viewing area.

The Tompkins Knob Trail travels 0.6 miles through the forest to a clearing with two old log structures. Cool Spring Baptist Church, where itinerant preachers rallied people from miles around, and Jesse Brown's Cabin, the home where the preachers often stayed the night.

Both of these hikes are featured in the hiking guide book Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Bridge on the Cascades Trail

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The Cascades

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Jesse Brown's Cabin

CNY Hiking HOME PAGE

Developed Areas Along the Parkway

North Carolina BRP Highlights Blue Ridge Parkway