Day Hike 6: Boone’s Trace Overlook to Osborne Mountain Overlook
Howdy, Neighbors
Distance: 8.0 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate. Generally flat, but long.
- Camping: No.
- Land manager: National Park Service.
- Volunteer Task Force Leader: Shelton Wilder, esheltonwilder@gmail.com.
- Piggyback trail: No.
- Connecting trails: No.
New signs are popping up to make it easier to find your way.
For much of its 469-mile run, the Blue Ridge Parkway does a good job of skirting civilization. From Boone to Blowing Rock, that’s not so easy. Perhaps more so than anywhere else, the BRP bumps up against development along the 10-mile stretch from Bamboo Gap north to U.S. 421. For the most part, the trail slips past residences. There’s also a school (the aptly named Parkway Elementary), a business or two, and a parallel highway universe (Old U.S. 421 buddies up with the BRP for a spell). The trail crosses a private driveway or two, even goes up one for a few yards. Yet it still manages to find solitude where solitude is a rare commodity.
The trail starts at Boone’s Trace Overlook, which has a picnic table. The trail that Daniel Boone blazed westward crossed this site (MP 285.1). Less than halfway through the hike, the MST passes through the Grandview Overlook, offering good views down the escarpment to the south. Good views as well at your destination, the Osborne Mountain Overlook just over a mile shy of U.S. 421.
For detailed hiking directions and parking information, download the Segment 5 guide from our Trail Guides page, using the “Primary Trailheads” section to pinpoint the location. You can also visualize the route on our interactive map; click “Day Hikes” to view the endpoints.
