Easter Vacation – Day 2 of 5: Blue Ridge Parkway
Bob and I spent three nights (April 17-20) in Waynesboro, Virginia. Waynesboro is located near where the Skyline Drive ends and the Blue Ridge Parkway begins. Our original plan was to stay in Waynesboro for four nights, but we departed a day early. I will explain why we left Waynesboro a day early in a future blog post.
The highlights on Day 2 (April 18) of our Easter vacation included seeing two waterfalls and driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Yesterday’s blog post provided photographs and details about Crabtree Falls, the first waterfall that we saw. This blog post provides photographs and details about the second waterfall that we saw, as well as our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
From Crabtree Falls we made our way back up Route 56 to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We entered the Parkway at Milepost 27 ( Tye River Gap) and headed south. We were on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few miles today (from milepost 27 to milepost 63.7). The views from the overlooks were good but would have been better had it been a less hazy, less overcast day.
We saw five deer, while driving the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This is one of five deer that we saw, while driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Our first stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway was at Milepost 34.4 (Yankee Horse Ridge, elev. 3,140 feet). I read on the Internet that Yankee Horse Ridge marks where, during the Civil War, a hard-riding Union man’s horse fell and had to be shot. The two attractions at Yankee Horse Ridge are a reconstructed spur of an old logging railroad and Wigwam Falls.
Yankee Horse Ridge (Elevation: 3,140 feet) – Old Logging Railroad
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. This railway was built in 1919 and completed in 1920. It was 50 miles long. The tracks were built to haul the lumber from the logging that was happening in the area prior to the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Old Logging Railroad
The trail also loops around a waterfall.
Bob and I at Wigwam Falls
Wigwam Falls
After leaving Yankee Horse Ridge we made a couple more stops at scenic overlooks, before exiting the Parkway at Milepost 63.7 (James River).
Second stop on Blue Ridge Parkway
Third Stop on Blue Ridge Parkway
By the time we reached the James River it was 1:00 pm, and we were hungry. There were no dining facilities open on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We could have eaten lunch at one of the many overlooks had we thought to pack a picnic lunch! We exited the Parkway at James River and drove to Lynchburg, where we ate lunch at Applebee’s. It was around 3:00 pm and even more overcast when we finished lunch. We decided to return to our hotel, rather than continue our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We told the GPS to take us back to our hotel in Waynesboro. This map shows our route, after leaving Crabtree Falls.
Later in the evening, we went shopping at a nearby Kroger store. We picked up cheese, meat and crackers for a light dinner, as well as for a picnic lunch for tomorrow.
We watched “The Following” on Hulu Plus (Yes, we packed the ROKU). After watching “The Following”, I read for a short time. I went to bed a little after 9:00 pm.
The Beauty Around Us 
6 Responses to “Easter Vacation – Day 2 of 5: Blue Ridge Parkway”
I love following your journey since you ‘journal’ similar to the way I do… SO enjoyable… We have seen Wigwam Falls and that little railroad…
Sounds like you had another good day. Did you all visit the locks at the James River? That was interesting when we walked on the bridge UNDER the parkway across the river.
Hugs,
Betsy
We did visit the locks at James River, Betsy. We did that on the second day that we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hello Linda, I have been enjoying your trip along the Parkway! I love the waterfalls and the cute deer. I like how you are including a map of where you’ve been.. Great post.
Must put these waterfalls on our list. I’ve been enjoying all your pictures Linda, it’s been a lovely drive with beautiful scenery. That’s a lovely photo of you and Bob by the falls.
Neat photo and trip.. I like old railroad tracks…
We visited Wigwam Falls several years ago, and I remember the narrow-gauge railroad tracks. It’s hard not to stop at every overlook when traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway.