Found at Milepost 296.7, Julian Price Memorial Park is one of the crown jewels of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors can hike, fish, canoe, camp, and picnic in the park.
The Price Lake Overlook parking area sits right along the water’s edge. Many people stop here for a quick look and then continue along the Parkway. I chose to hike the lake instead.
Price Lake Trail
Price Lake Trail is a 2.7-mile loop around the 47-acre lake. It is an easy trail, with minimal elevation gain and few obstacles. A portion near the parking lot is universally accessible. However, there are a couple of staircases to maneuver between the wooden and the camping area. It is one of the most approachable hikes along the Parkway.
The trail wanders along the shoreline, providing several spur trails to the water. Docks also offer the chance to soak in your surroundings.
I hiked the loop clockwise (starting to the left) from the main overlook. As it was early October, I had vibrant colors in the trees which always make a hike better.
The view from Price Lake Dam was my favorite. Here you get wide panoramas of the lake with Grandfather Mountain ascending in the distance.
I followed the route along the eastern side of the lake where there are other angles on Grandfather Mountain.
Then the trail wanders around the longest arm of the lake. This bend is a marsh area with a bridge over Laurel Creek. Here you might see beaver activity including a dam.
On the way to the western shoreline, a low boardwalk covers a marsh area in the forest. Two wooden bridges cross Boone Fork and Cold Prong.
Then the path climbs to the boat rental parking lot / Lakeview Overlook and passes through the campground.
Just after the campground is the last fishing dock with lovely lake views.
TRACK Trail
The hiking TRACK Trail at Price Lake is a 1-mile portion of the Price Lake Trail – from the boat rental dock to the beaver dam overlook. This makes a 2-mile total hike. There is also a paddling TRACK Trail on the lake.
Wildlife
During my hike, I found two white-tailed deer and woodpeckers. The park is also known for beavers and kingfishers.
Know Before You Go
- If the main overlook parking lot is full (especially during peak leaf season), more parking is available at Lakeview Overlook and the Price Lake Picnic Area.
- For photographers, mornings are best because the sun will be behind you illuminating the lake.
- Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards seasonally.
- Because it is a dirt trail often surrounded by thick rhododendrons, be prepared for muddy sections if it has recently rained.
Nearby Hiking Trails
Julian Price Memorial Park is the northern endpoint of the 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail, which continues to Beacon Heights (Milepost 305).
Other major trails nearby include:
- Green Knob Trail – a 2.3-mile moderate loop beginning at Sims’s Pond (Milepost 295.9).
- Boone Fork Trail – a 5.5-mile moderate-to-strenuous loop with access from the Price Park Picnic Area (Milepost 296.4).
- Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs jointly with Boone Fork Trail for half its length.