Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (U.S. National Park Service)

Quicklinks:

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is a place unlike any other on Earth, where ancient landscapes enchant the eye and age-old traditions warm the heart. The distinctive landscape of the North Carolina mountains and foothills combined with the region's living traditions of craft, music, agriculture and Cherokee heritage create a wealth of natural and cultural heritage treasures.

Pearson's Falls, Courtesy of Beth Coleman

Natural Heritage

Considered to be among the oldest on Earth, the North Carolina mountains and foothills boast a magnificent array of natural wonders, including eastern America's tallest mountain, deepest gorge and highest waterfall, the oldest river in the US and some of the greatest biodiversity on the continent. Explore the Natural Heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Cherokee Beader,Courtesy of Cherokee Historical Association

Cherokee Heritage

The original inhabitants of North Carolina's Blue Ridge mountains-the Cherokee-honor and cultivate traditions that have guided and supported their culture for thousands of years. Balancing the modern world with these ancient traditions, the Cherokee welcome millions of visitors each year while stewarding the delicate mountain landscape that is their ancestral home. Learn about the history and heritage of the Cherokee Indians

Photo courtesy of Keather Weideman, John C. Campbell Folk School

Craft Heritage

Building on age-old craft traditions of the Cherokee Indians, Scots-Irish, and other immigrant cultures-traditions that have been nurtured by prominent craft schools and guilds established in the last century-the artisans of North Carolina's mountains and foothills have turned the region into a premier center for handmade crafts. Find out more about Blue Ridge arts and crafts

David Holt and Doc Watson, photo © BanjoMan

Music Heritage

A fertile meeting ground for European and African musical traditions, the North Carolina mountains and foothills still ring with the sounds of the fiddle and banjo, bluegrass bands,and cloggers, which can be heard everywhere from front porches to festival stages and town squares. It is said the region has one of the richest repositories of traditional music and folklore in the United States. Visit the music heritage section to learn more

Write to Blue Ridge National Heritage Area 195 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville, NC 28803		Climate The mountains of Western North Carolina enjoy a mild climate throughout the four seasons. Winters bring occasional snow in the lower elevations, while high country snows support numerous ski resorts. Spring is wet and mild, lush with wildflowers, dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendrons that bloom at intervals between late March and June. Summer heat rarely reaches the 90s and extends usually from late June through August. The crisp, cool days of autumn bring brilliant blue skies that frame blazing fall colors as the trees turn. No matter what season, layering of clothing is recommended, as is keeping a sweater at hand, even in the summer at higher elevations.

You are exiting the National Park Service website

Thank you for visiting our site.