Overlook Adoption

Interested in becoming an Overlook Adopter with the Blue Ridge Parkway? With 272 overlooks, ranging from scenic-pull offs to regularly-used trail heads, Overlook Adopters help to keep the overlooks on the parkway clean, safe and attractive for public use and enjoyment by thousands of appreciative visitors.

An overlook may be adopted by a single individual, family or other group. An adopting individual, family, club, or organized group must be willing to commit to their overlook for a period of at least one year, with a minimum of monthly visits occurring from April-October.

Maintenance tasks for an Overlook Adopter include; picking up litter and debris from parking areas and sidewalks, clearing leaves, twigs and branches from grassy areas, ditches and drainage channels, cleaning overlook signs and any nearby mile markers, and cleaning picnic table(s) and areas where applicable.

By diligently maintaining an overlook, you stand as one of its most important advocates and protectors. Without vigilant attention, an overlook might soon be overrun with unsightly litter and dangerous debris. The Blue Ridge Parkway experience wouldn’t be the same without our dedicated Overlook Adopters!

If you are interested in adopting one of our available overlooks, please read through the Overlook Adoption Handbook and Availability List below, and email our Volunteer Coordinator with the overlook you would like to adopt.

 

 

Overlook Adoption Handbook

Background and Purpose

The National Park Service manages and maintains 272 overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway. These overlooks range in use from scenic pull-offs to regularly-used trail heads. Blue Ridge Parkway maintenance staff is officially tasked with cleaning overlooks as their schedules permit, however, the Parkway seeks help from volunteers willing to take on the task.

Therefore, the goals of the Overlook Adoption position includes: (1) improving the function and appearance of overlooks for visitor enjoyment, (2) allowing Park Service maintenance employees to accomplish other tasks requiring a higher level of skill or required training, (3) representing the National Park Service with visitors from all over the country and world who stop at overlooks to enjoy the view by answering questions and providing a level of service that NPS staff alone would struggle to provide, (4) serving as an additional set of “eyes and ears” on the parkway to report issues and concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed due to minimal staffing.

How It Works

• Adoption by Individuals or Groups: An overlook may be adopted by a single individual, family or other group. All individual volunteers or groups should work with the park volunteer coordinator to complete the required Volunteer Service Agreement (OF 301 A) form annually. Volunteer hours are reported online via the Individual VIP Hours Reporting Form.

• Length of Commitment: An adopting individual, family, club, or organized group must be willing to commit to their overlook for a period of at least one year. You will be contacted annually, to request re-signature of your Volunteer Service Agreement if you wish to continue your service. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator at Blue Ridge Parkway with concerns or questions throughout the year.

Required Forms

• Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) Form: Each volunteer who works on the parkway must complete and sign a Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) form annually including the Overlook Adoption Service Description. Additionally, the VSA of any child or youth (18 or younger) must be signed by a parent or guardian.

• Individual VIP Hours Reporting Form: This online reporting form should be submitted after each service event to report all hours of service including travel-time while on the parkway. This form also includes a section to report any issues or concern. This section of the form is not required, but is a good place to report concerns to be raised to the attention of local maintenance or law enforcement.

Maintanence Schedule

Although we encourage volunteers to visit their overlook as often as possible, there are certain times of year that are most critical for maintenance of these areas.

• Monthly: Plan to care for your adopted overlook at least once per month from April through October.

• Spring: Spring maintenance is best done at the end of winter, before the spring rainy season, by the end of April, if possible, and before the overlook receives a lot of visitor traffic. Assessment of work that will need to be done in the future is an important function of the spring visit.

• Summer: The overlook is most in need of attention during the summer, due to normally heavier visitor traffic.

• Fall: One of the best times of the year to clean your overlook is before the leaves have dropped from the trees. This ensures there is no litter under leaf debris during winter months and is good preparation for heavy spring water run-off. The cool weather makes fall an excellent time for maintaining overlooks.

• Winter: Your overlook may or may not be accessible during the winter months, November through March. Be careful if you travel on the Parkway. No extraordinary efforts are required during these months.

• Road Closures: Road closures can happen on the parkway at any time of year. They can be scheduled (due to maintenance, construction of other administrative activities) or unplanned (due to inclement weather, emergency operations or otherwise unsafe conditions). Either instance can make for a frustrating experience when attempting you access your overlook. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We encourage all volunteers to check for road closures in their area ahead of their work day.

Maintanence Tasks

Required Tasks

• Pick up and dispose of litter

• Clear and dispose of leaves, twigs, branches and other debris in grassy area

• Clear leaves, twigs, branches and other debris from ditches and drainage channels

• Clean overlook signs and any nearby mile markers with soapy water

• Sweep sidewalks and parking area

• Clean picnic table(s) where applicable

Optional Tasks

• Level any surface material

• Clear overgrown weeds and brush at the outer perimeter of overlook and around nearby “Overlook Ahead” signs using appropriate tools as described in the safety section below.

• Remove trees that have fallen on the overlook, within its perimeter, and on the parking lot. Move them to the shoulder, if possible, or notify maintenance as needed.

The National Park Service may supply trash bags and gloves. If these items are needed, please contact the Blue Ridge Parkway Volunteer Coordinator at least 1 week prior to your planned work day. No power tools should be used on the Parkway unless proper NPS certification is obtained.

Safety

Safety is our number one priority. It is the most important consideration while volunteering on the parkway. Prior to completing work on the Parkway a review of the Job Hazards is required by all volunteers. In order to operate power tools on the parkway, NPS training is required, even if the tools you use are your own. This includes: string trimmers, leaf blowers, push mowers, and motorized saws of any kind. NO USE OF RIDING LAWN MOWERS WILL BE AUTHORIZED OR PERMITTED BY VOLUNTEERS.Contact the park Volunteer Coordinator about obtaining required training.All volunteers that are working near traffic on the road shoulder or in active overlooks are required to wear ANSI-II Compliant Safety Vests at all times. These may be obtained through local maintenance or through the volunteer coordinator.

You can access a printable PDF version of this handbook here.

 

Overlook Availability

South End of Shenandoah NP – Roanoke (MP 0-106)

MP 0.2 – Afton Overlook – Adopted
MP 1.5 – Rockfish Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 2.9 – Shenandoah Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 5.8 – Humpback Gap Area – Adopted
MP 8.8 – Greenstone Overlook – Adopted
MP 9.6 – Dripping Rock Widening – Adopted
MP 10.4 – Rock Point Overlook – Adopted
MP 10.7 – Raven's Roost Overlook – Adopted
MP 11.7 – Hickory Spring – Adopted
MP 13.1 – Three Ridges Overlook – Adopted
MP 14 – Reid's Gap – Adopted
MP 17.6 – The Priest Overlook – Adopted
MP 18.5 – White Rock Trail – Adopted
MP 19 – 20 Minute Cliff Overlook – Adopted
MP 19.9 – The Slacks Overlook – Adopted
MP 22.1 – Balk Mountain Widening – Adopted
MP 23 – Fork Mountain – Adopted
MP 26.4 – Big Spy Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 31.4 – Stillhouse Hollow – Adopted
MP 34.4 – Yankee Horse Ridge Area – Adopted
MP 38.8 – Boston Knob – Adopted
MP 42.2 – Irish Creek Valley – Adopted
MP 44.4 – White's Gap – Adopted
MP 44.9 – Chimney Rock Widening – Adopted
MP 45.7 – Buena Vista Overlook – Adopted
MP 47.5 – Indian Gap Area – Adopted
MP 49.3 – House Mountain – Adopted
MP 51.4 – Punch Bowl Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 52.8 – Bluff Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 53.6 – Rice Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 55.1 – White Oak Flats Overlook – Adopted
MP 55.9 – Dancing Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 57.6 – Upper Otter Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 58.2 – Otter Creek Flats Overlook – Adopted
MP 60.4 – The Riffles Overlook – Adopted
MP 61.4 – Terrapin Hill Overlook – Adopted
MP 62.5 – Lower Otter Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 63.6 – James River Overlook – Adopted
MP 69.1 – James River Valley Overlook – AVAILABLE
MP 72.6 – Terrapin Mountain Widening – Adopted
MP 74.7 – Thunder Ridge Area – Adopted
MP 75.2 – Arnold Valley Widening(north) – AVAILABLE
MP 75.3 – Arnold Valley Widening(south) – AVAILABLE
MP 76.5 – Apple Orchard Widening – Adopted
MP 78.4 – Sunset Field Overlook – Adopted
MP 79.7 – Onion Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 79.9 – Black Rock Hill Widening – Adopted
MP 81.9 – Headformost Widening – Adopted
MP 83.1 – Falling Cascades Area – Adopted
MP 83.5 – Flat Top Mountain – Adopted
MP 83.5 – Flat Top Mountain Summit – Adopted
MP 86 – Sharp Top Mountain Area – Adopted
MP 86 – Sharp Top Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 89.4 – Upper Goose Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 90 – Porter's Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 91.8 – Mills Gap Widening – Adopted
MP 92.1 – Purgatory Mountain Widening – Adopted
MP 92.5 – Sharp Top Widening – Adopted
MP 93.1 – Bobblet's Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 95.2 – Pine Tree Overlook – Adopted
MP 95.3 – Harvey's Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 95.9 – Montvale Overlook – Adopted
MP 96.2 – Iron Mine Hollow Widening(north) – Adopted
MP 96.4 – Iron Mine Hollow Widening(south) – Adopted
MP 97 – Taylor Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 99.6 – The Great Valley Overlook – Adopted

 

Roanoke – VA/NC Border (MP 106-217)

MP 107 – N&W Railroad Overlook – Adopted
MP 107 – Coyner Mountain Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 110 – Read Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 111 – Stewart's Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 113 – Roanoke Basin Overlook – Adopted
MP 115 – Roanoke River Area – Adopted
MP 115 – Explore Park Road, 3 Overlooks – Adopted
MP 120 – Roanoke Mountain Loop, 5 Overlooks – Adopted
MP 120 – Roanoke Mountain Loop, 5 Overlooks – Adopted
MP 121 – On Mill Mountain Spur Road Gum Spring Overlook – Adopted
MP 121 – On Mill Mountain Spur Road Chestnut Ridge Overlook – Adopted
MP 123 – Buck Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 126 – Masons Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 129 – Metz Run Overlook – Adopted
MP 129 – Poages Mill Overlook – Adopted
MP 130 – Roanoke Valley Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 130 – Lost Mountain Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 133 – Slings Gap Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 134 – Bull Run Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 135 – Poor Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 139 – Cahas Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 144 – Devils Backbone Overlook – Adopted
MP 145 – Pine Spur Overlook – Adopted
MP 154 – Smart View Overlook – Adopted
MP 155 – Smart View Area – Adopted
MP 158 – Shortt's Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 162 – Rakes Mill Pond Overlook – Adopted
MP 168 – Saddle Overlook – Adopted
MP 169 – Rock Castle Gorge – Adopted
MP 169 – 12 O'Clock Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 179 – Round Meadow Overlook – Adopted
MP 189 – Pilot Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 190 – Puckett Cabin Area – Adopted
MP 203 – Granite Quarry Overlook – Adopted
MP 204 – Virginia Piedmont Overlook – Adopted

 

VA/NC Border – Crabtree Falls (MP 217-340)

MP 219 – Fox Hunter's Paradise Overlook – Adopted
MP 228 – Osbourn Mountain View Overlook – Adopted
MP 230 – Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook – Adopted
MP 233 – Stone Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 234 – Bullhead Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 235 – Mahogany Rock Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 236 – Devils Garden Overlook – Adopted
MP 237 – Air Bellows Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 239 – Brinegar Cabin Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 241 – Fodder Stack Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 241 – Wildcat Rocks Overlook – Adopted
MP 242 – Alligator Back Overlook – Adopted
MP 243 – Bluff Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 245 – Basin Cove Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 253 – Sheets Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 260 – Jumpin' Off Rocks Parking Area – Adopted
MP 264 – The Lump Overlook – Adopted
MP 267 – Mt. Jefferson Overlook – Adopted
MP 268 – Betesy's Rock Falls Overlook – Adopted
MP 270 – Lewis Fork Overlook – Adopted
MP 272 – Cascades Overlook – Adopted
MP 272 – Cool Springs Baptist Church & Jessee Brown Cabin Pulloff – Adopted
MP 273 – Tompkins Knob Area – Adopted
MP 274 – Elk Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 277 – Stoney Fork Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 278 – Osborne Mountain View Overlook – Adopted
MP 278 – Carroll Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 281 – Grandview Overlook – Adopted
MP 285 – Boone's Trace Overlook – Adopted
MP 290 – Raven Rocks Overlook – Adopted
MP 290 – Yadkin Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 290 – Thunder Hill Overlook – Adopted
MP 293 – Moses Cone Overlook – Adopted
MP 295 – Trout Lake Area – AVAILABLE
MP 295 – Sims Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 296 – Sims Pond Overlook – Adopted
MP 297 – Price Lake Overlook – Adopted
MP 297 – Lakeview Overlook – Adopted
MP 297 – Boone Fork Overlook – Adopted
MP 299 – Cold Prong Pond Overlook – AVAILABLE
MP 300 – View of Calloway Peak Overlook – Adopted
MP 300 – Boone Fork Area – Adopted
MP 301 – Green Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 302 – Pilot Ridge Overlook – Adopted
MP 302 – View Wilson Creek Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 302 – Boulder Field Overlook – Adopted
MP 303 – Rough Ridge Parking Area – Adopted
MP 304 – Wilson Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 304 – Yonahlossee Overlook – Adopted
MP 304 – Linn Cove Area – AVAILABLE
MP 305 – Stack Rock Parking Area – Adopted
MP 305 – Beacon Heights Area – Adopted
MP 307 – Grandfather Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 307 – Grandmother Parking Area – Adopted
MP 308 – Little Bald Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 308 – Flat Rock Overlook – Adopted
MP 310 – Lost Cove Cliffs Overlook – Adopted
MP 316 – Camp Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 316 – Linville Falls Spur Road – Adopted
MP 317 – Linville River Area – Adopted
MP 318 – North Toe Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 321 – Chestoa View – Adopted
MP 323 – Bear Den Overlook – Adopted
MP 326 – Heffner Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 327 – North Cove Overlook – Adopted
MP 329 – The Loops Overlook – Adopted
MP 330 – Table Rock Overlook – Adopted
MP 337 – Deer Lick Gap Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 339 – Three Knobs Parking Overlook – Adopted

 

Crabtree Falls – Cherokee (MP 340-469)

MP 342 – Black Mountains Overlook – Adopted
MP 344 – Buck Creek Gap Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 345 – Singecat Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 348 – Big Laurel Camp – Adopted
MP 349 – Curtis Valley Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 349 – Laurel Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 350 – Mt. Mitchell Overlook – Adopted
MP 350 – Green Knob Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 352 – Bald Knob – Adopted
MP 355 – Ridge Junction Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 360 – Walker Knob – Adopted
MP 361 – Glassmine Falls Overlook – Adopted
MP 363 – Greybeard Mountain Overlook – Adopted
MP 364 – Craggy Dome Overlook – Adopted
MP 372 – Lane Pinnacle Overlook – Adopted
MP 374 – Bull Creek Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 377 – Tanbark Ridge Overlook – Adopted
MP 377 – Tanbark Ridge Overlook (B) – Adopted
MP 380 – Haw Creek Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 385 – US 74 Intersection Ramp – Adopted
MP 389 – US 25 Intersection Ramp – Adopted
MP 394 – French Broad Overlook – Adopted
MP 396 – Walnut Cove View – Adopted
MP 397 – Sleepy Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 398 – Chestnut Cove Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 400 – Bad Fork Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 401 – Wash Creek Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 402 – Beaver's Dam Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 403 – Stony Bald Overlook – Adopted
MP 404 – Big Ridge Overlook – Adopted
MP 404 – Hominy Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 405 – Mills River Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 408 – Mt Pisgah Parking Area – Adopted
MP 408 – Buck Springs Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 408 – Flat Laurel Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 409 – Funnel Top Overlook – Adopted
MP 410 – The Pink Beds Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 411 – The Cradle of Forestry Overlook – Adopted
MP 412 – Cold Mountain Parking Area – Adopted
MP 412 – Wagon Road Gap – Adopted
MP 413 – Pounding Mill Overlook – Adopted
MP 416 – Cherry Cove Overlook – Adopted
MP 416 – Log Hollow Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 417 – Looking Glass Rock Overlook – Adopted
MP 418 – East Fork Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 419 – Graveyard Fields Overlook – Adopted
MP 419 – John Rock Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 422 – Fetterbush Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 422 – Devil's Courthouse Overlook – Adopted
MP 423 – Mt Hardy Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 424 – Courthouse Valley Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 424 – Herrin Knob Parking Widening – Adopted
MP 425 – Wolf Mountain Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 425 – Rough Butt Bald Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 428 – Bear Pen Gap Parking Area – Adopted
MP 428 – Spot Knob Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 428 – Caney Fork Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 429 – Beartrap Gap Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 430 – Beartrail Ridge Parking Area – Adopted
MP 431 – Cowee Mountain Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 431 – Haywood-Jackson Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 431 – Richland Balsam Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 433 – Lone Bald Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 433 – Roy Taylor Forest Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 435 – Doubletop Mountain Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 436 – Licklog Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 437 – Grassy Ridge Mine Overlook – Adopted
MP 439 – Steestachee Bald Overlook – Adopted
MP 439 – Cove Field Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 440 – Saunook Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 441 – Waynesville Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 441 – Standing Rock Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 442 – Rabb Knob Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 442 – Balsam Gap Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 445 – The Orchards Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 445 – Mt. Lynn Lowry Overlook – Adopted
MP 446 – Woodfin Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 447 – Woodfin Cascades Overlook – Adopted
MP 448 – Wessner Bald Overlook – Adopted
MP 449 – Scott Creek Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 449 – Fork Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 450 – Yellow Face Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 451 – Browning Knob Overlook – Adopted
MP 452 – Cranberry Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 452 – Woolyback Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 453 – Hornbuckle Valley Overlook – Adopted
MP 454 – Thunderstruck Ridge Overlook – Adopted
MP 455 – Fed Cove Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 456 – Soco Gap Overlook – Adopted
MP 456 – Jonathan Creek Overlook – Adopted
MP 458 – Plott Balsam Overlook – Adopted
MP 458 – Heintooga Spur Road 3.6 Black Camp Gap Area – Adopted
MP 458 – Heintooga Spur Road 1.3 Mile High Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 458 – Heintooga Spur Road 1.4 Maggie Valley Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 458 – Heintooga Spur Road 2.3 Lake Junaluska Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 458 – Heintooga Spur Road 3.3 Horsetrough Ridge Parking Widening – Adopted
MP 459 – Lickstone Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 460 – Bunches Bald Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 461 – Jenkins Ridge Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 462 – Big Witch Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 464 – Thomas Divide Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 467 – Ballhoot Scar Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 468 – Raven Fork Parking Overlook – Adopted
MP 468 – Oconaluftee Parking Overlook – Adopted