Visit
Blue Ridge Parkway

The Linn Cove Viaduct is a 1243 foot segmental elevated bridge on the Parkway that sweeps in an "s" shape along the rugged and rocky perimeter of Grandfather Mountain. An acclaimed engineering feet, it is the most complicated bridge ever built. The 153 pre-cast section of the Parkway is at 4100 feet elevation, and it was the last section of the Parkway to be completed. The view is breathtaking, and the ride is exciting as that the bridge appears to be suspended in mid-air.

Grandfather Mountain's delicate ecological system and unusually large number of globally imperiled ecosystem was cause for concern when plans for building this section of the Parkway started. They had to protect the special environment of Grandfather Mountain. The engineers were presented with the challenge of building a road without damaging one of the world's oldest mountains. The viaduct was designed by Figg and Muller Engineers who took painstaking measures to leave the smallest ecological footprint possible when designing and building the viaduct.

Building this section of the Parkway finally began in 1979, and the viaduct was completed in 1983. Perseverance and innovation paid off when it came to designing and building this architectural wonder.

The Linn Cove Viaduct is an extremely popular photo opportunity. It has a vastly different appearance depending on the time of day and weather conditions. If you want to get a great photo of the Linn Cove Viaduct the best lighting happens early to mid-morning.

Visit the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center located at the south end of the Viaduct to learn the story of its construction and hike along the short paved trail that leads out to a closer look to the underside of the viaduct.

You'll also find hiking trails around the bridge that connect with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Make sure to hike these amazing trails to get an up-close view of the magnificent bridge and its construction. Hike along the 13.5 mile Tanawha Trail through dense forest around huge boulders for a wooded view of the Linn Cove Viaduct.

Motorists are presented with magnificent views as they ride along the gentle curves of the Viaduct that hug the slopes of Grandfather Mountain.

Linn Cove Viaduct is located at milepost 304.