Yonahlossee Overlook — Attraction in Banner Elk

The Yonahlossee Overlook was a great little overlook on the Blue Ridge parkway near Blowing Rock, NC. We easily spent an hour here (to be honest 20 minutes was a six year old melt down about not being first into the minivan, but the other 40 minutes was lovely)

When you park, take the path to right, it’s about a tenth of a mile, and the guard rail is between you and the road. The path is a wide enough to walk while holding a child’s hand, and the incline on the other side made me nervous but we held the almost two year olds hand or carried him the whole time. There is a Little Rock outcropping to sit and just gaze at the mountains and if you walked all the way to the right you get some good views of the Linn...

Excellent location for a stop. A short walk from the overlook stop back towards the viaduct provides spectacular views of the scenery or the viaduct itself. Despite the southeast facing nature, the sunrise is obstructed by the eastern ridge. This may not be the case in the fall/winter, but summer months results in beautiful golden hour viewing but no true sunrises. Still a wonderful stop providing completely unobstructed views of both the landscape and some really cool blue ridge parkway...

Yes, you can park here to get the "postcard photo" of the Linn Cove Viaduct! Park and walk down the path toward the bridge, right where the wood railing stops and stone begins, cross the road to the right, there's a little path up to a big rock you can climb on and get this photo. This will save you the long hike from the visitor center. Although the trail from the visitor center is absolutely worth it, this is easier. October colors...