There are endless scenic drives that will take you through the most beautiful landscapes in Virginia. While most of us have enjoyed the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, there are several lesser-known routes that are arguably just as beautiful. Today, we'll introduce you to one of our favorites: Big Walker Mountain Scenic Drive. Prepare to be dazzled as you enjoy what might just be one of the best scenic drives in Virginia.
The Big Walker Mountain National Forest Scenic Byway is a stretch of Route 52 near Wytheville, Virginia.
The drive measures just 16 miles in length and offers travelers a unique perspective of mountains and farmland along the way.
The road reaches its maximum incline at the iconic Big Walker Scenic Overlook. Both the drive and the mountain are named for Dr. Thomas Walker, who passed through in 1749 looking for a way into Kentucky.
The elevation of the mountain is an impressive 3,405 feet high. The view of these gentle blue and green Appalachian Mountains seems to stretch on forever.
In fact, once you arrive at the lookout, you can climb this tower for even more elevation gain! This 100-foot lookout tower is not for the faint of heart.
Also located along the drive is the BW Country Store, an authentic country store with homemade gifts, artisan goods, ice cream, and all sorts of oddities you'll enjoy browsing. It's the perfect way to end this gorgeous mountain drive.
You can access this scenic byway from exit 47 off of I-77. Have you enjoyed this scenic drive before? Do you agree that it's one of the best scenic drives in Virginia? We'd love to hear all about it! And don't forget to take a look at our list of road trip essentials before embarking on your adventure.
Ready for another road trip? Check out these 9 scenic backroads:
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/virginia/scenic-backroads-va/
Love all things Virginia? Check out this stunning tour of Shenandoah National Park:
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