"There has never been a better time to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway! This updated edition of Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway is ideal for anyone who uses the Parkway as a portal to the Southern Appalachian experience. It includes the best trails in the national forests, state parks, and private preserves that line the 469-mile roadway from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina making it a single-volume solution for the serious explorer, whether on foot or by car. Look inside to find: hikes suited to every ability, from 0.1-mile nature walks to 13-mile backpacks, with options for longer treks; accurate directions to both popular and less-traveled trails; up-to-date trail descriptions and detailed trail maps; difficulty ratings and elevation gain for each hike; mileage log for the entire Parkway and a guide to wildflowers; tips for zero-impact hiking, trail etiquette, and hiking with kids"--Amazon.com.