The Parkway extends 469 miles from its terminus in Rockfish Gap, Virginia, to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina. Each mile brings new surprises, as the traveler encounters forests, barrens, and breath-taking panoramas. Ranger and naturalist William Lord takes the interested reader through the Blue Ridge, mile by mile, mountain by mountain, as he describes the wonders of wildlife that abound in this National Park. From the Shenandoah Valley to the spectacular whitewater gorge of the Nantahala, this guide gives both the novice traveler and the experienced explorer another reason to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway once again.