Linn Cove Viaduct

Linn Cove Viaduct is a concrete bridge that curves around Grandfather Mountain for roughly a quarter mile, carrying the Blue Ridge Parkway through North Carolina's high country. The roadway follows an S-shaped path that hugs the mountainside while staying well above the ground below.

Engineers completed this structure in 1983, finishing the final missing section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that had remained incomplete for decades. Its construction represented a shift in how roads could be built through sensitive mountain environments with minimal ground disturbance.

The construction method protected Grandfather Mountain environmental features by building from top down, marking a shift toward nature preservation in infrastructure development.

A visitor center at the south end offers information, exhibits, restrooms, and access to trails where you can view the bridge from below. Plan to visit during daylight hours when mountain views are clearest and the bridge is most active with traffic.

The bridge was assembled in sections from top to bottom using a special construction method that avoided heavy equipment on the mountainside. This approach let builders suspend the structure above the slopes while keeping the forest floor largely untouched.

Location: Avery County

GPS coordinates: 36.09320,-81.81320

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:25