The Blowing Rock back to main autumn page
Talk about long-range views! Experience the splendor of autumn at 4,000 feet, with views of Pilot, Hawksbill, Grandfather, and Mount Mitchell. Undisturbed forest in John’s River Gorge and the Globe valley stretch out before you, part of the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest. Stand on the rock itself, and feel the crisp mountain air whip around you. The Blowing Rock is famous for its winds, funneled up from the gorge below, sometimes returning light objects (like that beautiful red maple leaf) that have been tossed over the edge. According to Native American legend, these winds returned a warrior back into the arms of his lover after a tragic leap from the Rock.
The town of Blowing Rock takes its name from this natural wonder, and the rock is located on Hwy 321 within town limits. It is North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction.
