Beaver Dam Gap Overlook · National Park Service
This overlook features a lush, mid-elevation forest and trail access with a view of mountain ridges across the Parkway. The long Mountains-to-Sea Trail has entrance points at this overlook and the trail is also part of the Shut-In Trail. This section of the trail is challenging. Along the hike there are some nice examples of original stonework from when George Vanderbilt constructed the trail in the 1890's to connect the Biltmore Estate to his hunting lodge at Buck Spring. This lesser visited parking area is mainly used as a rest stop, trail access, and lunch spot. The grassy area between the parking lot and the Parkway is a nice place to spread a picnic blanket and relax a while. Nearby Beaver Dam Creek flows north from the gap to the French Broad River. In early history before settlement, beavers were abundant in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Early explorers noted that beavers and their dams were prevalent. Beavers alter the landscape freely to meet their habitat needs, creating ponds and wetlands that also met the needs of other wildlife. Settlers and fur trappers came after the explorers and removed millions of beavers for their luxurious fur. The important wetlands and ponds beavers had created disappeared, as well as the wildlife that used them. Unregulated trapping caused their complete disappearance in the late 1890’s. From the 1930’s to the 1950’s beavers were reintroduced into many areas in North Carolina. In the late 1980’s they began to re-colonize rivers and streams along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Managing a major scenic motor road for practically year-round use takes unique management skills. Sharing the roadsides, creeks, culverts, and drains with beavers can be an effort. Their innate behavior is to clog culverts, block spillways, dam streams, and divert water which can cause hazards for drivers. However, they also create essential habitat for a variety of wildlife along the Parkway and beyond, which increases biological diversity. The Parkway welcomes the beaver and recognizes the balancing act required to manage this important species. Visit Beaver Dam Gap Overlook, reflect on the Blue Ridge Parkway’s ecological significance, sample the Mountains-to-Sea Trail with a quick hike, have a picnic, and enjoy a relaxing moment on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check the conditions of the area before you visit.