The most famous highway bridge in North Carolina has an interesting story to tell. From its method of construction to how it came to be, the famous Linn Cove Viaduct is fascinating beyond the way it curves into the hillside or the incredible views you can admire as you drive over the road. After driving this road and hiking below it we would highly recommend seeing this mighty feat of engineering with the most stunning backdrop in the state. This is a fascinating story about the Linn Cove Viaduct construction.

The 1,243-foot bridge known as the Linn Cove Viaduct snakes around North Carolina's Grandfather Mountain. It is perhaps the most photographed part of the Blue Ridge Parkway as it passes through North Carolina.
Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState
But the backstory indicates there may never have been a famous Linn Cove Viaduct — if not for the longstanding holdout of Hugh Morton, who refused to allow the parkway to divide his mountain. He had a private tourist attraction up there and held that splitting up his land would hurt his business. That private attraction, by the way, was Grandfather Mountain.
Flickr/Josh Tremper
So the engineers got busy plotting a way to get around Morton's mountain — and the rest is history. The last segment of the NC portion of the parkway was begun in 1979 at an estimated cost of $10 million.
Library of Congress/Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

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The groundbreaking construction involved setting into place 153 50-ton concrete segments onto footing supports. Each one of the 50-ton concrete segments was precast at an indoor facility just to the south of the bridge.
Facebook/North Carolina Department of Transportation
It took eight years to complete the Linn Cove Viaduct. The new bridge officially opened in 1987. If you want to visit, there's an overlook just to the north with a path that leads along the highway back to Linn Cove Viaduct.
alltrails.com/Kyle Ryan
Just to the south, the National Park Service maintains a staffed Visitors Center with facilities. At the far end of the parking lot, you'll encounter an entrance onto the Tanawha Trail, which travels from Beacon Heights all the way to Julian Price Park. Along the way, it travels under the Linn Cove Viaduct and offers an up-close look at this fascinating structure.
Flickr/Valerie
If you follow the Tanawha Trail you will get to witness the Linn Cove Viaduct from a completely different angle. Underneath this mighty structure, you will hear the rumble of cars as they pass but there is so much more to this trail than meets the eye. Large rock formations and overgrowth make the trail feel like you are blazing a trail through the jungle. Make sure you have the AllTrails map handy for your trip because it is easy to get off course.

Did you know the history behind the Linn Cove Viaduct construction or have you parked and walked under this amazing bridge? We’d love to know! This is one of the prettiest sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and we are blessed to have it. This is also such a great place to explore and it takes a little bit of exploring to get that iconic shot of the bridge, but if you watch this Adventuring in the Moment video you will see exactly where to go for your next hike.

Love exploring the parkway? You’ll be sure to also love some of our favorite stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway for your next trip to these scenic mountains.

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More to Explore

The Blue Ridge Parkway

Chris Dodge | October 19, 2023

What are some of the best stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Some of the best stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway include:

 

How many overlooks are there on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

The Blue Ridge Parkway has a total of 272 overlooks on this scenic drive. 

 

How long is the Blue Ridge Parkway?

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans from the southern end of Shenandoah Valley National Park to the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a total of 469 miles long.  

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Linn Cove Viaduct, 3218 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Newland, NC 28657, USA