NC-Heel
Regular Member
Are there any issues I should be aware of for OC'ing on the Blue Ridge Parkway in N.C. and Va.? I will be on a motorcycle.
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Blue Ridge Parkway NC/Va
- Thread starter NC-Heel
- Start date
chiefjason
Regular Member
Two issues come to mind. The first is that you cannot carry inside a NPS building that houses employee offices. The good news is that these have huge and obnoxious signs. The second is that you can't OC on a State Park in NC. Which would rule out Mt Mitchell, some trails around Grandfather Mtn, and Mt Jefferson around Jefferson, NC. If you are just riding the parkway it's not a big deal. There may be some I'm missing but those are the ones that come to mind. I OC around the Boone/Linville area when I am up there hiking and have not had any issues. I've run into several rangers on trails and in the front country.
NC-Heel
Regular Member
Thanks, I wasn't sure since it is not a "National Park" But the land on either side is owned by the National Park System And there is United States Forestry Service Land close by.
Chap
Regular Member
I just rode my bike across the Blue Ridge Pky. I didn't take my pistol since I was riding the Rolling Thunder run in DC. Plus I was heading to MD afterwards. ( no reciprocity with MS )
I did see one sign on the roadway which said something like. "No guns" I didn't see anymore just the one. It was a typical sign similar to a speed limit sign. ( black and white ) when heading north it will be in the right hand side. ( I don't know what state ) I should have turned around and snapped a picture of it. I'm sure it's just one they forgot to remove when the law changed.
http://www.nps.gov/blri/parknews/new-firearms-regulations.htm
Here is a great site I check before traveling.
http://www.handgunlaw.us/
I did see one sign on the roadway which said something like. "No guns" I didn't see anymore just the one. It was a typical sign similar to a speed limit sign. ( black and white ) when heading north it will be in the right hand side. ( I don't know what state ) I should have turned around and snapped a picture of it. I'm sure it's just one they forgot to remove when the law changed.
http://www.nps.gov/blri/parknews/new-firearms-regulations.htm
Here is a great site I check before traveling.
http://www.handgunlaw.us/
Maverick9
Regular Member
More importantly, especially since you're riding a MC, keep in mind that on the Parkway, tourists are not looking at the road or where they're going a lot of the time. They're looking at the scenery.
Ride cautiously, and good luck.
Ride cautiously, and good luck.
papa bear
Regular Member
i would like to know where that sign is to see if it needs to be removed. i am a member of both the VCDL and the GRNC. thanks
Chap
Regular Member
Yep sorry my bad for not getting a pic and location of the sign.
If NC-Heel doesn't find it during his ride. I might be returning in a week or so. If I do I'll be sure to document with a picture, lat & Long or general location by Pky mile mark. I'll be sure to post it for you papa bear.
Chap
chiefjason
Regular Member
You are good to OC on National Park Service, Forest Service, and Gamelands in NC. It's just the State parks. You can CC on state parks though. So if you have a CC permit, NC recognizes all of them now. Forgot to mention that earlier. Any trails leading off the parkway to state park land will have a large trailhead sign too.
And the Parkway is owned and operated by the NPS. It's a full blown national park unit, they don't technically consider it a park though. Just odd legal stuff. It's the most visited park unit in the country. Traffic enforcement is by NPS.
Oh, and have a great time. It's beautiful.
And the Parkway is owned and operated by the NPS. It's a full blown national park unit, they don't technically consider it a park though. Just odd legal stuff. It's the most visited park unit in the country. Traffic enforcement is by NPS.
Oh, and have a great time. It's beautiful.
NC-Heel
Regular Member
Had a good ride. Didn't see as much of the Parkway as I had planned. Saw about 70 miles of it. I saw no gunbuster signs on my trip from Mile Marker 443 (approx) which is the US 74 interchange to Mile Marker 373 (approx) which was the Elk Ridge Scenic Roadway or something like that. Ended up meeting some guys from N.H. when I got lost and rode with them so it took me 4.5 hours to get on the Parkway instead of the 1.5 hours I had planned. Had several OC interactions that I will document on the OC report thread later.
Chap
Regular Member
Ok I just rode the entire Pkwy north and failed to find the sign. Only two reasons.
1) I didn't remember correctly where I was when I saw the sign.
2) I was day dreaming and missed it while northbound.
I'm turning around and heading southbound now. ( 2nd chance to find it ) if I don't find it then I will concede that I was wrong.
In the big picture it's good that I didn't find it, but damn I hate being wrong. More to follow in a few days.
Chap
Chap
Regular Member
Sorry guys weather too bad for me to finish my ride south on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.
Guess the sign I saw will stay a mystery to me.
"More likely than not" it must have been on a different road than the Pkwy.
Chap
Guess the sign I saw will stay a mystery to me.
"More likely than not" it must have been on a different road than the Pkwy.
Chap
nikogto
Regular Member
I hate to dig up an old thread, but I'm thinking about me and the wife riding the parkway this weekend towards Asheville and maybe staying the night there and riding back to Mooresville Sunday. From what I've read above, it's safe to OC while motorcycle riding the parkway? I like to be better safe and ask, then sorry and in trouble later. Thanks all.
Guns are generally legal on the parkway/NPS land. NPS follows state law. Restricted are facilities where a federal employee regularly works - such must be properly signed.
https://www.gunowners.org/a051309.htm