One of my favorite short hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, the Flat Rock Trail is an easy, 0.6-mile self-guiding loop that takes hikers to an extensive rock summit that affords spectacular views of the surrounding area, including Linville Valley and Grandfather Mountain (when it is not shrouded by the clouds and fog!). Informational signs can be found along the journey that provide details about native plants, trees and geological features. The Flat Rock Trail parking overlook can be found at Milepost 308.3.