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Highway 16: Wilkesboro to Glendale Springs, Blue Ridge Escarpment, North Carolina
Photo: Bruce Tuten from Savannah, Georgia, United States · CC BY 2.0

Drives North Carolina Boone, Blowing Rock and the High Country

Highway 16: Wilkesboro to Glendale Springs

NC 16 · Millers Creek → Glendale Springs

Sweeping15.8 mi20 min2,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 3,100 ftOne way
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The drive

NC 16 leaves Millers Creek, near Wilkesboro, and heads northwest through Wilbar, climbing along Piney Ridge. At Horse Gap, 3,110 feet up and the highest point on the highway, it enters Ashe County and meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The drive ends just past the Parkway crossing at Glendale Springs, where Holy Trinity Episcopal Church stands. The church was built in 1901, closed in 1946, and was restored starting in the late 1970s. Ben Long and about 20 assistants began painting frescoes on its walls in 1980. The drive is 15.8 miles and takes about 20 minutes, with sweeping curves.

Along the way

  1. Millers Creek (US-421)
  2. Glendale Springs
Elevation
2,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 3,100 ft
Millers CreekGlendale Springs
Curves
Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches
Millers CreekGlendale Springs
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The parish keeps the church open to visitors, supervised by trained docents. It is at 120 Glendale School Road.
  • The Parkway south of the NC 16 crossing has sporadic single-lane closures for paving, according to the NPS.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NCDOT DriveNC: traffic and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does NC 16 from Millers Creek to Glendale Springs take?

NC 16 from Millers Creek to Glendale Springs is 15.8 miles and takes about 20 minutes.

What is in Glendale Springs?

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs, built in 1901, has frescoes begun by Ben Long in 1980.

What you get in the app

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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 16: Wilkesboro to Glendale Springs, from Millers Creek to Glendale Springs