Price Lake is one of those rare mountain trails accessible to a wide range of pedestrians. It’s 2.3-mile length may seem intimidating to the non-hiker: Rather than 2.3 miles, think of it as 25 100- to 200-yard walks interrupted by pauses to oooh and ahhh.

Price Lake, located at Milepost 296.7 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, was once the private retreat of Greensboro insurance poobah Julian Price. About 4,200 acres of Price’s retreat was donated to the National Park Service, and today it’s a popular stop for motorists and cyclists traveling the 469-mile scenic highway. Alas, most folks who stop at Price Lake chose to admire it from the relative sterility of the main parking lot. A quick photo op and it’s back in the car to the next destination.

Why spend an hour or two hiking the trail around Price Lake? Invest 90 seconds and we’ll show you.