Monarch Butterfly Migration NC Mountains

The Monarch Butterfly Migration NC Mountains section is a sight to see! Here is a list of butterfly and pollination gardens in the Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain area where you might catch sight of the monarch butterflies headed south. The migration usually takes place around mid-September in the NC mountains. You can see where the monarchs currently are by viewing the map and updates, starting mid-August, at JourneyNorth.org

Appalachian State University Pollination Gardens

Downtown Boone Pollinator Habitat Gardens

Appalachian State University
The campus of AppState in downtown Boone is home to various gardens that attract Monarch butterflies:

Broyhill Meadow: located on the bank behind the Schaefer Center
Anne Belk Hall Garden: left of the main entrance
Mountain Laurel Hall Garden: (formerly Appalachian Panhellenic Hall) has a pollinator garden adjacent the building
Roots Garden on Howard Street
Child Development Garden on Poplar Grove Road
Sustainable Development Garden below the Living Learning Center

Watauga County Public Library

Orchard at Altapass

Located at Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 328.3 in Spruce Pine, the orchard is the perfect place to stop on a long journey south. The orchard is not only home of a butterfly garden and a natural home of milkweed, they also raise Monarch butterflies in terrariums in the orchard store and educational center.

View a great handout on the lifecycle of a Monarch Butterfly HERE

Blue Ridge Parkway

The wide open meadows and fields along the Blue Ridge Parkway are the ideal setting for Monarch migration viewing. Here is a list of our favorite viewpoints in the High Country area: