It is amazing to me that rhododendron grow abundantly in the wild. I love to spend my weekends just driving along the parkway and stopping at the overlooks. Craggy Pinnacle is a peak inside of Blue Ridge Parkway. Old Mitchell Trail & Mount Mitchell High Loop, Mount Mitchell Summit & Balsam Nature Trail, Best fall foliage hikes near Asheville and in the NC mountains, Linville Gorge hiking, camping & adventure guide, Blue Ridge Parkway hikes: our favorite summit views, Roan Mountain & the Roan Highlands on the Appalachian Trail, 2019 Fall color forecast for Asheville, NC, BEST HIKES ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN NC, check for trail updates and parkway closures. 854 followers . Easy hike only 18 miles from Asheville. LOCATION:on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC, PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list, OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 779 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.). Located 40 minutes northeast of Asheville, this crown jewel of the Great Craggy Mountains features spectacular 360° views from the … Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Advertisement. Before it gets late, so you can enjoy the views, head to the Blue Ridge Parkway located right outside the city. Spring was just really starting on the mountain top. The twisted branches The trail can be accessed from Craggy Dome Parking Overlook, and is a must-do for those capable of a short walk. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Follow an historic packhorse route used by kauri bushmen in 1920s. This gives me 15 minutes to hike to the peak and 30 minutes to enjoy the full rise. Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail offers amazing views, gorgeous wildflowers, and a relaxed hike. Walking through in October the leaf-less plants made me feel like I was in a scene from Sleeping Beauty. http://www.mtntravelguide.com, Bring hiking shoes or sneakers, a camera, and a bottle of water. Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle Hike Beautiful flowers and great views are what this hike are all about. Richard, Susie, Kari Jo, Jen Wang, Andreas Wittich, Eric Stevens, Marc De Vos, Ece, Lysi, Project Forever, + 5 more. The terrain is rocky and rooty, covered in leafy fern, silvery lichen, and soft green moss. Enjoy! The hike backtracks from the lower overlook, veering right at the trail junction to climb to the summit. Very busy, lots of wet rocks but easy gradual climb - worth it to see views at the top! I usually spend the day visiting restaurants and breweries around Asheville. The Craggy Gardens Pinnacle trail is a great short hike, that really provides some of the most outstanding views in the area and on the Parkway during spring, summer and fall. It has been a week of morning hikes. I believe people are better than they think they are. Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. More near Craggy Pinnacle Hike. It was also extremely easy to find- from downtown, take the Blue Ridge Parkway 18 miles north. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Chase some more exceptional mountaintop views and climb through rhododendron blooms by the millions on the Craggy Gardens Trail. Cute short hike! DIFFICULT 7.6 mi. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is an easy 1.2-mile hike to one of the best views on the Blue Ridge Parkway. :) The overlooks at the summit provide a full 360 degree view of the … This 1.5-mile-long round-trip trail takes you to the top of Craggy Pinnacle, at an elevation of about 5,900 feet. Rocky and a little muddy so be sure to wear good shoes. Free parking is available at the trailhead at MP 364 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first part of the trail is covered by color as the plants create a canopy in which you walk under on the trail. The trail then leans more upward until it reaches a fork to the right where there is a plateau and many scenic overlooks. Your trail hike starts in the parking lot. Did you have trouble accessing the trail, or notice some recent trail updates or storm damage? Views were goods. Scenic Overlook via Craggy Gardens Trail . Most of the rhododendrons have already dropped their leaves so no pretty colors on the trail. (Before you go, check for trail updates and parkway closures on the official Blue Ridge Parkway website. DIFFICULT 3.5 mi. Douglas Falls. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a prime example: it’s a short trail, spanning less than a mile round trip, but the trail’s pinnacle views are simply stunning, offering sweeping summit vistas from a pair of high-elevation overlooks. Nice, short trail. At 5,892 feet, it’s a typical high summit in the Great Craggy/Black Mountain range. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. Many of the forest’s plants are rare or endangered, so please hike carefully, remain on marked trails, and don’t climb trees or rocks. Given the Parkway’s lofty elevations, many hikes off the Parkway don’t need to trek far to score some fantastic panoramic views or explore unique, high-elevation forests. Short, steep, but not too hard. Short hike - but very crowded. Craggy Pinnacle Hike. This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beautiful in summer when the rhododendron and mountain laurel are in bloom. Lots of people, worth the view! This short mile-high hike offers huge rewards. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, as the Parkway passes through the Craggy Gardens, is the very beautiful and popular Craggy Pinnacle which you can easily reach via a 20 minute hike on a well maintained trail up the side of the peak. Outdoors. The views from the top are still very pretty with lots of colors popping. Craggy Pinnacle is considered one of the most scenic, short hikes along the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hike departs from a signed trailhead at the Craggy Dome parking area (view maps and driving directions), ascending stone stairs from the southernmost edge of the parking area. Crowded, still easily navigated. Plan a day hanging out downtown, then hike the Craggy Pinnacle Trail and see a 360 degree mountain view. Hike to stunning summit views at Craggy Pinnacle, exploring an exceptionally beautiful forest just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and climbing through abundant blooming Catawba rhododendron. Short trail with easy elevation gain to the top. Road to Craggy is iced over, cannot get to the gardens or the overlook coming from the west. Late November is pretty cold on the mountain and it gets windy at the top. The weather was a bit more extreme at over 5,000ft. This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Twisted trees grow in the high-elevation Birch forest. Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a 1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Barnardsville, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. Can get crowded at the top depending on the time you go. The Pinnacle Trail tops out just shy of 6,000 feet and provides a panoramic vista with benches and excellent viewing perches. 5. Super easy out and back trail. At nearly 5900 feet elevation, the summertime breeze is especially refreshing at this altitude, and often much cooler than nearby Asheville. I plan to get to the parking lot about 45 minutes before sunrise. Pass the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at Milepost 364.6. Accessed by a relatively easy 1.4-mile (round trip) trail that gains less than 300 feet in elevation, it’s nevertheless an enjoyable and scenic hike and well worth the slight effort to gain the summit. More near Craggy Pinnacle Hike . Located about 24 miles from Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens stays busy and is a good choice for outdoor enthusiasts … See all photos near Craggy Pinnacle Hike. Craggy Pinnacle is a commanding peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This popular walk leads to Pinnacles Hut, and on to the summit of the Pinnacles with spectacular views of the Coromandel Peninsula. The forest of rhododendron, beech, buckeye and other hardwood trees twist, gnarl and nob over the rugged terrain. View this post on Instagram. Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. After passing through the Craggy Pinnacle tunnel, turn left into the Craggy Dome parking lot at Milepost 364.6. On Saturday, we see an early morning break in the rain clouds and decide to drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway to hike Craggy Pinnacle. The scenery there is something you’d see in a fairy tale movie or a picture-perfect postcard. This short hike of 1.4 miles round-trip leads through a beautiful tunnel of trees where you'll climb over rocks and tree roots. Located 40 minutes northeast of Asheville, this crown jewel of the Great Craggy Mountains features spectacular 360° views from the stone observation deck on its summit. The hike passes a small, moss-covered concrete spring house at .2 mile, continuing the summit-bound climb. The hike reaches the trailhead at just under one mile, completing the hike. The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders along a towering ridge crest, offering some pretty exceptional roadside views from this historic and iconic American drive. Although it is foggy and overcast we still have a view. Descending from the summit, the hike reaches the visitor’s center parking area at just under 1.9 miles, completing the hike. ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT ERIC CHAMPLIN OR SUMMIT19 STUDIO LLC. Make the trek up the Craggy Pinnacle Hike at Craggy Gardens and witness the splendor of scenes from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains atop Craggy Pinnacle. This moderate 20-minute walk begins from the upper level of the Craggy Dome Parking Overlook (just north of the tunnel that is in view from the visitor center). If you’re wanting to see a sunset you got a great view, but be prepared to be surrounded by people everywhere! The lower lookout just allows you to see the visitor center and the mountains in the distance about a 180 degree view. Would definitely do again when the rhododendrons are in bloom. DIFFICULT 3.3 mi. This trail was very busy but not as crowded as I thought it would be. Of all the trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this offers one of the most exceptional views for the least amount of walking. And sunsets from the summit are simply spectacular. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Still getting the hang of the GoPro..sorry it's shaky, Enjoy! Had a great time hiking with my parents. 6. Next time I’ll more than likely do a sunrise hike up. EASY 1.9 mi. A short scenic drive north of Asheville is all it takes for some of the best views along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hike was super easy and only 1.2 miles round trip with no chance of getting lost along the trail. Craggy Pinnacle Hike, Blue Ridge Parkway. Walker Knob Overlook via Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. Douglas Falls. Plan your hike with the Craggy Gardens trails page. A few of the off shoot trail are so narrow it is hard to pass or let people by. We didn't want to hike Craggy Gardens if things weren't in bloom. Check out more of our favorite. Very busy. Trailful Outdoor Co. is a registered trademark of Summit19 Studio LLC.Privacy Policy | Terms of Use No photo, illustration, data, or text on this website may be reproduced, published, or distributed without prior written permission and license. Amazing views at Pinnacle! the third highest mountain in the Great Craggy Mountain sub-range of Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. We stopped at Craggy Pinnacle to check things out. The definitive go-to for classic mountain vistas near Asheville. Wildflowers stretch high towards the ample sunlight on the open, breezy, view-filled peak. Blooming rhododendrons put on a fantastic display along this trail in late June. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. at Craggy Gardens. The fall of course springs with beautiful fall colors, and also blooming Mountain Ash (the red in the photo below). We enjoyed the exploration. The sign at the beginning states that it is a 20 minute hike out to the shelter and back, which is roughly correct if you hustle, but you'll want to take more time than that and explore all that is to be found in the spectacular environment around you. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from March until October. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This ecosystem is unique: it’s a rocky, high-elevation, often windy and exposed terrain. Hike the Craggy Pinnacle Trail just north of the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center for multiple expansive views from the summit of Craggy Pinnacle. By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins Craggy Pinnacle is considered one of the most scenic, short hikes along the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We hike under arched passage ways leading up to a small clearing. VISIT OUR SHOP ABOUT US OUR STORY CONTACT US. Plan the hike on a nice sunny day. The trail arcs sharply southbound at .3 mile, passing a small cave under a chiseled, angled rock outcrop. Craggy Pinnacle Trail is just a 20-minute hike. Douglas Falls. Craggy Gardens: Craggy Pinnacle Hike - See 660 traveler reviews, 390 candid photos, and great deals for Asheville, NC, at Tripadvisor. The hike takes about 5.5 hours and has a 1,350-foot elevation change. The chiseled, green-blue hued mountains of the Pisgah National Forest extend to the right and left, offering particularly beautiful views of their lushly forested, time-weathered peaks. Today we caught the tail end of the show, but it was still good. A walled, terraced overlook offers stunning 360-degree views. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a short out-and-back trail, entirely uphill going in and downhill coming out, that leads to a stunning 360-degree viewing platform. Craggy Pinnacle. Short, but beautiful hike in Asheville, North Carolina. Contact us here, and thanks for helping us keep this site updated! EASY 1.2 mi. Craggy Pinnacle Hike (Blue Ridge Parkway): Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, this is a moderate hike of around 1.4 miles total roundtrip.The hike begins at Craggy Dome parking area and heads up through changing scenery and a series of gnarled trees on a beautiful, rocky trail before gaining a beautiful view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains after about half a mile. The trail treks through thickets of blueberries before catching vast panoramas from the lower overlook. Craggy Gardens Trail is a 1.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Barnardsville, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Remove this comment. Sunlight filters through the Catawba rhododendron canopy, warming the forest in golden hues. 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