Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC, Craggy Gardens and the Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail are among the most scenic areas in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This short trail offers stunning 360-degree views, vibrant rhododendron blooms in the summer, and breathtaking fall colors, making it a favorite destination for hikers and photographers. Craggy Gardens also has other trails, a visitor center, and a beautiful short tunnel.
We've visited this trail several times over the years, and the view never disappoints.
Our guide will tell you everything you need to know to make the most of your visit and hike up the Craggy Pinnacle Trail, from tips on when to go to nearby attractions.
Need to Know |
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Location: Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC |
Accessible: Yes to the viewing area, but not to the bottom or top of the falls themselves |
Dog Friendly: Yes, but must be on a leash |
Distance: 1.4 miles round-trip |
Difficulty: Moderate |
Features: Beautiful and unique birch and rhododendron woods, panoramic 360 degree scenic views |
Directions: From Asheville, take The Blue Ridge Parkway going north for about 18 miles. When you reach the Craggy Gardens visitor center, continue on through the tunnel, and the next left is the parking area for the trail. |
Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail
The trailhead begins at the Craggy Gardens Pinnacle parking lot, just past the Craggy Gardens visitor's center and on the other side of the short Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel. There is ample parking for this very popular and often busy trail.
The trail head begins at the top of the parking lot and through a tunnel of Rhododendron, as seen in the photo below.
The trail climbs through a beautiful forest full of wildflowers, Rhododendron, and birch trees that are gnarled and bent into interesting shapes. As you approach the top, there are several small side trails. Take them, they offer some unique and gorgeous views, away from the crowds.
On the way up, the trail will split near the top. Stay left to visit the summit, and go right for a short walk to a grassy bald with incredible views north and west of Asheville (shown below).
The Summit
At the summit, you'll find three different viewing platforms, all at about 5,892 feet. You have a 360-degree view, where you can sit along the rock walls and enjoy the panoramic views, like this one:
To the west, you can see I-26 as it goes north west from Asheville into Tennessee.
To the south, you'll see the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.
To the east, you'll see North Fork, Asheville's water source.
Looking north, you can see Craggy Dome, and on a clear day, the peak of Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain in North Carolina. In the photo below, Mount Mitchell is the peak that looks like a pyramid in the far distance, left center of the photo.
A park ranger is often at the summit with pamphlets for area hikes, and is available to answer questions about what you see, and about Craggy Pinnacle.
You'll return to the parking area the same way you came up.
Weather at Craggy Pinnacle
Weather at Craggy is difficult to predict. You'll want to wear layers. The summit can often be 15 degrees cooler than temperatures in Asheville, and can also be very windy.
This section of the parkway, because of the elevation, is often closed during the winter months.
If you arrive and Craggy Gardens is fogged in, just be patient, as it will clear. This is particularly true in the mornings.
Nearby Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel
The Craggy Pinnacle tunnel offers a unique photo opportunity, where you can stand on one side of the tunnel, and take a photo through the tunnel of the other side. The tunnel is located south of Craggy Pinnacle Trail and Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
Heading north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, before reaching the parking area for Craggy Pinnacle Trail, you'll reach the visitor center. There are some really nice views from here, along with a gift shop, information area, and restrooms.
Wrapping Up
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.
Visiting in the spring is particularly beautiful because of the blooming rhododendrons in May - June. The fall of course is full of beautiful fall colors, and also blooming then is Mountain Ash (the red in the photo below).
