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.). As you emerge from the stairs you will see a 360 degree lookout with a beautiful scenic landscape of the Blue Ridge mountains, the Asheville watershed lake, and more. Hiking to the pinnacle is best in early summer when the rhododendrons are in bloom, but it is still just as impressive in later seasons. If you’re wanting to see a sunset you got a great view, but be prepared to be surrounded by people everywhere! Plan a day hanging out downtown, then hike the Craggy Pinnacle Trail and see a 360 degree mountain view. The hike takes about 5.5 hours and has a 1,350-foot elevation change. Travel tip: Driving North from Asheville the trip is only 24 miles, but takes closer to 45 minutes due to the slower speed limits on the parkway. In late spring, the Craggies erupt into color when Catawba rhododendron bloom in brilliant pink and purple flowers by the literal millions. View this post on Instagram. It is located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail arcs sharply southbound at .3 mile, passing a small cave under a chiseled, angled rock outcrop. © 2014 - 2020 Trailful Outdoor Co. // Made in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Before it gets late, so you can enjoy the views, head to the Blue Ridge Parkway located right outside the city. Craggy Pinnacle Hike. The North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains are covered with them. Your trail hike starts in the parking lot. VISIT OUR SHOP ABOUT US OUR STORY CONTACT US. The hike backtracks from the lower overlook, veering right at the trail junction to climb to the summit. It can be completed as a day or overnight walk. The trail dives into a dense, gnarled forest, with sunlight casting stunning arrays of shadows on the forest floor. 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. The trail arcs sharply southbound at .3 mile, passing a small cave under a chiseled, angled rock outcrop. The lower lookout just allows you to see the visitor center and the mountains in the distance about a 180 degree view. DIFFICULT 7.6 mi. Outdoors. A few of the off shoot trail are so narrow it is hard to pass or let people by. Earth Trekkers. 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. It's only a 1.4-mile round-trip hike to the top of the 5,892-ft. summit, Craggy Pinnacle. Next time I’ll more than likely do a sunrise hike up. Craggy Pinnacle Trail is just a 20-minute hike. Very busy. 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. Douglas Falls. 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. From the airy heights of this dramatic heath bald you’ll be able to pick out all of the highest ranges in North Carolina … Craggy Pinnacle. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is an easy 1.2-mile hike to one of the best views on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 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. The twisted branches DIFFICULT 6.7 mi. The road to Craggy via Blue Ridge Parkway is closed just past the Tanbark Ridge Overlook. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from March until October. Amazing views at the top. This two-mile round trip explores the grassy, sun-drenched summit southeast of the pinnacle, climbing through a mossy, gnarled forest to a high-elevation grassland. The summit is the perfect place to take in the view or catch a few high-elevation rays before backtracking to the trailhead. Follow an historic packhorse route used by kauri bushmen in 1920s. Plan the hike on a nice sunny day. We think the short, but beautiful hike with an amazing view will be perfect for Owen’s first hike! 854 followers . 3. Well marked. This gives me 15 minutes to hike to the peak and 30 minutes to enjoy the full rise. More near Craggy Pinnacle Hike. The first part of the trail is covered by color as the plants create a canopy in which you walk under on the trail. Road to Craggy is iced over, cannot get to the gardens or the overlook coming from the west. Sunlight filters through the Catawba rhododendron canopy, warming the forest in golden hues. Located about 24 miles from Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens stays busy and is a good choice for outdoor enthusiasts … Twisted trees grow in the high-elevation Birch forest. This ecosystem is unique: it’s a rocky, high-elevation, often windy and exposed terrain. Blooming rhododendrons put on a fantastic display along this trail in late June. The hike reaches the trailhead at just under one mile, completing the hike. EASY 1.9 mi. Take a lunch and eat at the Craggy Gardens picnic area to make a day out of it! Nice, short trail. Craggy Gardens: Craggy Pinnacle Hike - See 660 traveler reviews, 390 candid photos, and great deals for Asheville, NC, at Tripadvisor. I love to spend my weekends just driving along the parkway and stopping at the overlooks. Chase some more exceptional mountaintop views and climb through rhododendron blooms by the millions on the Craggy Gardens Trail. Had a great time hiking with my parents. Hike the Craggy Pinnacle Trail just north of the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center for multiple expansive views from the summit of Craggy Pinnacle. Crowded, still easily navigated. http://www.mtntravelguide.com, Bring hiking shoes or sneakers, a camera, and a bottle of water. Still getting the hang of the GoPro..sorry it's shaky, Enjoy! Mitchell: Just 10 miles north of Craggy Gardens is Mt. Hike to Craggy Pinnacle for sunrise or sunset. This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Great Sunsets. 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). at Craggy Gardens. MtnTravelGuide.com It is getting more crowded as Aville becomes a more popular destination. Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use! The first part of the journey is a gradual climb; then you reach a bend and a nice elevated rock with a view. Although it is foggy and overcast we still have a view. Craggy Pinnacle Hike, Blue Ridge Parkway. Views were goods. This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 2. Please always practice good trail etiquette. As mentioned in other posts it is not assessable during cold weather months unfortunately. His mission? Descending from the summit, the hike reaches the visitor’s center parking area at just under 1.9 miles, completing the hike. The landscape is exceptionally beautiful: twisted rhododendron and hardwoods densely shade a forest filled with lush, green moss and weathered high-elevation plants. Cute short hike! 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 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. Craggy Pinnacle Trail is one of the most beautiful trails to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway when the Rhododendrons are blooming forming a canopy of magenta and purple color against the greenery and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Check out more of our favorite. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. 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