Craggy Gardens
Alpine meadows and heath shrubs beside the Blue Ridge Parkway, with rhododendron blooms in June and a short trail to a summit for sunset.
Craggy Gardens sits on the Blue Ridge Parkway about 40 minutes northeast of Asheville at roughly 1,700 m. From mid to late June, vast slopes bloom with purplish-red Catawba rhododendrons. The roughly 1.5 km Craggy Pinnacle Trail from the visitor center climbs to a rocky summit with 360-degree views of the mountains, making it a popular sunset spot. There is also a picnic area and short trails. The road is often closed in winter, when the wind is strong and temperatures drop noticeably.
Opening hours
Open all day (along Park Road)
Nearby sights
- Mount Mitchell State Park
- Folk Art Center
- Western North Carolina Nature Center
- Omni Grove Park Inn
- Downtown Asheville & Pack Square
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial
- Asheville Art Museum
- Basilica of St. Lawrence