Craggy Pinnacle Trail
By Joanne O'Sullivan
Craggy Pinnacle Trail Details
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1.2 miles total (.6 mile each way)
Region: Blue Ridge Parkway
Duration of hike: About 40 minutes round trip
Elevation gain: 250 feet
Type: Out & Back
Blazes:
Facilities & Parking: Parking lot, restroom facilities at the the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
Features: Kid Friendly, Pet Friendly, Views
Directions to Trail Head | Open in Google maps
LEAVE NO TRACE TIP
Craggy Gardens features a fragile ecosystem and delicate plants, remanants of flora from the ice age. Stay on the trail and within the rock wall at the summit to protect what makes Craggy Pinnacle so special. Volunteers with the National Park Service are often there to help educate you about staying on trail and to answer any questions.
What To Expect
Craggy Pinnacle is one of the closest hikes to Asheville that offers dramatic views, so this hike is ideal when you’re short on time. To get to the Pinnacle trail, you’ll take the Blue Ridge Parkway north and pass the Visitor Center and proceed to the Craggy Dome parking lot at Milepost 364.1.
The entrance to the trail is on the left side of the parking lot. It enters a thicket of rhododendron so heavy that at times it feels like you’re in a tunnel. The plus side of this is that the trail is cool, even in the summer. You’ll find stone steps cut into the trail to ease the grade, but be aware that while short, this climb is relatively steep. Toward the top, you emerge from the thicket onto a windswept, grassy hill. At the top, there’s a viewing area surrounded by a low stone wall. Looking south, you’ll see the Parkway below you; to the west, rows of mountains that reach all the way to Tennessee. For obvious reasons, this hike is popular around sunset. You won’t have the place to yourself in June when the rhododendron is in bloom: truly a sight to see. Fall is also a popular time on this trail. Keep in mind that it can be as many as 20 degrees cooler here than in Asheville, so dress in layers.
The Pinnacle isn’t the only trail in the area. From the south end of Visitor Center or north end of the Picnic Area, you can access the more level Craggy Gardens Trail. From the Visitor Center, the trail is a mostly gentle climb .3 miles to a shelter, then an additional .5 miles to the Picnic Area, partially through a forest. The whole trail is about 1.4 miles and takes about 20-25 minutes out and back.
The Douglas Falls Trail (sometimes called the Carter Creek Trail) is part of North Carolina’s Mountains to Sea Trail and can be accessed from the north end of the Picnic Area or by going 1 mile north of the Visitor Center to Graybeard Overlook. It’s a strenuous 8-mile round trip hike to the 70-foot Douglas Creek Falls. The hike takes about 5.5 hours and has a 1,350-foot elevation change.
Hike Details
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Difficulty: Moderate |
Distance from Asheville: About 24 miles; 35-minute drive |
Length: 1.2 miles total (.6 mile each way) |
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Region: Blue Ridge Parkway |
Duration of Hike: About 20 minutes each way to the Pinnacle and back |
Elevation Gain: 250 feet |
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Pet-Friendly? Leashed dogs welcome |
Multiple Use? No |
Blazes? No |
Facilities & Parking: Parking lot, restroom facilities at the the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center |
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Natural Features: Sunset views, mountain laurel in bloom in spring, fall color |
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Directions
From downtown, take the Blue Ridge Parkway 18 miles north. Pass the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at Milepost 364.6. After passing through the Craggy Pinnacle tunnel, turn left into the Craggy Dome parking lot at Milepost 364.6
GPS Coordinates
N35° 42.010', W82° 22.779'
We all love the Blue Ridge Mountains! By working together, we can keep these incredible outdoor spaces beautiful and pristine for years to come. Make it your nature to Leave No Trace: Leave what you find, pack out what you pack in, stay on designated trails and plan ahead. To learn more about the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, CLICK HERE >>.
