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All the United States North Carolina Black Mountain Craggy Gardens Rhododendron Tunnels

Craggy Gardens Rhododendron Tunnels

Gnarled canopies of pink and purple wildflowers arch over the trail to the summit.

Black Mountain, North Carolina

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Meg Neal
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Trail at Craggy.   Selena N. B. H./cc by 2.0
The trail winds upward through the rhododendron at Craggy Rock.   Gail Casteel/used with permission
Rhododendrons at Craggy Gardens.   Brad Kebodeaux/cc by-nd 2.0
Pathway.   Selena N. B. H./cc by 2.0
Craggy Gardens   Katy DeCorah/used with permission
The view from the top of Craggy Gardens.   Kadoka1/cc by-sa 3.0
The hike can be pretty magical in heavy fog too!   maryn67 / Atlas Obscura User
  Rose Stuart / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Craggy Gardens is an exquisite stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, high up in the Great Craggy Mountains. Its mile-high peaks are located to the north of Asheville climbing over 3,500 feet in elevation.

The Craggies are known for the exposed surfaces, or “balds,” found at this high altitude.  What makes Craggy Gardens extra special, though, is the source of the second part of its name: the show-stopping display of colorful wildflowers that bloom along these high slopes.

The star of this floral landscape is the native Catawba rhododendron. In the springtime, the large pink and purple blossoms blanket the green mountain with color. A gnarled thicket of tall rhododendron bushes twist and bend into natural tunnels that arch over the winding trails leading to the summit. The effect is like something out of a fairytale.

These floral canopies dot the popular Craggy Pinnacle Trail along its short path to the summit, where the scenery only gets more spectacular. The high peaks offer 360-degree vistas over the Southern Appalachians.

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Mountains Trails Flowers Gardens Natural Wonders Flora Panoramas Explore Asheville Nature Plants

Know Before You Go

The rhododendron tunnels can be seen along the Craggy Pinnacle Trail. Drive past the Visitor Center to the “Craggy Dome” upper parking lot at Milepost 364.1 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail head is on the left, indicated by a sign. The hike is about 1.4 miles round trip to the summit, Craggy Pinnacle.

The best time to visit is in June when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

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Added By

Meg

Edited By

MrCarl, maryn67, Rose Stuart

  • MrCarl
  • maryn67
  • Rose Stuart

Published

August 2, 2018

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  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Craggy+Gardens+Visitor+Center/@35.7054703,-82.3754542,16.25z/data=!4m15!1m9!2m8!1sCraggy+Gardens!3m6!1sCraggy+Gardens!2sBlue+Ridge+Pkwy,+Asheville,+NC+28805!3s0x8859f3fc754bf85f:0x10d34cd6f16ef598!4m2!1d-82.480861!2d35.5865668!3m4!1s0x885a02c8c45be419:0x429399551c01476d!8m2!3d35.7002664!4d-82.3796336
Craggy Gardens Rhododendron Tunnels
364 Blue Ridge Pkwy
Black Mountain, North Carolina, 28711
United States
35.700611, -82.379539
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