Craggy Gardens — Attraction in Black Mountain

Southwest of the Craggy Hardens visitors center is the 0.7 mile trail of the same name. Highly recommend hiking poles (which we purchased at the visitors center) as many stepping stones are loose and lopsided and will move or flip. With the trail muddy from fog and drizzle and step motions of varying heights, plus elevations I would have easily injured myself several times without poles.

The trail has elevation change in the 200 foot range and is not handicapped accessible. It is probably a light to medium difficulty for pure walk hiking, there are no ledges or bridges to negotiate.

There is a shelter and picnic area. We paused to chat with a fellow hiker who was eating a snack. Took us about an hour round trip.

Really enjoyed this trail as it was challenging enough for our first hiking pole use and demonstrated how proper equipment can make a hike less stressful and more enjoyable than constantly staring at the ground for obstacles and giving a little bit more time for pleasant chatter and viewing yet feel a bit more challenged tha a flat trail.

Would visit this trail and nearby trails again it was a positive experience and...

Craggy Gardens cover several miles of Blue Ridge Parkway roadway, with several places to stop and enjoy the area. There are multiple overlooks, a small Visitor Center with store, public restrooms open seasonally, large well-maintained picnic area also with restrooms, and many options to take trails to several Pinnacles, a pavilion, and flats to experience being on top of the world. A volunteer crew repaired at least one Trail last year for better footing. The area is famous for its rhododendrons that bloom in...

The tree leaves are in full color in the lower altitude parts of the parkway. As you climb higher, fewer trees still have their leaves. When we reach the elevation around Craggy Gardens, it was beautiful. All the twigs and branches were coated in ice or hoarfrost. They were spectacular. The road north of Craggy Gardens was closed the first week of November, so it was probably I see on that stretch. However, you could get as far as Craggy Gardens and really...