Craggy Pinnacle Summit — Attraction in Black Mountain

Bottom Line: My family loves this hike. It is an easy to moderate trail and approx .7 mile in-and-out (so approx 1.5 miles). Great views with gorgeous rhododendron in the Spring. Well worth the 30 to 40 minute trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville.

The Nitty Gritty: Expect temperatures to be 10° (or more) cooler than they are in Asheville and more windy. This is especially important to remember during early Spring and Fall when it is a brisk sunny 65° and you mistakenly head up the BR Parkway in shorts and a tank top only to find yourself in cloudy conditions at 50 to 55° facing 25mph gusts at the pinnacle.

Arriving before 11am will keep you in front of the crowds, but there is plenty of parking. We have a 2 y/o and a 4 y/o that do well on this hike. But the pace is a little slow, so we're enjoy not having so many people around. The trail is narrow most of the way, you'll most likely hike up single file, with exception of a few spots .

The Craggy Garden visitor center is on the way (coming from Asheville) but expect to use a Port-a-John during the off season.

Bring a camera, the terrain on the trail is spectacular. The wind twisted rhododendron and mt laurel is a sight to behold. And in May/ June you'll see them in bloom. Of course the views at 6,000 foot peak are phenomenal.

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If you live in Asheville and you're looking for a great way to showcase all the best the area has to offer by way of nature, this is where it's at. The stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway between here and Asheville is breathtaking, but also fairly short. The hike to the summit is also short-less than a mile. The views from both the summit and lower overlook are jaw-dropping and should both be taken in. The hike up through the Catawba rhododendrons is like walking through a fairy land from a distant time. My daughter says she feels like Snow White in the forest. On a foggy-ish day, I say it looks like the beginning of The Sound of...

Beautiful views to far away places. Fairly easy walk from parking lot to summit. Those with any difficulty walking may not be able to navigate the many natural rocks along the pathway, but others should find it easy and children should not have a problem. There is a covered shelter with benches (no tables) about half way to the summit. Enjoy and get ready for amazing photos (if the sky is clear). It's probably an amazing place to see the stars if you're allowed to walk at night, and you feel comfortable and safe. There are no lights up there. Bring flashlights and...