Blue Ridge Parkway: Craggy Pinnacle Trail (Blog Hike #896)

Trail: Craggy Pinnacle Trail 
Hike Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens
Geographic Location: northeast of Asheville, NC (35.70470, -82.37411)
Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2022
Overview: An out-and-back, steep and rocky in spots, to great views from Craggy Pinnacle.
Trail Information: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/craggy-gradens-trail.htm
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=920354
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From the US 74A entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the east side of Asheville, drive the Parkway north 20.7 miles to the Craggy Dome Overlook parking area on the left at mile marker 364.1.  The Craggy Pinnacle Trail starts at the south side of this parking lot.

The hike: For my introduction to Craggy Gardens, see my hike on the Craggy Gardens Trail.  True to its name, the Craggy Pinnacle Trail takes you to one of the highest points in the Craggy Mountains.  The short hike means that you will not likely be alone here, but the 360-degree views offered by Craggy Pinnacle are the best on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mount Pisgah to the south and Mount Mitchell to the north.  Thus, any effort you exert and crowds you endure are well worth the trouble.

Trailhead at parking area

            From the south side of the parking lot, walk up the stone steps and then turn right to begin heading for Craggy Pinnacle.  The trail frequently alternates between gradual grades and short, steep, rocky sections.  Some gnarled trees grow among the rocks here, and Catawba rhododendron surrounds the trail.  The rhododendron blooms in June, decorating the hillside with splotches of pink.  Large amounts of angelica and goldenrod were in bloom when I came here in early September.

Major trail intersection

Climbing on rocky trail

            The climb continues as you pass a small rock shelter and ascend another set of stone steps.  Just past 0.3 miles, you reach a major trail intersection with options going straight, left, and right.  All three options lead to great viewpoints, so choosing a trail here is like choosing which piece of candy to eat first.  I chose to turn left to head for the summit and highest viewpoint first.

View east from summit

View south from summit

            More stone steps lift you to the summit of Craggy Pinnacle at 0.4 miles.  From this point, interesting things can be seen in all directions.  Craggy Dome looms to the north, the Blue Ridge Parkway winds past Craggy Garden Visitor Center to the south, North Fork Reservoir sits at the base of the Craggy Mountains to the east, and the ridges of Pisgah National Forest roll out to the west.  A volunteer ranger was stationed here on my visit to make sure visitors stay in the viewing area so as to not destroy the fragile and rare vegetation that lives on the rocks up here.  Multiple viewpoints offer great views in all directions, and venturing beyond the stone walls that mark the viewing area's boundary offers no advantage.

West-facing viewpoint

            After enjoying this view, retrace your steps down to the major trail intersection and turn left.  A narrow trail with some high stone steps leads to a south-facing viewpoint that offers a view similar to the summit but from about 50 feet lower.  Retracing your steps back to the major trail intersection and turning left again leads to a west-facing viewpoint.  Large numbers of blueberries grow here in late summer.  Retracing your steps back to the major trail intersection and turning left one more time takes you back down to the parking lot to complete the hike.