Last fall, while on a two-day mini-adventure, I decided to stop back by Craggy Gardens for a visit and a chance to take in some stunning scenery. Located northeast of Asheville, it is one of the more popular attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
There are a total of three trails along this 3-mile stretch of the parkway. The Craggy Gardens Trail, The Douglas Falls Trail and The Craggy Pinnacle Trail. The first two can be reached from the visitor center. The third is located just on the other side of the Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel and has its own parking area. On this particular adventure I decided to take on the Craggy Pinnacle Trail.
After spending the afternoon on the southern side of the Parkway, taking in all the beautiful autumn colors the mountains had to offer, I decided to try to catch a sunset up on the Pinnacle. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, fog rolled in as I got within a mile of the parking area and put a damper on my plans. However, as you’ll see below, it did make for some amazing pictures along the trail to the top of the pinnacle.
After a good night’s rest, I returned the next morning to give it another go. Though a bit chilly, it was an absolutely beautiful day. As I navigated my way through the amazing tunnels of bare rhododendron bushes and wonderous gnarled and twisted trees, remnants of the first snow of the year could still be seen. As I continued along the trail, I came across quite a few twisted, jagged, rocky crags for which the gardens get their name. It was almost like a scene out of The Lord of the Rings. Quite the sight to see.
The trail itself is not long, 1.3-mile out and back, but it is strenuous and well worth the effort. The 360˚ views from the near 5900’ Pinnacle are absolutely breathtaking. The colorful Blue Ridge Mountains, clouds, and the lake down in the valley made for some stunning high-res landscape photos. The unbelievable sense of peacefulness was just the icing on the cake. Nature just never ceases to amaze.
I hope the pictures below, from Craggy Gardens, give you a sense of being there yourself. All these photos, as well as any photo on my site, are available in many different print options including digital download. Check out my Photo Collections to find the perfect print for your home or business. Also, please be sure to check me out on Facebook and Instagram. There you’ll find reels and videos from more of my adventures. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and I hope you have a fantastic day!
