About
Typical time2 hr 30 min
TrailheadCraggy Gardens, Milepost 364-367
ParkingBlooming rhododendron can be seen throughout the entire Craggy Gardens area. To access the Craggy Gardens Trail for a rhododendron hike, start at the visitor center.The trail begins on the southern end of the parking lot behind the rock wall.
Best season<p>The Catawbarhododendrons at Craggy Gardens typically bloom in early to mid-June. But rhododendrons and related species like mountain laurel can be seen in other areas of the Parkway through late...
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
AccessibilityBlooming rhododendron can be readily seen at Craggy Gardens along the side of the Parkway, in the picnic area, and around the visitor center. The Craggy Gardens Trail is aunpaved dirt trail that varies from 2 to 4 feet wide with moderate uphill gain and several sections of roots and rocks.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌼 Wildflowers

Western North Carolina has more vascular plant diversity than all of Europe, and the Parkway's elevation changes, high rainfall, and rich soil make it an ideal environment for plants and wildflowers, including a rare, high elevation forest that explodes with bountiful bursts of pink, purple, and white rhododendron each summer. One of the best-and most accessible-ways to enjoy these colorful blooms is by visiting Craggy Gardens. Enjoy the view as you drive to Craggy Gardens. At 5,500 feet in elevation, the vistasare spectacular on clear days. Look for blooms along the Parkway, at the picnic area, and around the visitor center. Stop in the visitor center to viewthe natural history exhibits and maybe buy a souvenir of your visit. For an up close view of the rhododendron,follow the self-guided Craggy Gardens Trail from the southern end of the visitor center parking lot. You'll hike through a stunted mixed-hardwood forest of mountain ash, birch, and beech before passing through a dense thicket of rhododendron and heath plants. This moderate uphill climb ends at a rustic trail shelter after 0.3 miles. To enjoy the"gardens," take the short spur trail to the left of the shelter. Soon, you'll reach the top of a high-elevation meadow, where you'll find unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains and adjacent Pisgah National Forest. Rhododendron bushes are abundant in the meadow. The Catawba rhododendron is a medium-sized shrub with dark, waxy leaves and pink or purple flowers. Theirbloomsusually peakfrom early to mid-June, depending on environmental factors such as rainfall, wind, and temperature. Please help protect these special resources by staying on designated trails. The high-elevation forest of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a special ecosystem that supports the survival of many unique and endemic species, including the Catawba rhododendron. A native of the eastern United States, this evergreen shrub grows above 3,000 feet on rocky, exposed ridges. The colorful blooms signal the onset of summer in the Appalachian Mountains.

Tips
Pets must be on a leash less than 6 feet long.
Location

Craggy Gardens, Milepost 364-367

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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