On my Birthday Trip to North Carolina, after our visit to the Biltmore House and Gardens on August 3, 2014, we then took the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Blowing Rock (where we were spending the night)... It was a gorgeous day --and when we got up to the Craggy Gardens area (at 5500 feet in elevation) along the parkway, the weather was CLEAR... (NOTE: it is usually foggy when we have been in that area in the past!!!).. We were so happy --so we decided to finally take that hike (which we had never done before) to the Craggy Pinnacle. Click on the photos for enlargements.
I loved seeing the American Flag blowing in the breeze at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.
Even though there is an elevation gain of almost 400 feet when hiking to the Pinnacle, it is NOT a long hike (only 1.4 miles round trip)... Once we got to the top, there were two overlooks. We took the higher one (so we ended up at 5892 feet in elevation with tons of great views).
The trail was in good shape and I would love to hike this one in June --when the Rhododendrons are blooming. WOW!!!! About halfway up the mountain there was a rock overlook. I took this photo of George at this big rock.
I always look for wildflowers and interesting things along the trail. I loved this interesting flower... I think it was a Queen Anne's Lace BEFORE the lace appeared!!!! HA
This is one of many photos I took during that hike.... The sky/lighting looked different whichever direction you were facing. Such beauty all around ---and another time one should visit this area is when the leaves change colors in Autumn.
George took this photo of me when we were at the TOP overlook at the Craggy Pinnacle (5892 feet)... I felt like I was on TOP of the world.
Mountain range after mountain range could be viewed from that overlook... I love the pretty clouds also that day.
This is a view from the top of that mountain looking down on the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway where my first photo above was taken. Many of you have probably been to the Visitor Center --but have you been to the Craggy Pinnacle? (Now look back at the first photo at the beginning of this blog post... That photo was taken from the visitor center looking up that mountain... We were on the top of that mountain when this photo was taken looking the other way. Amazing, huh?)
I was on another of the viewing areas (there were about 3-4 different areas up there) when I took this picture of George.
Here's another view from the top of Craggy Pinnacle. What fantastic views from there!!! Wow!!!
From that large overlook (which even had benches to sit and relax)---one can see from various viewpoints all around the area. I loved seeing the SUNBEAMS in this photo, and of course, those interesting clouds. (Looks like a group of animals dancing in the sky! See them???)
The water you see in the distance is the Burnett Reservoir (where Asheville, NC gets some of its water). Wouldn't it be fantastic to be here at this overlook to see either a sunrise or a sunset???? Fantastic!!!
Hiking on that trail, I (of course) had to take some pictures of the FERNS in that area...
I loved seeing the wildflowers from this angle ---with the Blue Ridge Parkway in the distance.
Here is another photo showing the Burnett Reservoir and the wildflowers. Don't miss seeing the beautiful clouds also.
Here is another photo of the Craggy Pinnacle (see the overlook WAY up there on the tippy-top?) as taken from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center after our hike.
AND--here's one last photo that George took of us (using his tripod) when we were on the top of that pinnacle at the overlook. That hike was truly one of the highlights of our entire trip that week --although we always have fun no matter what we do!
If you ever get a chance to hike to the Craggy Pinnacle, do it!!!! That short hike is worth every bit of huffing-and-puffing you will do going UP that mountain!!!!! HA.... Seriously, it's not a bad hike AT ALL....If you love mountain tops, check this one out!
Hugs,
