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Craggy Gardens

Craggy Gardens

Craggy Gardens

Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 364.6)
Asheville, NC  28803
 
Hours: Visitor Center is only open between the end of May through the end of October.  Due to extreme winter weather, the Parkway is closed much of the winter in this area.

Craggy Gardens is about 20 miles North of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 364.6. Craggy Gardens is a great place for a picnic and hiking. It has gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

One of the favorite hikes for visits at Craggy Gardens is Craggy Pinnacle Trail. It is a 1.5 mile round trip hike to the top for some beautiful panoramic views. In the early summer Craggy Gardens has beautiful rhododendron in bloom in purple and pink. If hiking on the Craggy Pinnacle you will be lead through a tunnel of rhododendron to the summit which offers 360 degree view.

Because of the altitude, the climate is usually cool, so take a sweater or fleece.

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Asheville Botanical Gardens

Asheville Botanical Gardens

Asheville Botanical Gardens

151 W T Weaver Blvd
Asheville, NC  28804
(828) 252-5190

Note:
Pets, radios, and sports equipment are not allowed in the gardens. This is to help preserve the serenity for all visitors.

April through May is peak for spring blooms throughout much of the Gardens. Mid-summer through early fall is the second bloom peak.

The Gardens cover about 10 acres. There is a walking trail which is a 1/2 mile loop that leads visitors across bridges over streams, through meadows and over a woodland ridge to a wildflower cove. An authentic “dog trot” cabin and a spring house demonstrate how our ancestors lived. There is also a lovely gazebo which provides shelter in the midst of the Sunshine Meadow.

There are picnic benches and tables for visitors to have lunch or just relax and listen to the creeks ripple and birds singing.