HikeWNC Trail Details: Craggy Gardens
Description
This excellent trail travels from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center up to Craggy Flats and Craggy Knob, then down to the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area. You will first reach the intersection with the Mountains to Sea and Douglas Falls trails. From here on, the path is shared with the Mountains to Sea Trail. If you were to turn left, a strenuous, rough descent would take you to the spectacular 70 foot Douglas Falls. There is a much easier way to the falls - but which requires a lot of driving on gravel roads! This moderately steep, rocky, sometimes wet trail travels first through a northern hardwood forest and then through a Southern Appalachain "heath bald" of mostly Catawba Rhododendrons. You will reach the old trail shelter - built out of large chestnut logs - where the trail splits. Turn left to head into the Flats, where blueberry pickin' in late August and early September abounds. This spur leads shortly to a great overlook of the North Fork Reservior and Graybeard Mountain. Continuing past the trail shelter, you descend moderately through more northern hardwoods to the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area after 0.9 miles. You can start the hike from either end, hike out-and-back or arrange a car shuttle to hike one-way. See Also Craggy Gardens Best Hike.
Details
Trailhead: Craggy Gardens Area
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 0.9mi
Steepness: Climbs Moderately
Tread Condition: Some Obstacles
Other Map ID: BRP MP 364.2
Allowed Uses: Hiking
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