Hiking Through a Rhododendron Tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Craggy Gardens offers one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch far into Tennessee to the west and toward central North Carolina to the east. These views can be enjoyed from the parking area near the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and along nearby hiking trails.
A large picnic area is popular with visitors. On clear nights, Craggy Gardens is also a perfect place for stargazing.
In early summer, Craggy Gardens becomes a mountain-sized bouquet when the rhododendron thickets on the upper heights cover the landscape in pink and purple. A favorite hiking trail, Craggy Pinnacle, leads hikers through a “tunnel” of rhododendron to the summit which offers 360-degree view. This 1.5 mile round trip is an easy walk.
Books, CDs, souvenirs, and a photographic display can be found in the Visitors Center, and restrooms are on premises. There is no food concession.
Hours of Operation
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center: Memorial Day through October
This section of the Parkway is closed in the winter months.
Hours of operation are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.
Location
Craggy Gardens is approximately 24 miles from Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Craggy Pinnacle parking lot Milepost 364.1
Craggy Gardens picnic grounds Milepost 367.5
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center Milepost 364.6
For more information, contact:
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
195 Hemphill Knob Road
Milepost 384
Asheville, NC 28803
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center: 828-298-5330
Visitor Information Recorded Message: 828-298-0398
http://www.nps.gov/blri
Jettie Rae’s Oyster House is a neighborhood destination where families and friends gather. It is a place to celebrate life, to toast after a long day of hard work, and to enjoy the finest oysters and freshest fish available. We offer quality cocktails and honest food done well in a relaxed and casual environment. We look forward to seeing you!
Inspired by a heritage stretching from Maine to the Gulf Coast, we celebrate the Gullah Geechee, French, Native American and Spanish cultures that have influenced the preparation of our seafood. We honor sustainability, we’re conscious of our source and we support the families and individuals who make their living from our coastal waters.
Let the local experts guide you to our favorite “secret spots” along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in our National Forests. Home to 250+ waterfalls and miles of hiking trails, the stunning scenery does not disappoint. Our tours provide a unique blend of storytelling, sightseeing and nature discovery! We visit historical sights and 150-foot waterfalls, and even enjoy wild food foraging on all of our tours. Our aim to provide a soul-nurturing experience in the outdoors is the reason why our guests return to experience these mountains with us, again and again! If you have a half day to spend with us, we recommend the Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway Tour so you can capture multiple highlights of western North Carolina, including the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway, historic sites and “secret” hidden waterfalls. For those who have just a few hours to spend with us, we recommend the Guided 2-Hour Waterfall Hike. Private Tours, fully customizable, are also available and offer a range of hikes!
Our private waterfall & hiking tours are tailored to your skill level. Do you want a long hike? We have them. Are you looking for a big pay-off without to much hiking? We have that too! The best part is, regardless of your physical ability, we can get you away from the tourists and up close & personal with amazing waterfalls. This is more of an adventure then your standard tour. We our open year round & 7 days a week!
Experience expertly prepared cuisine that emphasizes estate-raised and local ingredients, with world-class service inspired by the Vanderbilts. White linen tablecloths, fine china, and crystal add to the elegance, along with sweeping views of the estate.
Dinner showcases the season’s finest meats, seafood, and hand-crafted pastas served in a beautifully appointed location perfect for celebrations.
Visit our historic winery on Biltmore’s 8,000-acre estate nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. With your general admission Biltmore ticket, enjoy complimentary tastings of more than 20 of our handcrafted wines as our wine hosts take you on a journey through our reds, whites, and rosés. Linger at our wine bar where you can taste our reserve and sparkling wines by the glass along with delectable cheeses and locally-made truffles. Shop for your favorites and take home a taste of Biltmore. Interested in seeing our vineyards? Our exclusive “Vine to Wine Tour” combines an excursion over the river to our breathtaking vineyards on the west side of Biltmore—an area that most guests never see—with a walking production tour and wine tastings throughout the experience.
Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains just south of Asheville, The North Carolina Arboretum offers acres of cultivated gardens and groomed trails featuring some of the most beautiful, botanically-diverse plants in the region.
For more than 30 years…Cultivating Connections between People, Plants and Places…amid a 434-acre public garden, The North Carolina Arboretum is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest just south of Asheville and adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 393. Surrounded and crisscrossed by forested coves and meandering creeks in the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum is set in one of the most beautiful natural settings in America.
The Arboretum was established as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina System by the State General Assembly in 1986, nearly a century after Frederick law Olmsted, the Father of American Landscape Architecture, first envisioned a research arboretum as part of his legacy and plan for George Vanderbilt at Biltmore Estate.
Vinnie’s features “Old School” Neighborhood Italian food reminiscent of Brooklyn, the Bronx, and the North End of Boston. It is hard to put into words the feeling of being in one of those great neighborhood Italian restaurants we have all grown up with. The aromas of home-cooked Italian food along with the rhythmic sounds of martinis being shaken to chilling perfection sets the tone for a night of fun and laughter. This combination of homemade cuisine and warm, friendly atmosphere makes you feel like part of the family. It means you could only be at Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian®.
Caribbean inspired vegetarian friendly restaurant and bar with three locations in Asheville. A local and tourist favorite serving neighbors near and far with laid back vibes and fresh flavors.
Visit the working studios and galleries in Asheville’s River Arts District and experience hundreds of artists– painting, pottery, jewelry, glass, metal, wood and much more. Open every day.
Chai Pani literally means “tea and water.” It’s slang in India for going out for a cup of tea, a tasty bite, a snack, or “a little something.” In Downtown Asheville (and now in Downtown Decatur) it means innovative, fun, affordable and delicious Indian cuisine. We’d go so far as to say it’s “mindblasting.”
Some of the best food of any country is its street food, and Chai Pani features chaat – crunchy, spicy, sweet, tangy, brightly flavored Indian street snacks. And because there’s nothing more comforting and delicious in any culture than a home cooked meal, Chai Pani also brings you thalis – traditional family meals highlighting India’s amazing culinary diversity.
A blend of great regional micro brewed beers and bluegrass acts. Both traditional and alternative bluegrass acts represented at this annual event. 1PM – 7 PM.
Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventures is a mountain bike guide service that specializes in professionally guided trips in Pisgah and Dupont. Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventures offers self-supported guided trips that we will customize to your individual tastes and ability levels. We offer 1/2, full, and multi-day trips that include a snack and lunch. Let the locals show you the best Pisgah has to offer.
Visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center – home to over 60 species of animals including river otters, black bear, red wolves and cougars. The Western North Carolina Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity. The Nature Center is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Less than 230 facilities in the United States have met the high accreditation standards set by AZA.
Black bears, red wolves, otters, and red pandas await you! Learn more about the special animals you’ll see who call the WNC Nature Center home.
Wai Mauna SUP Tours was founded in 2015 in Asheville, North Carolina, when the founder, Kyle Ellison, moved from his childhood home in Maui to the mountains of North Carolina. Looking for a way to “bring Maui to the Mountains,” he named the new company “Wai Mauna SUP Tours”—a phrase which, in Hawaiian, means “fresh water in the mountains”—and offered guided paddleboard trips on Asheville’s French Broad River.
In 2021, Wai Mauna SUP Tours expanded to Driggs, Idaho, and now offers paddleboard rentals and shuttles on the scenic Teton River, with plans to expand in coming years to a mountain town near you!
Consistently creative cuisine — Chestnut offers classics done right with a touch of cutting edge. From house cured meats to perfect mashed potatoes to local steak cooked to a turn to local vegetables fresh from the farmer; it’s not what you do, but how you do it.
WHERE DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE COMES FOR. Creative Cuisine & Craft Cocktails
Since 2012 Chestnut has been making a gustatory impression on Downtown Asheville. Located at 48 Biltmore Avenue Chestnut is in close proximity to some of the city’s favorite venues including the Fine Arts Theater, Diana Wortham Theatre, and The Orange Peel.
Roman’s is an award winning deli located in the heart of Downtown Asheville, NC. We have been selected as one of the top 12 Deli’s in North Carolina & Asheville’s Best Burger. Local draft beer & cider accompanies our menu which is created with numerous local ingredients that are brought fresh to our door daily. We offer made from scratch sandwiches, salads & soups and more. Located in the historic Vanderbilt Apartments building between the Pack Square Library & US Cellular Center. Great views of downtown & the historic Basilica St. Lawrence Church.
We are very proud of being a locally owned & operated family business. Our restaurant was built from top to bottom by our brothers. We have a small dedicated staff that we consider family who are ready to meet you on your next visit.
Thank you for being curious about who we are. We really hope to see you soon!
Allanstand Craft Shop
Established in 1895, Allanstand Craft Shop is nationally recognized as the oldest craft shop in America. Explore artisan-made jewelry, textiles, pottery, glass, and much more, crafted by the members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, over 400 artists and craftspeople of Southern Appalachia.
AILY CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS
March – December
Visitors are invited to watch and interact with Guild artisans demonstrating their craft in the lobby from 10am-4pm. Visit craftguild.org/events or call 828-298-7928 for the schedule.
Cúrate is a celebration of authentic Spanish cuisine. For those who have visited Spain, the Cúrate menu will bring back memories of the country’s best jamón Ibérico, vermuterías, and lively tapas culture. In recognition of the restaurant’s all-Spanish wine list, Cúrate was listed as one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2018. Cúrate means ‘cure yourself’ in Spanish, reflecting the belief held by Chef Katie Button and her family that there are curative effects in sharing good food and wine with family and friends. Experience the essence of Spain in downtown Asheville… one plate at a time.
In the heart of downtown Asheville many gather to participate listen and dance to the Asheville Drum Circle. Everyone is welcome to dance, drum, and celebrate with one another. It starts around 6:00 pm and ends at 9:45 pm. The drum circle has been active since 2001. For another authentic yet very different Asheville longtime music event, go to the Shindig on the Green.
copper crown is the result of a dream 11 years in the making. Our mission is to provide a neighborhood gathering place in our community of East Asheville where delicious food and drinks may be enjoyed by all. We are nestled between many neighborhoods, including Beverly Hills, Haw Creek, Oteen and others. We are conveniently located en route to the Blue Ridge Parkway and a few minutes drive away from downtown.
We aim to provide a little something for everyone and offer dinner seven nights a week. Our menu reflects both the diversity of our influences (American South, Italy, & New Orleans to name a few) as well as our support of many local farms. Our bar program features signature cocktails, local package and draft beer selections, and a full wine list. We are offering both indoor and covered patio dining, reservations are highly recommended due to limited availability. We appreciate your support and look forward to feeding you!