June and July are the months to visit this spectacular showplace of Catawba rhododendron and other late-blooming wildflowers. Long after the blooms have been spent on the lower elevations, the violets, blackberry, May-apple, and Turkscap lily come into their own in this high-altitude portion of the Parkway. This heath bald is only one of many throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains; the name refers to the bald appearance of the mountaintop, which is in reality covered with grasses or mountain shrubbery.



Places to Visit:
Visitor Center - This small visitor center includes a book shop as well as exhibits on the natural history of the Craggy Gardens area.
Picnic Area - There is an 86-site picnic area with comfort stations located at milepost 367.6.
Things to Do:
Trails - There are three trails easily accessible from the area, all approximately one mile long, but varying in intensity. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail (milepost 364.1) offers a panoramic view of the surrounding heath bald and the summer rhododendron display. The Craggy Gardens Self-Guiding Trail takes you from the visitor center to the picnic area and incorporates signs explaining the heath and its various plant life. Also accessible from the picnic area is a section of the Mountains to Sea Trail, which, when complete, will stretch from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.