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Mile 320 - Chestoa View
320.8 - Chestoa View parking area, elev. 4090.
323.1 - Bear Den parking overlook, elev. 3359. OD.
325.9 - Heffner Gap parking overlook, elev. 3067.
327.3 - North Cove parking overlook, elev. 2815.
327.5 - McKinney Gap, elev. 2790. Public crossing, right S mi.
to Spruce Pine; left 10 mi. to U.S. 221.
328.6 - Apple Orchard parking overlook, elev. 2980.5.
329.4 - Swafford Gap, elev. 2852.
329.7 - Table Rock parking overlook, elev. 2870.
330.9 - Gillespie Gap, elev. 2819. N.C. 226, right to Museum of
North Carolina Minerals, Spruce Pine, 6 mi.; Marion, 14 mi.; N.C.
226A, Little Switzerland, 3 mi.
Mile 331 - Museum of North Carolina Minerals
At the junction of the Parkway and North Carolina Highway 226
(milepost 331), the Museum of North Carolina Minerals has a visitor
center and exhibits on the varied and interesting minerals and
precious gems found in the state. There is also a book store and area
information.
332.6 - Lynn Gap, elev. 3109.
333.4 - Little Switzerland Tunnel, 547 ft. long.
333.9 - McCall Gap public road,elev. 3490. Left to Little
Switzerland.
335.4 - Bearwallow Gap and Crabtree public road (no access),
elev. 3482.
336.3 - Gooch Gap, elev. 3360. Wildacres public road.
336.8 - Wildacres Tunnel, 249 ft.long.
337.2 - Deer Lick Gap parking overlook, elev. 3452.
338.8 - Three Knobs parking overlook, elev. 3880.
Mile 339 - Crabtree Meadows
Crabtree Meadows marks the last stretch of the Parkway through the
Blue Ridge Mountains. At approximately milepost 354, the road enters
the Black Mountain Range, passes through the Great Craggies, and ends
at the Atlantic-Gulf drainage divide. One legend has it that these
Meadows were originally created by the Native American practice of
-clearing, and were probably not settled by the Europeans until
several years after the Revolutionary War.
The area makes a natural stopping place for visitors along the
Parkway. Besides its proximity to the Museum of North Carolina
Minerals, which features artifacts from the nearby Spruce Pine mining
district, the visitor can stop for the night or for a meal. In the
early summer, the Meadows becomes a showplace of wildflowers,
including the hawthorne, beard tongue, mountain laurel, and gentian.
The enterprising visitor can even hike the steep trail down to
Crabtree Falls - as long as they are prepared for the quite strenuous
climb back up!
Trails
From the developed area, the Crabtree Falls Loop Trail is a
strenuous 2.5 mile hike to beautiful Crabtree Falls. This is an
especially impressive hike during spring wildflower season.
Restaurant/gift shop
The Crabtree Meadows Coffee Shop is open during the summer months
and offers both light refreshment and includes a souvenir shop and
camp store.
Campground
The Parkway operates a campground with sites for 71 tents and 22
trailers. Facilities include water, comfort stations with flush
toilets and sinks but no showers or hook-ups.
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