340.5 - Picnic area, 82 sites, 1 comfort station.
342.25 - Black Mountains parking overlook, elev. 3892.
344.1 - Buck Creek Gap parking overlook, elev. 3373. N.C.80, right 14. mi. to Micaville; left 6 mi. to Marion.
344.56 - Twin Tunnel, 240 ft. long.
344.7 - Twin Tunnel, 401 ft. long.
345.3 - Singecat Ridge parking overlook, elev. 3406.
347.6 - Big Laurel Gap and U.S.F.S. road, elev. 4048.
348.8 - Curtis Valley parking overlook, elev. 4460.
349.0 - Rough Ridge Tunnel, 245ft. long.
349.2 - Licklog Ridge parking overlook, elev. 4602.
349.9 - Mount Mitchell parking overlook, elev. 4821.

350.4 - Green Knob parking overlook, elev. 4761.
351.9 - Deep Gap, elev. 4284. U.S.F.S. road right.
352.6 - Big Pine Bear Stand, elev. 4479.
353.9 - Cherry Log Ridge, elev. 4925.
354.8 - Toe River Gap, elev. 5168. U.S.F.S. road left.
355.0 - Game warden's cabin, right.
355.3 - Black Mountain Gap, elev. 5160. Ridge Junction parking overlook, elev. 5160. E. NC. 128, right 4.8 mi. to Mount Mitchell; NPS and commercial radio antennas.
355.4 - Enter Asheville watershed.

Mile 355.4 - Mount Mitchell State Park

Mount Mitchell State Park reached via N.C. 128, has a picnic area, lookout tower, and the highest point east of the Mississippi River.

358.5 - Highest point on Parkway north of Asheville, elev. 5676.5.
359.8 - Balsam Gap parking overlook, elev. 5320.
361.1 - Cotton Tree Gap, elev. 5141.
361.2 - Glassmine Falls parking overlook, elev. 5197.
363.4 - Bullhead Gap. Graybeard Mountain parking overlook, elev. 5592.
364.1 - Craggy Dome parking overlook, elev. 5640.
364.35 - Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel,176 ft. long.
364.4 - Craggy Gardens
365.5 - Craggy Flats Tunnel, 335ft. long.
367.6 - Bee Tree Gap, elev. 4900.
368.2 - Potato Field Gap, elev.4600 (south end Asheville watersbed).

Mile 363.4 - Craggy Gardens

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.

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.

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.

372.1 - Lanes Pinnacle parking overlook, elev. 3890.
373.8 - Bull Creek Valley parking overlook, elev. 3483.
374.4 - Tanbark Ridge Tunnel, 746 ft. long.
375.3 - Bull Gap, elev. 3107.
375.7 - N.C. 694 (Elk Mountain scenic road), right 8 mi. to Weaverville.
376.7 - Tanbark Ridge parking overlook, elev. 2782.
377.4 - Craven Gap, elev. 3132. N.C. 694 (Town Mountain Road) right 7 mi. to Asheville.

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