The Great Craggy Mountains, commonly called the Craggies, are a mountain range in western North Carolina, United States. They are a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains and encompass an area of approx. 194 sq mi (503 km²). They are situated in Buncombe County, North Carolina, 14 miles northeast of Asheville. The Black Mountains lie to the northeast, across the upper Cane River valley.
| Great Craggy Mountains | |
|---|---|
 Craggy Pinnacle, viewed from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Craggy Dome |
| Elevation | 6,105 ft (1,861 m) |
| Coordinates | 35°42′21″N 82°22′0″W / 35.70583°N 82.36667°W |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Range coordinates | 35°42′N 82°23′W / 35.700°N 82.383°W |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Borders on | Black Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alleghenian |
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the crest for most of the way between Asheville and Mount Mitchell. Craggy Gardens, an area of 16 km, is covered with purple Catawba rhododendrons in mid-June. The Craggy Pinnacle Overlook trail is a moderate .73 mile hike to a stone wall overlook with 360 degree views. The parking area for the trail is at milepost 361.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.[1]
The parkway through the area was closed from late 2012 through early 2013 due to subsidence caused by heavy rains, and had to be closed again during summer 2013 due to a reoccurrence of the same issues. Access to Mount Mitchell was only from the north or via detour from the south.[2]
Habitat
editThe high slopes of the Great Craggies are dominated by heath bald with rhododendron and blueberry, and northern hardwood forest with beech, buckeye, mountain ash, and red oak. The Craggies are in the Pisgah National Forest.
Peaks
editThe highest point in the Great Craggy Mountains is Craggy Dome, which rises to an elevation of 6,105 feet (1,861 m).[3]
| Peak Name | Elevation | Prominence | Coordinates | Easiest route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craggy Dome | 6,105 feet (1,861 m) | 1,000 feet (305 m) | 35°42′21″N 82°22′00″W / 35.70583°N 82.36667°W[4] | Hike |
| Bullhead Mountain | 5,899 feet (1,798 m) | 320 feet (98 m) | 35°42′59″N 82°21′29″W / 35.71639°N 82.35806°W[5] | Hike |
| Craggy Pinnacle | 5,817 feet (1,773 m) | 233 feet (71 m) | 35°42′12″N 82°22′40″W / 35.70333°N 82.37778°W[6] | Trail |
| Craggy Gardens | 5,525 feet (1,684 m) | 160 feet (49 m) | 35°41′33″N 82°23′05″W / 35.69250°N 82.38472°W[7] | Trail |
| Locust Knob | 5,429 feet (1,655 m) | 35°43′41″N 82°21′02″W / 35.72806°N 82.35056°W[8] | Hike | |
| Snowball Mountain | 5,341 feet (1,628 m) | 440 feet (134 m) | 35°42′07″N 82°24′26″W / 35.70194°N 82.40722°W[9] | Trail |
| Bearpen Knob | 5,266 feet (1,605 m) | 48 feet (15 m) | 35°41′58″N 82°23′38″W / 35.69944°N 82.39389°W[10] | Hike |
| Lane Pinnacle | 5,194 feet (1,583 m) | 590 feet (180 m) | 35°40′52″N 82°25′18″W / 35.68111°N 82.42167°W[11] | Hike |
| Little Snowball Mountain | 4,692 feet (1,430 m) | 320 feet (98 m) | 35°43′12″N 82°25′50″W / 35.72000°N 82.43056°W[12] | Trail |
| Frosty Knob | 4,236 feet (1,291 m) | 1,126 feet (343 m) | 35°44′31″N 82°28′45″W / 35.74194°N 82.47917°W[13] | Hike |
| Beaucatcher Mountain | 2,694 feet (821 m) | 35°36′19″N 82°32′17″W / 35.60528°N 82.53806°W[14] | Auto Road |
See also
editSources
edit- ^ "Craggy Pinnacle Trail". 7 February 2018.
- ^ Hendershot, Don (3 Oct 2013). "Government Shutdown, Record Rainfalls – The Impact On The Blue Ridge Parkway". Southeast Discovery. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ "Great Craggy Mountains." Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed. 2001. (ISBN 0-87779-546-0) Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., p. 442.
- ^ "Craggy Dome". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Bullhead Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Craggy Pinnacle". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Craggy Gardens". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Locust Knob". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Snowball Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Bearpen Knob". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Lane Pinnacle". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Little Snowball Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Frosty Knob". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Beaucatcher Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- "Great Craggy Mountains". Peakbagger.com.
- Great Craggy Mountains description