Craggy Gardens of Blue Ridge National Park in Northern Carolina

The Craggy Gardens District of Blue Ridge National Park provides a welcome change of scenery from the deciduous forest setting of the region. The terrain of Craggy Gardens is set upon particularly rough rock terrain which is not accommodating to the larger trees of the forest. Instead, Catawba rhododendrons cling to the hillsides in a thick bed of lush green. When the rhododendrons are in full bloom in the second and third week of June, the entire area is a awash in a tide of striking purple blossoms, provided that you can time your visit with the peak of the blossoming period. However, visiting the region at other times of the year allows you to notice and really take in the expansive vistas, rare native plants and other charms of this unusual stretch of the Appalachian Mountains.

Although the Craggy Gardens district technically stretches for a number of miles, the best area to pull over and explore is the parking area located just around the bend from the little ranger station. This puts you almost directly amidst the thicket of the Catawba rhododendrons. The slope of the hillsides and the modes height of the rhododendrons provide ample views of the area and the surrounding ranges right from the parking lot. There is also a trail head nearby for a moderate 0.3 jaunt to the summit that comes highly recommended. The summit provides a completely uninhibited 360 degree view of the entire area that is one of the best photo opportunities in the area, but the hike up and back to the top is the real charm. From the early spring on into the first days of summer, the trail meanders through the gnarled overgrowth of the rhododendrons, which combines with the luscious green undergrowth of ferns, exotic grasses and other plants to give the trail a feeling of mysterious enchantment straight out of a Grimm's fairy tale.

Take heed of signs indicating that many of the plants growing in the area are particularly rare, and be sure to keep children and pets confined to the trail itself. A couple of the more rare plants at Craggy Gardens are spreading avern and deerhair bulrush. A lover of plants could no doubt entertain his or herself for hours on this trail armed with a camera and a field identification book.

Access to Craggy Gardens was blocked for over a year due to a mudslide that destroyed a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2008. As of mid 2009, the road is still limited to one lane, but it appears that the road should be completely repaired by the end of summer 2009.