Douglas Falls, Craggy Gardens, and Craggy Dome - Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

A hike in a popular Blue Ridge Parkway area with a few twists to increase the solitude factor. I parked at the Graybeard Mountain Overlook and hiked the Mountains-to-Sea Trail east to take the Douglas Falls Trail down into Pisgah National Forest. Douglas Falls, on a tributary to Waterfall Creek, is a low flow waterfall. However, the setting is spectacular as the creek free falls 70 feet over a massive overhanging cliff. It is easy to walk under and explore, and easy to get soaked standing at the base of the waterfall. Trust me, it was freezing cold.

Next I continued east on the MST to explore the famous Craggy Gardens. Craggy Flats, the high point in Craggy Gardens, is a mixed heath/grassy bald with huge stands of Catawba rhododendron. I missed the flowers this year, but they typically bloom in mid-June. There are wonderful views west and north of the Great Craggy Mountains, and without the haze probably the Great Balsams, Great Smokies, and Roan Highlands.

I returned to Graybeard Mountain Overlook, but just before the parking lot I took an overgrown manway to Craggy Dome, the tallest peak in the range at 6,080 feet. It was tough, a mountain laurel hell on top, but I saw a sweet snail!

Hike distance was 12.3 miles in 7 hours and 10 minutes.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/U3mccGcDNr12

Hike report
https://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/Doug...