Blue Ridge Park way - Massanutten Resort

SPRUCE PINE, NC
6 miles north of Parkway via NC 226, exit at Milepost 331.
ATTRACTIoNS
Museum of North Carolina Minerals - Junction of Parkway & NC
226. Features minerals found in North Carolina and regional
geology. County Chamber of Commerce Office. Restrooms.
Open daily year-round.
Gem Mountain - 13780 Hwy. 226S 1 mile from Parkway MP
331. Open March-December Monday-Saturday. As seen on
the Learning and Travel channels. Gem mine rain or shine.
www.gemmountain.com Call (888) 817-5829.
Plumtree Zipline Canopy Tours - off the Parkway at MP 331 near
Spruce Pine. Fly through the trees on a 2.5 hour tour plus exceptional
lunch. www.plumtreecanopytours.com (866) 699-2408.
FooD, LoDGING, & CAMPING
Peak Mountain Cottages & Retreat Center - On 300 acres 7
miles N of Pkwy. Room to play or relax. Hiking trails, clear mtn
streams. 460 Rabbit Hop Rd near Penland. Individuals, families or
groups up to 25. www.peakmountaincottages.com (828) 765-9559.
Pinebridge Inn - 207 Pinebridge Ave. Former Harris schoolhouse,
built in the early 1900’s. Modern amenities with historic
charm. Gem mining and choose & cut Christmas tree packages.
www.pinebridgeinn.com (800) 356-5059.
Pine Valley Motel - Clean, modern, rooms, apt. 42 unit - all first
floor, micro/fridge in rooms. Free local calls. 2 Diamond AAA.
4 mi on NC 226N from MP 331 - Mineral Museum. Laundromat on
site, wireless internet. Open all year. www.pinevalley.com
(866) 671-2246.
Springmaid Mountain Campground/Cabins - Retreat, horses/tubing/fishing.
7 mi N of MP 331 @ 2171 Henredon Rd. Year round.
www.springmaidmountain.com (888) 297-0725.
64
Mount Mitchell Observation Platform
Spruce Pine Campground - MP 331, NC 226N to Woody’s Chair
Shop, Dale Rd. left 1 mi. May 1-Oct full hook-ups, hot showers.
PO Box 354, Spruce Pine, NC. www.sprucepinecampground.com
e-mail: spcamp1@juno.com (828) 765-7007.
Spruce Pine Motel - Mineral Museum Exit. 226 N cross 19 E to
downtown Spruce Pine, then R on Oak Ave. Clean and comfortable
rooms at an affordable rate. 3 nt. special, DSL, pets w/fee, fridge/
micro. (828) 765-9344.
Milepost 364
CRAGGY
GARdENS
The name here is appropriate - Craggy Gardens. Twisted, jagged,
rocky “crags” give the place its name, but these high elevation
summits are home to the most spectacular floral display along the
469 mile Parkway corridor. For generations, visitors have headed for
the Craggies in mid to late June, typically the prime time for viewing
the pink and purple blooms of Catawba rhododendrons that
blanket much of the area.
In addition to the “rhodies,” the Craggies turn red in the fall
with a spectacular show of mountain ash berries that can cast a
scarlet glow over the entire area. The same species dominates parts
of the highlands of Scotland as well and “craggy” is a term that
many of the early settlers brought from their homeland to describe
the rugged Blue Ridge.
High elevations such as Craggy Gardens yield an abundance of
wildflowers and rare plants. From a distance, treeless areas such as
the craggies appear bare and have become known as “balds.” There
are two types of appalachian balds… grassy and heath. The former
are dominated by grasses, wildflowers and occasional members
of the heath family. Heath balds are typically home to low growing
rhododendron, mountain laurel, blueberries and flame Azalea.
Although these balds are disappearing for reasons that are unclear,
both can still be found at the craggies. Because of the presence
of rare and endangered plants, easily damaged by careless hikers,
please stay on the trails – for their safety and for your own!
Harsh weather can invade these exposed, high elevation
ridgetops, resulting in the gnarled forests of twisted beech, birch,
and buckeye. At 5,500 feet elevation, weather conditions here are
severe. Strong winds, ice storms, and the short growing season
dwarf and twist anything that dares to grow here.
With or without warning, severe weather can come to the
Craggies, so always be prepared for colder temperatures and high
winds.