Destination Wild

Overview

What many consider to be the hidden gem of Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds, Crabtree Falls Campground offers a quiet serenity that appeals to campers as well as wildlife. It is a magical place when mist hangs in the air, as coyote and deer tiptoe through and barred owls call out. Crabtree Falls, a spectacular 70-foot waterfall which is one of the most photographed in the area, is accessible from the campground.

Recreation

Crabtree Falls Trail - a 3-mile loop trail considered moderate to strenuous. The trail has many wildflowers, towering trees, and lots of stairs! Crabtree Falls is a 70 -foot waterfall, plunging into a deep pool. Be sure to carry drinking water.

Mount Mitchell State Park - highest peak east of the Mississippi: 15 miles south of Crabtree Falls Campground. Enjoy the observation tower with a 360-degree view or the Crest of the Black Mountains Trail and CCC-era log picnic shelters.

Green Knob Lookout Tower - a restored CCC Fire Tower: 10 miles south of Crabtree Falls Campground. A half-mile climb from the Green Knob Overlook. Enjoy beautiful views of Mt Mitchell and the Black Mountain peaks.

The Museum of North Carolina Minerals - at Milepost 331, about 9 miles north of Crabtree Falls Campground. The museum highlights the area's rich mineral resources and it's mining heritage. Discover hands-on, interactive exhibits that explore the creation of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the 3,000 year-old saga of mining.

Overmountain Victory Trail - recognizing the Revolutionary War Overmountain Men, patriots from what is now East Tennessee, who crossed the Unaka Mountains and then fought the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Access the Orchard Trail portion from behind the Minerals Museum and hike about 5 miles to Lynn Gap.

Facilities

Natural Features

Named for the crabapple trees which once polka-dotted the countryside with their brilliant pink blossoms, the 253-acre Crabtree Falls Recreation Area in North Carolina contains meadows which still speak of the area's long history as a farming community. Bursting with wildflowers (including hawthorne, beard tongue, mountain laurel and gentian) in the spring, the meadows abut towering hardwood forests of oak, birch, and hickory, and are often dotted with thickets of rhododendrons. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that follows the high crests of the central and southern Appalachians for 469 miles--from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The Parkway offers many natural attractions and recreational opportunities for visitors.

Nearby Attractions

Orchard at Altapass: Started after the Revolutionary War, this orchard has a long and interesting history.

Activities

Camping
Day Use Area
Hiking
Photography
Star Gazing
Picnicking
Wildlife Viewing
Interpretive Programs
Birding

Media