Special Places

Craggies / Big Ivy

The Craggy Mountains soar to 6,000 feet at Craggy Dome along the Blue Ridge Parkway. From the popular Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, trails wind through old-growth forests to 70-foot Douglas Falls. Hikers can find panoramic views from Big Butt Trai and Snowball Mountain, and mountain bikers ride epic loops—including some of the best downhill in Pisgah—on Staire Creek and Bear Pen Trails. Anglers fish the headwaters for native brook trout, and climbers cherish Snakes Den Rock and numerous boulder-fields throughout the forest. Brook trout and swimming holes abound in the Ivy River headwaters, and the Craggies are home to over 40 rare species and 4,000 acres of old growth, especially on Coxcomb Mountain and Snowball Mountain.

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Popular activities in the Craggies / Big Ivy

paddling

Paddling

hiking

Hiking

backpacking

backpacking

running

Running

swimming

Swimming

equestrian

Equestrian

old growth

Old-Growth

climbing

Climbing

rare species

Rare Species

biking

Biking

fishing

Fishing

scenic views

Scenic Views