MTS Trail Near Craggy Gardens

Grass-lined trail

Several sections of this route had portions of the trail going through grassy hillsides like this.

MTS Trail

Large, lichen covered rock

View of Bullhead Mountain

...and the Blue Ridge Parkway curving along it.

View to the north of Bullhead Mountain

Ridge heading south from Bullhead Mountain

...and the Asheville Watershed

Afternoon Clouds

Since this was an out and back hike, I got to see these overlooks during the cloudless morning (previous 5 photos), as well as later in the day when the afternoon clouds were rolling in (next 5 photos).

Note the bird soaring in the upper righthand corner of the photo. I tried and tried to get a shot of him, and finally just gave up. Then, going through these scenery photos, I was surprised to see I got him here!!

Storm clouds!

Flame Azalea

Flame Azalea

Flame Azalea

MTS Trail

....along Walker Knob.

Rhododendron blossoms

This area has several sections that are covered with Catawba Rhododendron bushes. A few were in bloom, but many more were like this .... with the blooms on the ground. We'd had multiple days with severe thunderstorms with heavy, pounding rains, and my guess is those rains stripped a lot of these blossoms!

MTS Trail

...as it goes through a grove of hemlocks.

Glassmine Falls Overlook

In the center of the photo, on the distant hillside, you can see Glassmine Falls, 3/4 mile away as the crow filies.

Glassmine Falls

Glassmine Falls

....far in the distance.

Wooden Ladder

....along the MTS trail as you head from Glassmine Falls Overlook towards Walker Knob.

Mushrooms

...tucked into a little "pocket" of old bark.

This entire section of the MTS trail goes along the western edge of the Asheville Watershed.

Map of GPS track

Interactive map here.

Elevation Profile of this out and back hike