Mountains-To-Sea-Trail at Craven Gap

A perfect point of departure from the Parkway

What To Expect

This is a stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST), a trail that runs across the state of North Carolina. Most of this stretch of the MST parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway, meaning you will see the Parkway through the trees below and often hear vehicles traveling on the Parkway. There are no views along the way but given how close the trail is to town it does provide a great taste of the forest. While this stretch of the MST is one of the flattest in the mountains, there are still a mixture of small climbs and short downhill portions. 

You will likely notice this trail is by many locals (there are residential areas nearby) who often run or walk from Craven Gap for exercise. In the spring it's a fun wildflower hike and in the fall leaf peepers come to see the autumn colors. There are a few "creek crossings" along the way. But these crossings are nothing more than a trickle unless after a heavy rain.  

Please note there is no signage at the beginning of the trail indicate the name of the trail. The hike begins with a set of stairs from the large parking area (pictured below). Along the trail, you will notice a white "blaze" on the trees. A blaze is a symbol, in this case a small painted white circle, designed to help hikers know they are on the correct trail. 

There are few landmarks along the trail save for a small footbridge about 25-30 minutes into your hike.

When you reach the 2-mile point of the trail, you’ll be at Ox Creek Road (located at Bull Gap). From here you can turn around and go back, or add on the hike by crossing the road and following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to Rattlesnake Lodge. This loop adds about 1.2 miles to the trail, but includes the ruins of an old family lodge.

An alternative from Craven Gap is to hike south toward the Folk Art Center. This is a 10.8-mile round-trip hike, but is not strenuous. The scenery along this stretch overlooks Haw Creek Valley, a residential section of Asheville. There is an overlook at Lunch Rocks, which is, as the name implies, a good place for a picnic. The trail to Lunch Rocks can be more easily accessed from the Folk Art Center. The trip to Lunch Rocks Overlook is 4.9 miles round trip.

The section of the Blue Ridge Parkway close to Craven Gap may be closed due to weather in the winter. The trail can still be accessed, however, by driving to the end of Webb Cove Road off of Beaverdam Road in North Asheville (please note the final two miles before the Parkway are not paved) or by Ox Creek Road in Weaverville (if this road is accessible).

Directions

From downtown Asheville, take College Street east to Town Mountain Road. Turn left onto Town Mountain Road before College Street enters the tunnel. Take Town Mountain Road to its intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn left onto the parkway. The parking lot is just ahead at Milepost 377.4.

GPS Coordinates

N35.6479, W82.4910