The Shortest Tunnel In North Carolina Has A Truly Fascinating Backstory

The Blue Ridge Parkway is home to 26 spectacular tunnels; 19 of them are in North Carolina. And the shortest Parkway tunnel in the state is worthy of more than just a drive through. It's called Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel and its location, alone, creates a stunning visual for all who approach from either direction on the highway.

The Great Craggy Mountains are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and are located about 14 miles west of Asheville. The full mountain range is comprised of 194 square miles.

When the CCC built the Parkway in the 1930s, it was decided to tunnel through the edge of this mountain, rather than attempt to build a road around the outside edge (as was ultimately accomplished at Linn Cove Viaduct).

So the workers of the CCC hand dug this passage through the mountain, using dynamite to blast through the stone and elbow grease for everything else. The tunnel measures 176 feet in length. It is the shortest on the Parkway.

Today, Craggy Pinnacle is a focal point of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with scores of leisurely parkway goers stopping to explore the Craggy Pinnacle Trail and its magical rhododendron thicket.

At the top of the half-mile hike up the mountain is an open air sky box overlooking the parkway and the Craggy Mountain Range. Off in the distance... layer upon layer of Blue Ridge Mountains.

Visitors to the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center found on the western end of the tunnel can choose to skip the hike in lieu of equally beautiful views from inside the building!

Have you ever visited Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel, the Visitor Center, or explored the trail and the awesome sky box?

We'd love to know and to see your amazing photos posted here in the comments as well as in our North Carolina Nature Lovers group on Facebook!

You can learn more about the Craggy Pinnacle Trail from our friends at AllTrails.com! What other places on the Blue Ridge Parkway are your favorites at which to stop? Let us know here!