Parking
Use the circular parking area just before the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area, around Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 364.4. Parking is limited, so arrive early or on a weekday.
Overview
About Snowball Mountain Trail
Why go
- A compact ridge hike with a real climb and a strong viewpoint
- Hawkbill Rock opens onto broad views across Reems Creek and nearby ridges
Heads up
- Steep, rocky footing can be slick after rain or frost
- Parking is limited near the Craggy Gardens picnic area
- Brush and sparse signs can make the narrow ridge feel less forgiving
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Blue Ridge Parkway map
Full mapElevation4,849–5,351 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
- ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
- ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Your drive to Snowball Mountain Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Snowball Mountain Trail: A Quieter Craggy HikeListen
“The trailhead for Snowball Mountain is just ahead. If you love the high-elevation feel of the Craggy Gardens area but want to escape the crowds, this hike is an excellent option.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Craggy Gardens Picnic Area: A High-Elevation Hub
- Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and Rhododendron Balds
- Mountain Weather 101
- Craggy Pinnacle: The Parkway's Best Short Hike
- 277 audio storiesacross Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 112 trails, 232 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Trail guide
Hiking Snowball Mountain Trail
Why choose itThe 2.
The 2.7-mile out-and-back to Hawkbill Rock is a compact ridge hike from the Snowball Mountain Trailhead near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area. I'd choose it when you want a real climb and a wide mountain view without committing to the full Snowball Trail. Allow about two hours with stops.
Follow the ridgeStart on the short access to the Snowball Trail, then climb through high-elevation forest over…
Start on the short access to the Snowball Trail, then climb through high-elevation forest over Snowball Mountain. The trail drops before climbing again toward Hawkbill Rock, where the open ledge looks across Reems Creek and the surrounding ridges. The route briefly uses the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, so take the signed Snowball fork rather than following the longer trail.
Expect a workoutThe route is moderately strenuous, with rocky, rooty tread and steep changes in grade.
The route is moderately strenuous, with rocky, rooty tread and steep changes in grade. Wet weather and frost make the rock slick, and brush can crowd the narrow ridge. Bring water and shoes with dependable traction. The wooded summit is less important than the ridge walk and the final rock viewpoint.
Make the trailhead workUse the circular parking area before the picnic area, around Parkway Milepost 364.4.
Use the circular parking area before the picnic area, around Parkway Milepost 364.4. Parking is limited, so early or weekday starts are easier. For photos, include a little of the ledge in the foreground at Hawkbill Rock so the open view has a sense of scale. Dogs should remain leashed on Blue Ridge Parkway lands.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
