Although several other named trails share the path you'll be taking, you can just follow the blue-blazed Mount Mitchell trail the entire route. . My son passed away from cancer in February. In the end, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The Black Mountain Range has a small footprint but packs a mighty big punch. Now all I want to do is go back so I can actually summit this mountain via this trail. Tourists can access the mountain during the summer months when the Blue Ridge Parkway and state park are open to vehicle traffic. Tip: as always, make sure to take extra fuel (food + water). Lots of uneven terrain. I would like to make it an overnight. If anyone likes a strenuous, challenging hike, I recommend Mt. Took us about 3.5-4 hours to get to summit, took 30 minute break at top, some breaks along the way for photographs, and descent took about 2.5-hours down. Took us about 3 hours to go up, ate lunch near the top and took a break, then about 3 hours to get back down. 15.59 Mile (s) Mount Mitchell State Park. Unfortunately the warmer temps had not found there way to the higher elevations and the shade prevented a lot of the ice from melting. Tom said: Did it today in 3:45. The GPX format stands for GPS Exchange - a free, open, XML format for exchanging GPS and map data. Washington was cold near the summit and Katadin by choosing the knife route in the sleet and light snow proved to dangerous. Where we camped in early November was a good .25 downhill and back up to the nearest stream. Not for the faint of heart, or inexperienced or out of shape. Although steep and rough in sections, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views. Pack lots of water and sport drinks. Only warm place to have lunch was the restrooms. What hikers have to watch out for is the possibility of a twisted or even broken ankle because of the million of tree roots exposed and unexposed and rocks covered with leaves can be slippery. Five of the top ten highest peaks in the east adorn this lofty ridge. Next door is Mount Mitchel State Park, named after the highest peak in the eastern United States. I went up the Higgins Bald trail that adds a ¼ mile to the way up. (Not a lot of level terrain, though - that's why Camp Alice is so popular!). I was carrying about 60lbs. There was another sign about a guy I can't remember and a picture of the mountain with a "you are here" marker on it with an elevation of what I thought said 6,684 which is the peak height. That is until he slipped on rock and got a pretty nasty bruise about 3/4 of the way down:). From that junction, the trail sees a good bit more use and you may share it with more adventurous tourists and their kids. My fiancé and I are inexperienced but hiked a few trails before this one. And even happier we did the shuttle car arrangement, and didn't have to come back down... Nancy said: I did this hike today, September 8, 2013, on my birthday with my 11 year old daughter. Took me longer to get down, 4 hours, than up. Slow and steady wins the race. Happy trails! The trip down is a bit tough without them. We had almost 2 liters each and had to refill out water bottles at the top. So be on the lookout for that and don't take it! We made it from Bowlens Creek to the summit of Mount Mitchell in a little under 10 hours. I know this sounds like it would be obvious, but this is a 12 mile trail round trip on a lot of rocks and roots, with major elevation changes. It had some different scenery that we enjoyed. (that was a big change from the day before when I hiked the Deep Gap Trail and the wind was 60MPH with heavy clouds and temp of 40.) You'll break past the 4000 ft. elevation mark on this section of trail. We made it up in 3.5 down in 3 and I felt like we were motorin. Mount Mitchell Trail - Pisgah National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 12.0 mls N/A Hiking Time: Elev. Either way, we picked the right time, saw no one all day on the trail and one or two couples at the top. I came down the Old Mitchell trail, and then I connected with the Mt. It was still very hot and humid, but a great day. We saw some folks who weren't carrying anything--or perhaps it was hidden in their coats. They are a couple but not where you need them. Careful looking around while you're still on the move. in Google Earth for viewing. Helps to see start and end points for an individual trail. Our hike started at 7:13am (and I highly recommend starting early this time of year, before the heat picks up) and reached the summit at 9:46, just over 2.5 hours later. There were a number of places where, despite careful treading, we were in water that covered the tops of our boots. Alex said: Last weekend I did this hike in its entirety with two friends. Luckily the trail is blazed in such a way that although you're climbing over 3000 ft, the elevation is smooth all the way to the top. This was with very short, not frequent, breaks. Robert said: Is there a concise list of the water sources on this trail showing mileage(s) from the campground to the sources? o F H: o F | L: o F. Turn left at this intersection, in a wet area (during periods of rain). [Site Admin] Jordan M. said: Lilan - there's no way to know for sure if there will be snow, but it's almost a guarantee that there will be ice. There are some really nice primitive campgrounds along the upper portion of Higgins Bald. Reading the description I was really close. Bob Marshall said: I had hoped to make my 29th and 30th hike of the Mt. With all the rain from the past few weeks, the trail was very wet. It took me about 7 hours total though I was unprepared in terms of footwear (just had my trailrunners). Enter Date. Pierre said: Hike took 4 hours to get up, 3 to get down. Though I have seen comments in this thread that suggest you could set up camp in places along the Higgins Bald detour. I'm asking because I want to do this hike next week, but I see that the campground closed on 10/31. This will help you know what you are looking at from the observation tower (including other mountains and the vicinity of Black Mountain Campground). The peak is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Mount Mitchell State Park, just … We found it nice to split the trip into two days, it was much more enjoyable and gave us time to enjoy the views. The best way to truly appreciate this state park is via the extensive hiking trail network. Campground at 7:30 and reaching the summit at 12:35. Oh, and we stopped at Culver's on the way back home, which made the whole trip worthwhile ;). This is a moderate one way trail to Black Mountain Campground in Pisgah National Forest. Few views even in the clear since it's almost all under tree canopy, and don't expect to see Mt Mitchell at all. Some very large trees grow in the forest here, and as you gain elevation on the ridgeline you enter a mixed oak hardwood forest. It took me 6 hours to go up and 3 hours to return. Beautiful! My advice would be to start by 9am so you're not rushing to get down before dark. I didn't stop much but wasn't rushing either. At the top the temperature was probably in the 40s and very cold so we had to put warm clothes back on. We drove from Greensboro early that day. I had no idea how far I had gone until I got 1.6 miles away from the summit. I've definitely hiked mountains with much better views through out. 80 9.6 miles after exiting I-40. At mile 4.0 there is a large grassy field available for tent camping. Blisters can be another problem. I have read the rest of the comments...I'm embarrassed to say it took us 8 hours to do this! I took some small breaks for views but mostly kept moving at a slow and steady pace. I was wrong. All said,  it was a tough 11.45 miles (including Higgins Bald on the ascent only) but worth it to scale the highest peak in the Eastern USA and enjoy the Creator's artwork both from the top and along the way. Hike on my friends! So enjoy your accomplishment, enjoy the view, grab a cheeseburger to eat and get ready - because you're half way done with the hike! Thanks, Brad. It's definitely challenging, and time will always be based on your experience and ability, so start early, error on the side of caution, and respect the elements. Footing was an issue for me, again mostly on the way down. Mitchell the day after Christmas 2015. Lots of roots and rocks in the trail, even by WNC standards. Mitchell trail is mostly composed of imported Norway spruces. Have any of the posters ice climbed in Ouray Park, Colorado? It is high up in the sky above the Parkway though. My hiking GPS showed 3.5 hours moving, and 1.5 hours stopped. If you are experienced hiker this hike is strenuous but not technical. If you left home at 6am you could be back home by 8pm, but would be very busy and that is a fast climb. Chris said: How long does it take you to get up and down? My GPS shows me its 9.2km (5.7m) one way. Mount Mitchell Trail: This long, strenuous hiking trail leads from the Black Mountain Campground to the summit. For me, it was challenging, especially after the first few miles when we were hiking in SNOW. I've noticed most of the comments are from men -- would this hike be a safe trip for a female to do solo? Ryan said: Excellent description of the trail, thank you very much! I realized just how much of a climb it is on my way down actually :) Took 3 1/2 to go up and 2 hours to come down. Toward the back of the cove you'll bear right through the first of many switchbacks encountered along the way. Just for kicks, and to get back to the “fit” guy with the yoga chick that wrote the review down here, it took me exactly 2 hours and 15 minutes from the trailhead to the summit. Awesome views from couple spots. Felt a little like Lord of the Rings towards the end of the hike! You'll pass by an enormous, free-standing boulder on your right and a neat cave on the left. Nearby attractions include Mount Mitchell State Park (2.8 miles), Roaring Fork Falls (1.8 miles), and Blue Ridge Mountains (2.6 miles). The gift shop was small but had a variety of selection for adults and very young children. my best time to date is three hours and forty minutes to ascend and three hours and ten minutes to descend.however,itis not the hike as much as the wonderful people i met on this hike. Views are nearly impossible until you get to the very top but wow what a view! There was probably about 8-10 inches of snow near the top and lots of extremely icy sections. The trail offered a great hike but was not easy at all. That's when the shakey legs and general fatigue will start to kick in. Take exit 72 for US Hwy. Makes for tedious hiking and puts a lot of stress on your ankles even in relatively dry conditions and with hiking poles (highly recommended). You will have no cell phone service most of the drive, and similarly on the way back, so a paper map may be handy for making sure you know how to get back from whence you came. Probably as difficult as any trail we've hiked in a long, long time. Downhill was definitely harder because it is pretty steep. I recommend it! If tallest-peak-in-the-east Mount Mitchell is the crowning jewel of the range, then the 11.5 mile Black Mountain Crest Trail is the strand of pearls. The trail under the power lines was almost completely grown over and it was like taking a shower when you brushed against the high grass covered with water. I brought 2 liters of water, which was just enough for me to go up and come back down. Hiked from Black Mountain Campground to Mt. Take your time! 197 in Burnsville, turn right on NC Hwy. It's grown into some of the trees. On a side note, this campground is great if your goal is to tackle the 5.6 mile trail. I had hiked this trail 17 years ago in perfect, mid-November weather. How are the colors. Every time I've been(twice in January, twice in March - March is DEFINITELY still winter up there!) Be well prepared with lots of water and high energy foods, you'll need them. Started climb at 745 AM. . Flowers lined the path at lower elevations... would do it again in a heartbeat. Hiking the Black Mountain Crest Trail was awesome. Trail was very wet with running water on the trail in several places, lots of slippery rocks and roots, I slipped and fell once cutting and scraping my right elbow with in the first couple of miles so I slowed down and was more careful to avoid wet rocks as much as possible. By that I mean hiking poles, wow those helped so much especially on the descent. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Buffalo Creek Park Definitely some lurking white trash around (seen Deliverance?). I felt mt. After achieving the top of Long Arm Ridge, the trail turns west and ascends its spine, swinging back and forth across it in places. The trekking poles were VERY helpful in navigating all the snow and ice up top. Mitchell State Park, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 12.1 mls N/A Hiking Time: Elev. Did anyone else notice the old wire running alongside part of Higgins Bald on the cliff side? Tom said: I am debating climbing Mitchell this weekend. Gets a little old coming down. Would definitely do it again, but with an overnight camp and/or in another season when the vegetation had receded a bit. Cell signal 2.6 miles down a gravel road. Access to the campground is fine, you're just not supposed to camp there. Can't compare to Mt Washington because I did it in winter. I hydrated, ate and rubbed the cramps out. Whether you decide to hike to the top or drive, it's definitely worth a stop. Getting to this site is a bit of a challenge on the partially unpaved S.Toe Road, best for higher ground clearance vehicles and fat tires. Both trails come back together eventually; the left fork is called the Higgins Bald trail while straight ahead is the Mount Mitchell trail. These stands of Fir are ravaged by high winds, poor soil, and - within the last 50 years or so - a Balsam Wooly Adelgid insect infestation. A popular camping spot for an overnight is on Commissary Hill which is where the Mount Mitchell Trail and the Buncombe Horse Range Trail intersect. All but one water fountain was out of order, and that one remaining had a very low flow. Bring a lot of fluids and energy packed foods. If that is true it could be a really nice way to do this hike if you're not determined to do it in one day. There does come a point where you'll be wishing you brought the spikes, but it takes a while to get there. - See 743 traveler reviews, 745 candid photos, and great deals for Burnsville, NC, at Tripadvisor. You'll find that you need to stop at least three or four times to rehydrate and rest. Be prepared for tricky footing (especially on descent) wet rocks and lots of roots. The weather really broke for us on Friday (1/31) and we enjoyed 40F+ and sunshine on the way up. I always error on the side of caution when I enter the woods, which is good - but my pack was a little heavy and I maybe could have done without a few lbs - so pack smart. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi river at 6,684' in elevation. Has anyone done it, and can you offer any insights and tips about where, when, etc? The trail curves to a more northwesterly direction in general, just after crossing the 5000 ft. contour. Maybe we aren't in as good of shape as we thought but by the time we got to the car we were in so much pain, our feet and knees, we were limping. I'm happy to post a new "record" for the trail on this site - yesterday at 1pm, I left the car at the parking lot of the campground (beofre the bridge) after eating two bananas and hit start on my GPS, and was at the top 1h 55mins 38s later, with no breaks on the way and a finishing sprint on the last paved meters. Your best bet is to park at Black Mountain Campground (do not need a permit) and hike to the summit and back down. In an hour the temp was 53. Holly said: A word to would-be backpackers on this trail - the best bet for breaking this hike up is to do what we did not do, and take the first fork you see for the Higgins Bald Trail. It is basically straight up and straight down, with only a couple of short flat spots - you're ascending about 13 feet for every 100 feet you hike for 5.5 miles while having to watch every step due to the rocks, roots, logs, etc. One group starts at Black Mtn, hikes to Comissary the first day, Deep Gap the second day, Celo Knob the third, and down the fourth. The Mt. There is no cell phone coverage or VHF ham radio repeater coverage up until the spruce forest starts and even if you could call for help, you could be waiting there for a very long time. The trailhead is to the left along the gravel road. When we left the top I wised up and shoved my smaller pack into my husbands pack and just had a waist pack that holds my water bottles and pouch and I was off like a rocket, probably because it was starting to thunder and although my husband wanted to try and get a ride back I was determined to get back on our own. I did the hike solo, starting at Black Mt. KML is the main file type used by Google Earth. We did the complete round trip hike. Tom Berkshire said: I completed the hike on July 9, 2015 - one year to the day that I had my hip replaced - so this was a personal challenge. Mount Mitchell 5.6 to Commissary Hill 1.5 Black Mountain Crest 11.3 Tent Camping to Mount Craig 1.0 to Deep Gap 3.8 Old Mitchell 2.0 Commissary 2.0 Camp Alice 0.5 Balsam Nature Loop 0.7 Campground 0.4 Use Ease Blaze Name Miles Mount Mitchell State Park Trails Use … Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table. Michelle Saleeby said: Can you bring dogs on this trail? One of those places that stand apart from the ordinary, Mount Mitchell’s dramatic summit is the highest point east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet and was the inspiration for one of the nation’s first state parks. Scroll and zoom the map before printing, and that view will persist into the printed image. I am planning to climb with 2 boys 6 and 10 years old, fit, but with little experience. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. ), but to be safe, it should be considered quite difficult unless you're certain that you're up to it. (You may notice the sign welcoming you to the state park, but I didn't last time I hiked this.) Allocate 4.5 hours of strenuous hiking to reach the summit and 3.5 hours to descend. Hiking shoes and poles are a near must for this as it is a 3600 ft elevation gain in 5.6 miles. We are semi-active 26 year olds, and we only brought our CamelBak packs with us (not heavy camping gear). 50 Black Mountain Campground Road Burnsville, North Carolina 28714. Needles to point out that the only thing I needed was one single bottle of water going up. It’s the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in North Carolina, and east of the Mississippi. We're not really mountain hikers, but we're trying to do the state high points. The trail is blazed in blue and marked fairly well - just pay attention. Everyone said to start early but I thought I could do better than everyone else's times so I started later around 12. Pack energy bars and other bites for the rest of the trek Bob Marshall said: Someone asked were they any water sources? Nothing like waking up to 3 degree farenheit weather, with 30mph winds. 90% of the mature Firs are killed by the adelgids, which are related to the Hemlock Wooly Adelgids wiping out the hemlocks further down the mountain. Mitchell trail begins at Black Mountain Campground which is on the eastern flank of the ridge upon which Mitchell sits. I plan to run on flat ground to make up some time. Black Mountain Crest Trail - Pisgah National Forest & Mt. It's such a nice park, it'd be great if they could get those working again. I was thankful for all the comments on this page, as I knew what to expect! We were glad to do it before the leaves bud on the trees as we had a lot of good views. To my advantage, I hiked alone; nobody to slow me down and/or distract me. The nature center halfway up was open with various animal pelts and great answers to all the kids questions. Mitchell Summit Trail for otherworldly views from the overlook before making the trek back to the campground. About 3:30 and 4:47 round trip, including time taking pics and video. The ridge will take a lot out of you, and going down will crush your thighs and knees, for sure. We are fairly experienced hikers in good shape (I run as well), and we made it although we were a lot slower than we thought we'd be (4 hours going up, 3 hours coming down). With all the runoff I still didn't have any problems with the Creek or any stream there was to cross. Claim Campground; WEATHER. Seems like it would be beautiful. Bill said: Completed this hike the other day, taking the suggest route (Higgins Bald). First hike in many many years and at age 54 I was tired by the top. I'm 61 and getting over plantar fasciitis, so didn't want to push it too much, but made it up in 3.5 hours and down in 3 hours. It's a haul that's for sure. East of the junction, the ridge sort of melts into a high, steep slope of "Little Mountain", which you'll traverse. ashevillain said: HIked this one yesterday (2012-08-18). A few small Red Spruce trees grow here, although they're out-of-place at this low of an elevation and will likely be shaded out before reaching maturity. Mount Mitchell is part of the Black Mountain Crest which includes 6 other peaks above 6300' nearby, including Mount Craig, the second highest peak in the US east of the Mississippi at 6,645'. Everything else I carried up and down with me for nothing (except the bottle of Gatorade witch I decided to drink it on my way down just for not carrying it on my back.) Bob Marshall said: Did this hike Thanksgiving Day.The best i could do was 3.75 hours to summit and 3.15 hours to descend. I am planing a trip up mt mitchell via this route. SARNC said: There is no shuttle service at the top. The first couple of miles down you're thinking "going back down is going to be sooooo much easier." It certainly was a rewarding experience. Thanks for the advice. Would love to go back and spend a night on the trail. My brother did the hike in running sneakers but started to feel it through the floppy soles toward the top. Significant wind gusts, a lot of snow and ice. We got on the trail around 9:45, with the temperatures in the 50's. I'm so upset. There's a concession stand (I didnt notice any hot food other than drinks) an interesting museum, small gift shop at the top. Conditions were pretty brutal higher up. Due to the Warmer Trends, in March it should be in the 60's & 70's. It took me about 3.5-4 hours on the way up and 2 hours 45 minutes on the way down. But once you get up to the ridge, you have spectacular views, and the ridgeline trail is my personal favorite! (Continued from above) From NC 80 and S. Toe River Road, it is about 2.5 miles to the Black Mountain Campground, following the signs. There are not a lot of watering holes! Had rained heavily on Saturday 7/16, so a bit slippery but mostly noticed this on the way down. Not a whole lot of views on the way up but beautiful nonetheless! The path for the next few yards is shared with the Buncombe Horse Range Trail as it follows the railroad grade on a nearly level course, just shy of 5800 ft. elevation. It was definitely a long day though. My wife and I are young and in pretty good shape too, so for future hikers, I'd plan on taking about that long to get to the top. The mountain won't seem very little as you climb it, though! It was a very nice hike. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. So A type personality decided to go through with it. At this junction, if you head to your left you will find several palatial camping spots before linking back up with the Mt. One less break and i would have bettered my time. The trail takes you through several climate changes with different vegetation plus so many rocks and roots plus there is a lot of creek hopping. Climbs 3600 ft in 5.5 mi, making it one of the highest single-trail climbs in the region. The top is all asphalt and all folks that drove up will be at on the top of the mountain, noisy, in the way of hikers, making phone calls to friends telling them they are on the highest mountain East of Mississippi. Base layer images are subject to the respective copyright policies of their owners. Take some form of protection with you. This hike qualifies as an accepted route for the South Beyond 6000 Program by the Carolina Mountain Club, which recognizes members who climb all 40 peaks above 6000' in the Southern Appalachians. There are at least 2 relatively prominent creeks. 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