Black Mountain Crest Trail

File:* Trail Name Black Mountain Crest Trail Nearest City * State North Carolina Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Hard Hiking Time *"*" is not a number. Distance, round-trip 13.413.4 mi <br />21.565 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation ~3,300"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point ~6,650"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Nearest Medical * Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":35.87763400000000046929926611483097076416015625,"lon":-82.2834299999999956298779579810798168182373046875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Bag several SB6K peaks along the Black Mountains, including Mt. Mitchell. Great views, but difficult route.

Work in progress - per CMC website Black Mountain Crest Trail, which begins at the Mt. Mitchell Parking Area, and ends with Celo Knob, the terminus, at 6.7 miles, so I might have two other trails included here, thus need to possibly separate.

How to get there

There are three primary access points... work in progress

From Johnson City, TN to the northern trailhead:

From Johnson City, TN to the southern trailhead:

1. Take I-26 south to NC Exit 9.
2. Take US-19E east for 21 miles to Micaville.
3. Take NC-80 south for 12 miles.
4. Turn right/NW onto Toe River Road.
5. After ~3 miles, find Black Mountain Campground.

Route Description

SB6K peaks along this route:

• Mt. Craig (6647 feet)
• Balsam Cone (6611 feet)
• Potato Hill (6475 feet)
• Winter Star Mountain (6212 feet)
• Gibbs Mountain (6224 feet)
• Celo Knob (6327 feet)

Recommendation is to start early - and get off the mountain with plenty of daylight left.

Typical Conditions

A difficult challenge up and down the peaks across many boulders. Take lots of water due to being more exposed to sun and wind.

Fees, Permits, etc.

No fees or permits required. No bikes, ATV, or horses allowed on this trail.

After the Hike

At the southern trailhead, Black Mountain Campground has 43 campsites for $19/day. Open April 14, 2011 - October 31, 2011, with 2012 season to be similar mid-April to end of October. Check in/out time is 2PM. Drinking water, flush toilets, and showers available. FS website

Maps

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(A) 35.878109, -82.284164 Norther trailhead (G) 35.764982, -82.265196 Mt. Mitchell (6684 feet) (A) 35.751748, -82.221637 Black Mountain Campground (G) 35.777540, -82.261934 Mt. Craig (6647 feet) (G) 35.789768, -82.255844 Balsam Cone (6611 feet) (G) 35.801990, -82.252450 Potato Hill (6475 feet) (G) 35.817477, -82.249231 Winter Star Mountain (6212 feet) (G) 35.841032, -82.247901 Gibbs Mountain (6224 feet) (G) 35.852338, -82.248545 Celo Knob (6327 feet) </googlemap>