Mount Mitchell Trail

File:* Trail Name Mount Mitchell Trail Nearest City * State North Carolina Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Difficult Hiking Time 3-5"-5" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Distance, round-trip 1111 mi <br />17.703 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation 3,7503,750 Feet <br />1,143 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point 6,6846,684 Feet <br />2,228 Yards <br />2,037.283 Meters <br /> 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":35.75230309999999889214450377039611339569091796875,"lon":-82.2211918414399178800522349774837493896484375,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

While anyone can reach the top of Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak in eastern USA) by driving to the park, a real adventure awaits those who climb 3,670 ft up the eastern face of the mountain. Counts for bagging Mt. Mitchell as a SB6K peak.

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

Starting the Black Mountain campground, the trail starts as a series of switchback up into the virgin forest. Continuing up, Commissary Ridge is reached after four miles.

Typical Conditions

Well worn hard packed trail. Not recommend for winter or after hard rain as the path can be quite slippery.

Remember to take clothing layers as it can be warm at the foot, but much cooler at the top.

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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(G) 35.764982, -82.265196 Mt. Mitchell (6684 feet) (A) 35.751748, -82.221637 Black Mountain Campground </googlemap>