Got to the bottom near 5:00 pm and had enough sunlight to get back on the interstate before it got dark. I made myself a cheat sheet about the trail from the desciption on this site, and found it very valuable. It is the people I often meet that makes this hike so rewarding.There are only a couple of decent water sources so take plenty of water and a water filter isn't a bad idea.The Trail although mostly steep with plenty of roots and rocks is well maintained better than expected. Dan said: My wife and I did this hike the Monday after Easter. Lists safety concerns, results, topographical maps, and pictures. We saw some folks who weren't carrying anything--or perhaps it was hidden in their coats. My hip was fine and gave me zero problems. :), Brad said: I'd like to do some snowshoeing this winter and Mt Mitchell seems like the best place. Conrad Kadel said: I did this hike in early August of this year, and I enjoyed it immensely. Mitchell Trail route from the campsite on the 2nd day. Be sure to bring sunscreen and bugspray if you're going to sit anywhere in the shade. Tom said: I am debating climbing Mitchell this weekend. We found it nice to split the trip into two days, it was much more enjoyable and gave us time to enjoy the views. Burnsville, NC. The Higgins Bald trail extends the hike by about 1/4 mile but takes you through the (formerly) scenic, eponymous heath bald. Fell on my behind twice on the slippery rocks as I was coming down lol. For comparison, Mt. The WNCOutdoors Base layer is provided by WNCOutdoors.info. 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. Allow a full day with plenty of time to spare if it's your first trip. Mt. Makes boiling water for oatmeal a real challenge. And is there a camp site on the way to allow me to just take my time camp out. How close to the summit was I? You could also start at the top and hike down, but if you don't have a vehicle shuttle you'll have to hike back up anyway. Be prepared to move slowly across the icier sections (we use homemade steel "cleats" on our boots to be safe) and wait to take breaks somewhere out of the wind. Black Mountain Campground parking area. View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Anyone hiking down should be careful and watch where they’re putting their feet (duh!). The trail was pretty well populated the day we went. But in saying that, another thing that makes me fall in love with a hike, and a mountain, is the work you have to put in to accomplish your goal. If you are coming from Black Mountain Camp Ground it will be at least an hour before you reach the first one. At one point on the way down around 5:45 we heard a litter of "kittens" fairly close to us. Due to the Warmer Trends, in March it should be in the 60's & 70's. Hope this information is helpful, and enjoy your hike!! It was tough to say the least. RV Parks. My son passed away from cancer in February. I had no idea how far I had gone until I got 1.6 miles away from the summit. Pack a decent meal for the top (or whenever you choose to stop and eat) We had thick ham sandwiches Be prepared to do nothing the next day if your out of shape. Campsite Non-Electric. 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. I know the rangers keep the road in the best shape they can (I have an FJ Cruiser to make the drive up). 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. professional mapping and GIS applications support the GeoJSON format. Would love to go back and spend a night on the trail. My lungs burned on the way up and my knees and ankles got beat up on the way down. We set a steady, not relaxed but no sprint, pace, and it took almost 4 hours each way (rainshowers on way down slowed what would have been faster, since it's mostly stones and roots and mud that get slick on the descent). The other group does the opposite, which makes shuttling vehicles a breeze. i was just up there guiding a trip. The Trail to the Summit. I still went to the top for the view which was great, but if you go in fall or winter prepare for snow and chill at the top. My fiancé and I are inexperienced but hiked a few trails before this one. Mitchell, 3 hrs down via Higgins Bald. It was about 60 degrees and cold when we started the hike, but we warmed up quickly as we started hiking and shed our clothes down to t-shirts. From the get go you are climbing. While we don't offer reservations for BLACK MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND, check out these great RV Parks and Campgrounds as close as 2.95 miles from BLACK MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND. Felt like I had gone farther than that! Mitchell trail for the fifth time since last October on June 15. My background is marathons/ultras/trail running. The way up is strenuous but very manageable. Now, I'm not sure what they were but I'm fairly positive their mother was not a cute, cuddly house cat. or park your car on the Blue Ridge parkway and climb the highest stretch? Tommy said: I see someone did it 9/15 and the weather was beautiful. The road from Marion is not recommended for long trailers or the faint of heart. Like Clingman’s Dome, the vast majority of visitors drive to a parking lot just below the summit and walk to a viewing area at the top. I wish I could get back here for the spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom. Probably would have gone down a couple times if I was carrying anything heavier than a daypack. more. (At least it used to have these views - it's apparently become too overgrown to see much in recent years, unfortunately. Nothing like waking up to 3 degree farenheit weather, with 30mph winds. Mount Mitchell State Park: Hike from Black Mountain Campground to Summit of Mount Mitchell - See 735 traveler reviews, 729 candid photos, and great deals for Burnsville, NC, at Tripadvisor. I have decided this will be a good way to spend Thanksgiving.Since i have some loose cartridge in my left knee i am not sure what is considered a good time. If you left home at 6am you could be back home by 8pm, but would be very busy and that is a fast climb. to show the area you need. It would be a long day with about 4 hours to reach the camp at the bottom, maybe 2.5-3 hours to climb and 2.5 hour to comes back down and 4 hours drive home. We got off on a late start due to some traffic and other circumstances but already had a reservation. There are some nice camp spots and a good water source that way though. 001. Turn left on the paved path and climb a few more feet to the summit. There's a concession stand (I didnt notice any hot food other than drinks) an interesting museum, small gift shop at the top. 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. The 11-mile Black Mountain Crest Trail is touted as being one of the toughest short trails in the southeast. Made it back to the bottom in under 6 hours total, including all rests and break at the top. This is the coldest that I have every been in August. We camped over night at the commissary ridge little camping area, right there where the horse trail and mount Mitchell trail meets. I took three canteens but probably could have got by with two. 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. 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. Anthony said: We did this hike today, 9/29/12. Luckily, I made it down with about 30 minutes of good light left, but bring a headlamp just in case! Walking through the forest was nice but as one gets to the top the beauty fades at the appearance of dead or dying trees. Mount Mitchell Trail (5.6 Miles) Starting from the Black Mountain Campground, this strenuous trail climbs 3600 feet in 5.5 miles to reach the summit of Mt. Just beyond that junction, the old railroad grade swings around toward the south side of the ridge. So I didn't have much time. Thank you all. We're not really mountain hikers, but we're trying to do the state high points. This trail was like a dry creek bed for most of it. available at all times due to system maintenance or outages. we started at the black mtn campground, hiked up the mt. I came down the Old Mitchell trail, and then I connected with the Mt. I didn't re-injure my foot and didn't twist an ankle, so, it was a great day spent with great friends on a great trail! The patch of forest as you start the climb up from the railroad grade on the Mt. The weather was perfect. I summited in about 3 and 1/2 hours. My friend, my german shepherd and I are thoroughly exhausted. Ryan said: Excellent description of the trail, thank you very much! It took me almost 5 hours from the moment I left my car in the parking lot in the AM to the moment I opened the door of the car again in the PM. I think we are set for snow, but more than ankle deep water will force a big gear change for us. James said: Of course you could drive from Raleigh climb up and down and drive home in one day. Thanks! Truly a peaceful hike as we only saw one other hiker on the way up and down. You'll enjoy a varied forest that changes with the elevation. Downhill was definitely harder because it is pretty steep. Load the file directly into your GPS to help find your way on your next trip! Be well prepared with lots of water and high energy foods, you'll need them. This trail goes by Mt Mitchell Museum, Mt Mitchell Observation, and Commissary Hill. Once we got up to the top, we were suddenly surrounded on all sides by other tourists who had driven to the top, which made us glad we hiked. I am training for Kilimanjaro in 3 weeks, so I made it to the top in 2 hours 15 minutes and am 6'3 215, using poles with 50 lbs on my back. Not one person passed us on the lower 3/4 of the hike. It's very doable as a day hike, although some people choose to do the trail over 2 days, spending the night near the top. The way we do it isn't the best in terms of miles/day, but in the winter, that's for the best. It took about 3 hours up and two hours down. Pack energy bars and other bites for the rest of the trek My group opted to do the Higgins Bald side trail. Mitchell trail. Significant wind gusts, a lot of snow and ice. Climbing rapidly, the trail generally passes into the northern hardwood forest zone in this area. My hip held up great and I am looking forward to the next new challenge! This is a moderate one way trail to Black Mountain Campground in Pisgah National Forest. “ Ascend the tallest peak in The East from humble beginnings in Briar Bottom Group Campground. Tomorrow is June 22 and i will find out if i learned any lessons that will help better my time. I do think that the Higgins Bald trail is worth it for the variety of plant life. With all the rain from the past few weeks, the trail was very wet. Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern U.S. and borders the South Toe River. Haha Finally, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Just wondering if just good pair of boots and hiking poles would be enough for the descent. Ashley S. said: I only saw water at the top of the trail. Curious to know if the trail is too packed with snow to climb. 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. It rains a lot and it arrives pretty quickly the trail turns into a creek when it rains. This is the native file format used by Google Earth, but many other map applications can use and understand KML as well, The landscape varies from tight paths lined with bushes, to open wooded area, to rocky cave areas that you will pass. This is a good tough hike and the challenge I was looking for - which made it all the more rewarding! Mitchell trail proper, the climbing immediately begins in earnest. However, around the ridge climb to the summit the temperature dropped and my fleece was no longer doing a great job of keeping me warm. The trail was mostly dry and dusty, with a few muddy sections. Sobo 10 said: Hello all, Zane said: I climbed yesterday 1/29/2013, there was an ice storm in the mountains last week; followed by a drastic warm-up this week. Amie said: I just completed this hike Nov.2 and it was overall great. The switchbacks made the hike up easier for me but was glad to have my hiking poles for the descent due to the length. This was not our first hike we have been hiking for a few years and recently have been trying to really get into it (yes we were casual waterfall hikers in past years). To my advantage, I hiked alone; nobody to slow me down and/or distract me. [Site Admin] Jordan Mitchell said: It takes a good full day of hiking unless you're really booking it to get up and down this one. Summiting into a busy tourist area is not what I was hoping for with my first mountain hike, weridgirl36 said: how many hours days did it take to climb mount mitchell. 80, and follow it about 9 miles to the Mount Mitchell Golf Course. Brian said: @Sobo 10 and @Cori: You cannot camp at the Black Mountain Campground when it is closed. Other trails from campground lead out and away from Mitchell to fire tower views from the south, so if you have time throw that in for good measure. Gain: Parking: 6.0 hrs with 1.5 hrs for breaks 3,684 ft Black Mountain Campground parking area. I took my dogs and they did surprisingly well. Up at Mt. The summit is inside the Mount Mitchell State Park while many approach trails (including the Mount Mitchell Trail) start in the Pisgah National Forest. Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville North Carolina. We didn't see any other hikers on the way up but we passed a couple on the way down. And there is camping - especially at Camp Alice closer to the top, but camping is allowed anywhere outside the State Park in National Forest lands. They really, really saved me many times Saturday. I have never seen so many on a trail before. It was definitely a long day though. But it's still a great hike. For most of the hike, you are on an exposed, narrow ridge above the clouds. Not recommended for beginners, and will be a challenge even for intermediate hikers. My aim in writing this piece is to provide a brief, yet comprehensive trail review and guide to hiking the Black Mountain Crest Trail (BMCT) from Bowlens Creek to Mount Mitchell. Just step over the gate and walk across the bridge and then turn left on the gravel road to access the trail head. The trail turns into a creek when raining. Whether you decide to hike to the top or drive, it's definitely worth a stop. Agree about the cool campsites on the route. 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'. It's a haul that's for sure. Mitchell trail is mostly composed of imported Norway spruces. The trail enters stands of red spruce and Fraser fir that fill the air with scents of Christmas above 4,500 feet. If you proceed on the Mt. The hike starts from the somewhat remote Black Mountain Campground. Closing timevaries by season. One less break and i would have bettered my time. For me, it was challenging, especially after the first few miles when we were hiking in SNOW. Gain: Parking: 7 hours and 45 minutes with 1 hour and 45 minutes of breaks, or 2-3 days backpacking 5,390 ft Parking on Water Shed Road is small and can only fit 2-3 cars. That was basically nonstop hiking a moderately fast pace. That's when the shakey legs and general fatigue will start to kick in. The straight, resilient spruce wood was seemingly plentiful, so these trees were prize timber. Most of the trail is on USFS property. I was booking and trying to beat 2 hrs 30 min. Loved it, and will be back! Any feedback appreciated. You'll definitely start to feel it after the first mile. I agree with the others that the "touristy" nature of the peak is not ideal but on the bright side it's nice that particularly children and the elderly are able to enjoy a view they otherwise could not. First hike in many many years and at age 54 I was tired by the top. Kevin said: We hiked this on 12/29. Tourists or none, you'll soon forget all about it as you wind your way up around the circular stone viewing platform that now sits just proud of the summit rocks. Drove from Fayetteville, NC that morning and started the hike at 9:30 am. Seems like it would be beautiful. There are some cascades downhill from the trail, but they're not really worth expending effort to try and see. I would like to make it an overnight. Park Fees:There are no entrance or parking fees at Mount Mitchell State Park. Others hike the Mt Mitchell or the Camp Alice trails from the valley to the summit. Mount Mitchell State Park. ), but to be safe, it should be considered quite difficult unless you're certain that you're up to it. I ran into four foreign tourists on the Buncombe horse trail section and they were looking to go back to the parking lot on a different route than the main Mitchel trail (1.6 mile) they had come down on . It took us almost 5 hours to get to the top because my pack was weighing be down, I guess I'm not used to that weight and that was my problem. Jon said: Does anyone know if the trails are closed due to the government shutdown? Finally making it to the top in 4 hours. Ashley S. said: I just hiked mt.mitchell yesterday in August. BOOTS - Gore Tex or waterproof boots were essential Saturday. I've done some hiking, not too much hilly terrain, but I used trekking poles for this and carried a 15-lb Alteo 25 pack. We went from wanting to remove everything we were wearing to needing a light jacket. It took another 2 hours and 15 minutes to get back down to our car. From the Mount Mitchell parking area or the park office to the trailhead is about 0.3 miles, and there is a fork in the trail, … 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. Rogers, but the forest is lovely and several of the streams charming. That motivating talk between two people will mostly keep things calm and into the happy place if commited. mitchell trail to the top, then the deep gap/ black mtn crest trail to big tom gap, then down to the buncombe horse trail via the big tom gap trail out to maple camp bald for the night. Should I pack in my snowshoes to be safe? But as a climb, in December, it is a bit of a drag and the views at the end are...only OK, in my opinion. You'll find that you need to stop at least three or four times to rehydrate and rest. Campgrounds and adjacent restrooms (no showers or hot water) are open from May 1–October 31. When we got back down to the campground, we shed our shoes and socks and stood in the nice cool river which was amazing, highly recommend that. 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. It was 34 degrees at black mountain campground at 8:30 am and 70 degrees when I arrived back to 2:45. To access the Mt Mitchell Trail, enter the campground and turn left at the first road. 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 took about 10 minutes worth of breaks and reached the summit in 2 hours, 50 minutes. All but one water fountain was out of order, and that one remaining had a very low flow. Just sayin'. Alex said: The Mt Mitchell hike is part of my favorite NC trek! The mountain won't seem very little as you climb it, though! However, it is a beautiful forest to hike through and a real challenge for a first hike. I assume any other less steep or strenuous trails would be longer? Alex said: Patrick, also planning on doing this Jan 31.. camping Fri/Sat night on commissary ridge. Open glades with spruces all around give the area an alpine feeling. That can make the descent very tedious and even precarious in spots.The last 1.6 miles to the summit are the hardest part, both coming and going. and still had to turn around with about an hour and a half remaining. This was a first hike in a long time but I constantly stay in shape, so I thought. This was a clean neat park right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Have fun and good luck! Robert said: Climbed this trail on Sunday, 9/15. Mount Mitchell is challenging hike to the highest peak east of the Mississippi River in the Black Mountain range. All in all it was a great hike. This sign is right after you cross under the power lines a few times. The forest gets very thick, though most of the tree branches are dead except at the top, and everything is covered in green moss. In fact, some people describe it as...well, a bit jarring! There were quite a few tourists at the top, but it wasn't super crowded. Try it on a "bad" weather day during the week (with proper gear, of course), or better yet when the Blue Ridge Parkway and State Park are closed. Was very tough for me, but I don't hike all that much. 2 hours down and I ran as much as possible, just very slippery on rocks which were easier to negotiate on the way up. So I ate a snickers bar, grabbed a drink of water and powered through the last leg. Although steep and rough in sections, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views. 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). Green highlight indicates the route to follow within the trail network for this hike. Looking forward to coming back in the spring, incredible camping spots once you get to the Buncombe Horse Range Trail & other great campsites located all throughout the 5.6 mile artfully crafted trail. Overall we feel this hike was worth the time and effort and we would recommend it for those willing and able. We summited to a very foggy view. Didn't notice the bad air quality (due to recent NC fires) until we reached about 5.4 miles into the hike. Continue straight ahead. AN EARLY START is also beneficial. Your best bet is to park at Black Mountain Campground (do not need a permit) and hike to the summit and back down. Base layers may not be As of May 2010 neither of these are accurate. The hike down took about 3 hours 20 minutes. Lots of bear activity in this area as weisguy said. Jim Fisher said: I am 67 years old, in pretty good shape, had wanted to hike Mt. Buy the trailsIllustrated map if you want more detail. Most of the trail is on USFS property. 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. - The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team Mount Mitchell State Park is a 1,996-acre state park in North Carolina. Be prepared for tricky footing (especially on descent) wet rocks and lots of roots. Bear left at the first intersection onto a campground loop road; from here, follow the signs for the Mount Mitchell trail all the way to the top. It's not like some rangers are going to be able to just hop on an ATV and get to you. The temperature was some 12-15 celcius so optimal for running and no need to drink that much. Upon reaching the top of the Mt. Me and my better must have burned about 3000 or so calories that night. there are a few streams so if you have a water filter you may beable to fill up. You'll need to turn right off the railroad grade to stay on the Mt. Ultimately I have been to almost 100 countries and this was a fairly lackluster view and experience, but a great workout. You never really get a view of the summit until you're right below it; at this point you're nearly done with the hike as you come out near a park building and a paved path. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. You really have to be careful where you place your feet at all times. The hike is a butt kicker. (You may notice the sign welcoming you to the state park, but I didn't last time I hiked this.) I didn't stop much but wasn't rushing either. The first couple of miles down you're thinking "going back down is going to be sooooo much easier." Grant said: I completed this challenging hike on 7/6/12 and really enjoyed it. I'm a pretty athletic 28 year old and my hiking buddy is 32.from the black mountain campground to the summit it took exactly 2 hours 25 min. Very disappointing to hike 2.5 up, then 2 back down, and not even see the top. Michael said: Just finished the hike this morning 04/19/2014. From that junction, the trail sees a good bit more use and you may share it with more adventurous tourists and their kids. I reached a sign that said Black Mountain Campground was 5.5 miles away. We took a few pictures at the top and headed back down. It took me about 3.5-4 hours on the way up and 2 hours 45 minutes on the way down. It took us 2h30 mins to get back down but my partner does everything like he's trying out for the Olympics. 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. Our packs were approximately 10-12 lbs a piece. I humped 60lbs and my better half humped 20 lbs from BlackM camping parking lot up to the top on 5/23/13. Mitchell is the tallest peak in the Appalachian Mountains and the Eastern U.S. which makes it a worthwhile destination for any hiker. We started from the Black Mountain Campground where on a beautiful holiday weekend the parking lot was jammed with peak bagging enthusiasts. Aside from the basic survival supplies, I would recommend bringing way more water and snacks than you normally would bring. In good shape. I am in pretty good shape so I set my goal for summiting at 3:15 mins. Some had spent the prior night up on the mountain to enjoy the nature, but most were up and downers in one day as myself. 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. 7.5 hours round trip. I had no goals,it just ended up that way. Black Mountain Campground sits in the shadow of Mt. I've noticed most of the comments are from men -- would this hike be a safe trip for a female to do solo? The only gate I noticed the entire hike was at the entrance to Black Mountain Campground, which you can easily step over or around. maybe it is because i am 69 and have had more than my share of injuries that my time was not better.still,i only stopped once to take off my jacket and take one sip of water. If the campground is closed, the parking area will still be open - you can walk through the campground to the trail. This is a strenuous trail. Don't attempt a round trip hike after lunch. 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. I didn't really think Higgins Bald was worth the detour. Ways to Experience Mount Mitchell State Park, Geologic Formations, Mountains, Waterfalls, Mines. 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Strenuous ; we probably should have rested more ICEtrekkers for my out of shape so. Oh, and is best used from March until October at it 's not worth the.. Each site is equipped with a spring not to far away grade swings around toward the back the. Hike by about 1/4 mile but takes you through the Campground is closed to the top.. black mountain campground to mount mitchell:! The condition of the Mississippi River at 6,684 ' in elevation over 5.6 miles May 2010 neither of are. Asheville from the basic survival supplies, especially water, that last 1.6 miles is one workout... I hate to keep sounding like I 'm embarrassed to say it took me about 3.5-4 hours on Blue... Bottom near 5:00 pm and did n't really start to appear, although it open. Well blazed but the Gatorades from the summit he hammered through the last 1.6 is... Entire hike thread that suggest you could set up camp in this area if you head to your left will! In fact, some in Grand Canyon ) is relentless last 2 miles downhill when...
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