Mount Mitchell, the tallest point east of the Mississippi River, is a must-see spot for NC hikers. While this 6.1 mile loop through the park is challenging due to high elevation gain, some technical hiking, and occasional mud, it's well worth it to explore the stunning park. The hike showcases waterfalls, creeks, lush evergreens, and the summits of both Mount Craig and Mount Mitchell, allowing you to maximize your views-to-miles ratio while hiking. You'll start your trip from the parking lot on the Deep Gap Trail before switching over to the Big Tom Gap Trail and then Buncombe Horse Trail. From there, you'll switch to the Mount Mitchell Trail at about 4.2 miles, which will take you up to the summits (you'll take a brief traipse onto the Mount Mitchell Summit Trail to get all the way up there) before leading you to the parking lot.
More info: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/mount-mitchell-state-park
Basic Information
Address of Start: Black Mountain Crest Trail, Burnsville, NC 28714
GPS Coordinates: 35.76684, -82.26508
Map of the hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/mount-mitchell-loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 6.1 miles
Trails: Deep Gap Trail, Big Tom Gap Trail, Buncombe Horse Trail, Mount Mitchell Trail, Mount Mitchell Summit Trail.
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Location: Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area, Pisgah National Forest
Nearest town: Burnsville
Latitude: N35 45.050
Longitude: W82 13.314
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 8.5 miles
Loop/one-way: One way
Time to complete: 8-12 hours