Back to Event List

Many thanks to our sponsors for making these events possible!

Overnight Camping and Dayhikes to the summit of Mt. Mitchell
Camping with two dayhikes
Saturday, October 10, 2009, 2 days
12:00 PM on Saturday until 7:00 PM on Sunday

General Location: Mountains, Yancey County, Pisgah National Forest and Mt. Mitchell State Park

Length:  5.5- mile dayhike on Saturday; 11-mile dayhike on Sunday

Difficulty:  Strenuous

Kid Friendly?  Yes, if they have sufficient outdoors experience and are able to hike in rugged mountain terrain

Contact:  Matt Mutel, Mt. Mitchell State Park Ranger, matt.mutel@ncdenr.gov, 828-675-4611

Meeting Place:  US Forest Service Black Mountain Campground on USFS Road #472

Description:  This free hiking trip will be guided by a Mt. Mitchell State Park Ranger and is for anyone interested in learning more about the Black Mountain range and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. We’ll meet at the group campground area of Black Mountain Campground on Saturday to set up our tents. This campground has complete facilities including showers, fire rings, water, toilets, etc. After lunch we will go on a short (5.5 miles) out-and-back hike along the MST from Balsam Gap east to top of Woods Mountain for beautiful views of the Black and Blue Ridge Mountains. We will camp Saturday night, and then get up early Sunday morning to ascend the strenuous Mt. Mitchell Trail which is also a section of the MST. This trail gains 3700’ in 5.5 miles! We’ll plan to arrive at the summit of Mt. Mitchell, the highest point at 6684’ east of the Mississippi river, around noon. After lunch we’ll descend the way we came, arriving back at Black Mtn. Campground around 5 pm. Trails are steep, rocky, and can be very slick. If desired, participants may camp at Black Mtn. Campground in our reserved group campsite on Friday night.

What to Bring:  Appropriate footwear, good quality backpacking (all-weather!) gear, and a high level of fitness required. Hikers will be responsible for all meals, cooking gear, and camping gear.  Trip leader will send out a gear-required list two weeks prior to trip.  Gear inspections will be conducted the morning of the first day. Trip participants without adequate gear will not be allowed to attend due to safety.

Organized By:  NC Division of State Parks

Back to Event List