MT. MITCHELL

The highest peak east of the Mississippi River, Mt. Mitchell stands at 6,684ft above sea level and is the crown jewel of the Black Mountains. Take a hike from the Black Mountain Campground to the summit, and continue on past several other notable peaks to complete one of the hardest loop hikes in Western North Carolina.

I did this hike in February 2021 most recently, and I have to say the conditions were intense. Pouring rain, ice, and snow drifts combined with frigid temperatures and moderate winds made for a high adventure day. It was so wet I had trouble recording the loop with my phone, it was broken up in to three separate recordings which you can view here on AllTrails (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) the complete map of the loop is below.

The trail starts at the Black Mountain Camp Ground in Burnsville, NC. From here the summit is a long 6 mile climb away, along a winding and often times steep trail. Rocks and roots are ever-present, switchbacks and several more moderate sections are mixed in along the climb. This trail is very well marked and maintained, and there are waypoints marking each half mile to the summit. In winter conditions, ice spikes and snow gear are highly recommended for the last few miles in typical conditions. After a challenging climb, you emerge from the alpine forest to reach the highest point on the East Coast, joining a short paved trail to the summit observation tower.

Go back down the trail through the parking area to reach the start of the Black Mountain Crest/Deep Gap Trail. You will continue along the ridge to climb the second highest peak in the east, Mt. Craig. Five of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi are located along this trail.

There was a lot of drifting snow and treacherous ice patches along the entire trail when I was hiking. In the small flat gap between Mt. Craig and Big Tom, off trail on the left side you can see the wreckage of a small plane crash that still resides on the mountainside. Continue on until you reach the Big Tom Gap Spur Trail on your right, that heads down the mountain following the creek to the Buncombe Horse Trail.

The Buncombe Horse Trail can be trying at times, to put it lightly. While it follows a relatively gentle incline, inclement weather can make it more challenging. On my hike, there was heavy snow and ice melt, along with rain, which made this 2 mile section very long and wet. I stopped counting at around 50 water/creek crossings, and my feet were getting pretty soaked early on in this section. Hidden streams under snow and ice were constant surprises, but you do get to enjoy several decent size waterfalls and rock faces along the way.

Connecting back to the Mt. Mitchell trail was a sweet relief, and it was all pretty much down hill from here. Conditions were icy and wet, so the descent was slow and deliberate. I decided to take the Higgins Bald Trail which runs from one section to another along the Mitchell Trail back down, eliminating a little bit of the steeper portions of the initial climb. I returned to the trailhead after a little more than 6 hours to complete the 15 mile loop. This can be a great hike in the winter if you are prepared for extreme conditions, but it is much more manageable in the late spring and summer months.