Black Bear Awareness... ... details ±

Backcountry Camping and Hiking Safety
Foraging bears have been active and sometimes aggressive at the Commissary Ridge area. Bear-resistant food canisters or storage sacks are highly advised, otherwise food MUST be hung correctly at least 150 feet away from tent. Food bags should hang 5- feet below the branch, 5-feet from the tree trunk, and be at least 10-feet off the ground. Bears can and will climb trees and can easily reach food bags suspended at heights under 10 feet.

Failing to behave properly places you and your fellow visitors at risk for property damage and severe personal injury.

Black bears have been active in and around the park, inflicting damage to vehicles and camping equipment. All of these incidents have resulted from the improper storage of food, toiletries, and trash.

NEVER feed bears. They can lose their fear of people and may have to be destroyed.

NEVER leave food unattended, even if in coolers. Secure ONLY in bear-proof container or car trunk with windows completely rolled up.

Campground Safety
You MUST secure all food, garbage, and any items that might smell like food to a bear (toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, cosmetics, pet food, cooking and cleaning supplies, stove fuel, etc.) in the bear-proof storage container available at each campground site.

Severe storms above 6,000 feet are unpredictable and can be life-threatening. Fog and winds can impede search-and-rescue crew and helicopter access. Hike and camp in the back country at your own risk.

NEVER rely on GPS, cell-phone, or rescue beacon devices to prevent/survive emergency situations.

ALWAYS be prepared for the worst weather. Closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway occurs frequently when snow & ice accumulate. Be prepared to stay extra days or pack up and leave upon request by a park ranger at any time.






Updated: 2012-01-06 12:41:36

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Mount Mitchell is CLOSED... / Blue Ridge Parkway closures... ... details ±

02/08/2012 at 0950 hrs Mount Mitchell is closed due to snow/ice on the roadway. Current conditions: 30 degrees under cloudy skies, mixture of snow and freezing rain; expect some ice on the trails. The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to the north and south of Mount Mitchell due to hazardous road conditions.

Park gates are open from 8 am to 6 pm seven days a week; weather permitting. The park office is open Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Our campsites are available on a first-come/first-serve basis; weather permitting. No reservations will be taken from November through April. The water has been turned off at the campground; port-a-john available- winter rates in effect.

There are numerous closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway due to ice on the roadway. Contact the Blue Ridge Parkway automated road closure information line at(828) 298-0398 or visit www.nps.gov/blri/ .


The following construction related closures are in effect on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
South of Cumberland Knob (MP 217.8) to NC Route 1460 (MP 220.4), NC Route 1433 (MP 226.3) to U.S. Highway 21 (MP 229.7), and Stone Mountain Overlook (MP 232.5) to Air Bellows Gap (MP 236.9). This closure is expected to last until summer 2012. If travelling north on the Parkway, a detour is available by exiting the Parkway at NC Route 18, driving through Sparta, and continuing on NC Route 18 back to the Parkway. The detour can be taken in the opposite direction if travelling south on the Parkway.

MP 455 - MP 469 closed due to tunnel reconstruction, will remain closed until Spring 2012.







Updated: 2012-02-08 10:01:57

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Camping	Picnicking
Education and Events	Visitor Facilities
Education Center	Concession Stand / Gift Shop
Exhibit Hall	Restaurant
Hiking

All Activities

Camping: Family camping: The nine-site family campground is open throughout the year. Only tent camping is allowed. Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table. Modern restrooms for use during warm seasons are located nearby. Showers and hot water are not provided. In the winter, campers have access to pit toilets, and no running water is available.

Pack-in camping: Campers may leave vehicles in the park overnight to backpack into the Pisgah National Forest. Visitors who leave their vehicles in the park must register on the forms provided at the trailheads near the parking area or at the park office. Mount Mitchell offers a choice of trails from which to enjoy the nearby alpine woodlands.

**Note:** It's not uncommon to encounter black bears at Mount Mitchell State Park, particularly in warm weather months. A few things to remember...
- Never feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to human food and lose their fear of people often must be destroyed.
- Bear-proof storage containers are available at each campsite. Properly store all food, garbage and items that might smell like food to a bear (toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorants, air fresheners, cooking and cleaning supplies, etc.) when camping or leaving items unattended. If camping in the backcountry, hang your food bag from a rope slung over a sturdy tree limb at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 25 feet away from your tent.
- If approached by a bear, slowly back away while yelling loudly and waving your arms. Remain in eye contact with the bear and do not turn around or run. Throwing rocks or waving sticks may be necessary if the bear follows you. Act aggressively and fight back if the bear attacks.

Education and Events: Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about Mount Mitchell State Park. Click the Events link on the Park Menu to the left to search our database of park events. To arrange a special exploration of Mount Mitchell State Park for your group or class, contact the park office.

Education Center: A fully equipped classroom is available for groups. Contact the park office for reservation information.

Educational materials about Mount Mitchell State Park have been developed for grades 4-6 and are correlated to North Carolina's competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The Mount Mitchell program introduces students to the forest types of the Blue Ridge Mountains, focusing on the potential causes for forest decline in the mountains and at Mount Mitchell. Accompanying the program is a teacher's booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators. To learn more about environmental education or to search our database of upcoming workshops, click the Education tab, above.

Exhibit Hall: Want to know how Mount Mitchell measures up? Check out the park's exhibit hall, and you'll find out how the east coast's highest peak stacks up against its neighbors as soon as you walk in the door. The 1,385-square-foot exhibit hall, located near the mountain's summit, is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., May through October. It offers visitors insight into the mountain's natural, cultural and historical faces.

Exhibits include:

• An interactive weather station that displays both current conditions and contains a historical weather database. It allows visitors to punch in a date from the past, such as the visitor's birthday, to find out the weather conditions on Mount Mitchell's summit on that date.
• A life-size wood carving of "Big" Tom Wilson, the mountain guide who led a search for the person who first calculated Mount Mitchell to be the highest peak on the east coast. The statue was created by local award-winning carver David Boone.
• A replica of "Big" Tom's cabin with historical artifacts and buttons that allow visitors to listen to four different stories about his life.
• A three-dimensional topographic map of the Black Mountains with interactive buttons.
• A geology section with a hands-on demonstration of a rock fault and four samples of the different rock types in the state park. Magnifying glasses are available for visitors who want a closer inspection.
• Four dioramas that depict animal life in the state park.

Hiking: Choose between a short stroll or a more extensive hike into the woods. Either choice will be rewarding as the beauty of the park is best seen from one of its many trails. Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and carry proper gear as the high altitude makes the climate of Mount Mitchell chilly, even in summer.

A short trail beginning at the summit parking lot leads to the stone observation platform. On a clear day, visitors can see as far as 85 miles and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Pisgah National Forest. The body of Dr. Elisha Mitchell is buried next to the platform where a stone marker recounts his work in the Black Mountains.

Picnicking: Try a mile-high picnic at Mount Mitchell. The shady picnic area, open year-round, is located at the north end of the summit parking lot. Forty picnic tables, stone grills and drinking water supply all the essentials. Two picnic shelters with fireplaces are perfect for group picnics. Each shelter accommodates up to 16 people. Use of the shelters is free of charge unless reservations are requested.

Visitor Facilities: Interpretive center: Near the summit parking lot is an interpretive center where exhibits offer interesting information about the park's history and depict mountain forests, geology and wildlife.

Concession Stand / Gift Shop: A concession stand and gift shop, adjacent to the summit parking lot, is open daily from May through October from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Light snacks, crafts and books may be purchased here. Restrooms are also available.

Restaurant: Enjoy a relaxing meal in the restaurant located approximately a half mile from the park office. Open May through October, hungry hikers and tourists will enjoy the restaurant's food as well as its scenic views. Open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. until one hour before park closing May through October.

N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation • 1615 MSC • Raleigh N.C. 27699-1615 (919) 733-4181