Mount Mitchell State Park » Links
NOTE: The Blue Ridge Parkway approach to Mount Mitchell from the Asheville area (south of the park) is closed for the winter. Access from NC 80 to the north can be closed on short notice due to weather. If in doubt, call the park office for current conditions before your visit. Daily-updated road closure information can also be obtained on the Blue Ridge Parkway information line at (828)298-0398 24 hrs. a day.
Severe winter 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.
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.
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.
Updated: 2010-03-07 11:03:59
Mount Mitchell State Park is closed to vehicular traffic from milemarker #344 on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). This is where the BRP intersects with NC Highway 80. Large amounts of ice are hanging from the roof of a tunnel, blocking one lane of traffic and making the other dangerous to drive through due to the possibility of a heavy ice block falling on vehicles. Access traveling north on the BRP from Asheville remains closed. This section is likely to remain closed for the rest of the winter; call the BRP automated line at 828-298-0398 for up-to-date road closure information. For accurate directions to the state park from NC Highway 80, click on the "Maps & Directions" link to the left and follow either of the paragraphs starting with "From I-40" or "From Highway 19."
WARNING: When the BRP from NC Highway 80 is opened, sections of ice and snow may still be present on the BRP from milemarker #344 to #355 especially on the north-facing ridges and on entries and exits of tunnels. Four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended, and visitors are discouraged from travel during periods of snow, rain, ice, or fog. Road and weather conditions can change suddenly in winter. We recommend contacting the park office at 828-675-4611 before any backcountry travel especially if planning to leave a vehicle in the park overnight.
The weather station has been damaged by recent severe winter weather. Current conditions as of 1200 hours on March 7, 2010: 48 degrees, sunny, 38" of snow on the ground.
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