Trails
Park Maps and Brochures:
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 10:00am
Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 1:00pm
Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 4:00pm
Updated Restaurant Hours
The restaurant hours have been changed to 11 am - 6 pm Mon-Sun until further notification.
Last updated on: Friday, August 16, 2019Trails
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.
Please read the information about hiking safety at the park.
Old Mitchell Trail
Location: Park office
Description:
The Old Mitchell Trail, used by explorers as early as the 1840s, was the primary trail for reaching Mount Mitchell during the late 1800s and the early 1900s. This preserved trail originated along the North Fork of the Swannanoa River, extended along the crests of the Black Mountains and ended at the summit of Mount Mitchell. Today, this trail is mainly hiked 2.2 miles from the park office to the summit. Hikers are frequently rewarded for walking this 1.5-hour-long, strenuous distance with observing deer in their natural habitat.
ALERT: Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and carry proper gear, as the high altitude makes the climate of Mount Mitchell chilly, even in summer. Beware of ice on trails.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
2.20 miles
one way
2.20 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous
strenuous
Blaze:
yellow circle
yellow circle
Summit Trail
Location: Upper summit parking lot
Description:
This 280-yard paved road begins at the upper summit parking lot and leads to the summit 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.
ALERT: This short, paved trail is fairly steep. Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and carry proper gear, as the high altitude makes the climate of Mount Mitchell chilly, even in the summer. Beware of ice on trails.
Surface: paved
Length:
0.15 miles
one way
0.15 miles
one way
Difficulty:
easy
easy
Blaze:
2388 N.C. 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
Office: 828-675-4611
Restaurant: 828-675-1888
mount.mitchell@ncparks.gov
GPS: 35.7528, -82.2737
- November to February:
7:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- September to October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- November to March:
8:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays; closed on weekends
- April to October:
8:00am to 5:00pm daily
- Closed Christmas Day
- May to October:
10:00am to 6:00pm
- May 3 to August 31:
11:00am to 6:00pm
- September 1 to October 31:
11:00am to 6:00pm
- Next year (2020) the restaurant will be closed for renovations.
- May 24 to October 31:
10:00am to 6:00pm
- July 1 to October 31:
10:00am to 6:00pm
Friday through Sunday