Some facilities and areas closed due to COVID-19
Posted on: Thursday, August 13, 2020 - 9:24am |
Trails
Current status of park facilities
Restrooms are open.
The US Forest Service is not permitting camping at Commissary Hill. There is no overnight parking allowed at Mount Mitchell for that site.
The campground inside the park is open. Reservations required; no walk-ins permitted. Reserve online or by calling 1-877-722-6762. There is no check-in at the office. Please go straight to your campsite. No firewood is available for sale. Please bring your own kiln-dried firewood, available at most supermarkets.
The following facilities remain closed:
- The Observation Tower on weekends (Open during the week, unless overcrowding occurs.)
- Restaurant
- Gift Shop and Concessions
- Museum
- Park Office
With social distancing practices in place, it may be necessary to close the park gate during the day if overcrowding becomes a problem.
Please check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly.
To check Blue Ridge Parkway road closures, please visit their website.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. Phase 2 has been extended until at least September 11, 2020.
Last updated on: Thursday, August 6, 2020
Contact the park
828-675-4611
mount.mitchell@ncparks.gov
Restaurant
828-675-1888
Address
Park office
2388 N.C. 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
GPS: 35.7528, -82.2737
Hours
►
- November to February:
7:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- From May 9 to May 22, 2020, the park will close at sunset.
- 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
- The park office is currently closed until further notice.
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- May to October:
10:00am to 6:00pm
- The museum is currently closed until further notice.
►
- May 3 to August 31:
11:00am to 7:00pm
- September 1 to October 31:
11:00am to 7:00pm
- The restaurant is currently closed all year for renovations.
►
- May 24 to October 31:
10:00am to 6:00pm
- The concession stand and gift shop are currently closed until further notice.
►
- July 1 to October 31:
10:00am to 6:00pm
Friday through Sunday
- At any other time:
Please call the park office several days ahead of your visit to schedule this assistance.
- This service is temporarily unavailable until further notice.
List of trails
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 hike
strenuous hike
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 hike
easy hike
Blaze:
Park Maps and Brochures:
