Mount Mitchell is North Carolina’s highest point at an elevation of 6,684 feet. Venturing to the summit is an activity many travelers have on their bucket list while exploring the Appalachian Mountains and the Asheville area.

For those short on time or not up for hiking, there is an easy and paved scenic drive you can take to the summit. But for those of you who live for the challenge and thrill of earning the view on foot, you can opt to take the full day trek to the top.

I solo hiked the Mount Mitchell Trail and it is beautiful, but also a tough climb. In this guide I’ll cover trail conditions, parking, what to pack, my experience hiking the trail, and tips to help you prepare.

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Mount Mitchell is named after Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a science professor who first measured the elevation and claimed that this mountain was the highest of the Appalachians in the 1830s.

Years later his claim was challenged by Thomas Clingman who believed a nearby peak (what we call Clingmans Peak today) was actually the tallest. This sparked a public dispute over which mountain was actually the highest.

In 1857 Mitchell hiked back to the top of this mountain to reconfirm his measurements and defend his discovery of the highest peak. Tragically, a storm began to roll in and between the rugged terrain and poor weather, he fell off a cliffside to his death.

Despite his tragic end, Mitchell’s calculations were eventually proven correct. The peak he had measured was, in fact, the highest in the eastern U.S. at 6,684 feet. The mountain was officially named Mount Mitchell, a fitting tribute to the man who gave his life proving its height.

Best Time of Year to Hike Mount Mitchell

I would recommend hiking this trail in spring, summer, or fall.

Spring will provide you with nice and cool temperatures and beautiful wildflowers along the trail. Do note that the trail can potentially still have some snow near the top up until May.

In summer the conditions on the trail are usually great, with the exception of occasional afternoon rain storms. Be sure to check the weather before setting out. All the park services (gift shop, museum, & restrooms) are fully operational in summer as well.

Although in summer you can run into some afternoon storms which can be dangerous in the case of lightning, especially up on the peak.

I would argue that fall is the best time to hike Mount Mitchell because the weather is amazing with cool and crisp temperatures. Plus, the fall foliage in this region of the US is unmatched.

Do note that because of the elevation the peak time for seeing fall color here is going to be late September-mid October.

I hiked this trail in late November and unfortunately missed all the foliage at the summit. However, I still had beautiful weather and nice temperatures.

In winter you can expect the trail to be covered in snow, so unless you are prepared with snowshoes and proper gear, I would not advise hiking this trail in winter.

How to Prepare for Mount Mitchell

This is not an easy or simple hike. I would recommend that you have some hiking experience under your belt before setting out.

Have a Training Plan

I was staying in Asheville for 6 weeks and before leaving home I knew that hiking Mount Mitchell was something I had to do while I was there. So as soon as I got there I began training.

Throughout the 6 weeks I hiked roughly 3 times per week. Usually every other day.

I began hiking relatively easy trails around DuPont State State Recreational Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These hikes ranged from 1-4 miles with no more than 500 feet elevation gain.

After a week, I would gradually add on the mileage. AllTrails was a super helpful tool for me during this time in finding hikes around Asheville with the proper amount of mileage and elevation gain for the current place I was at in my training.

By week 5 I was hiking up to 13 miles in one day and ascending around 2,000+ feet of elevation which I feel is plenty for preparing for Mount Mitchell.

So, you do not want to go into this hike without any kind of hiking preparation. You will want at least a month, preferably more of consistent hiking experience in higher elevation environments.

Avoid Altitude Sickness

With that being said, it is still possible to get struck with a mild form of altitude sickness while hiking Mount Mitchell.

The summit sits at 6,684 ft. which isn’t that tall—compared to peaks in the western US where altitude sickness can seriously affect you—but it can definitely happen here too if you’re coming from a very low elevation.

This is especially the case for visitors who choose to drive to the summit instead of hike.

So no matter where you’re coming from, as long as you acclimatize on hikes weeks prior, you should be fine.

It may help to have some Tylenol/ Ibuprofen in your bag too to fight off any headaches. And remember to be continuously drinking lots of water throughout the hike.

What to Bring on the Hike

• 3L Hydration pack
• Lunch, snacks
  • Sandwiches
  • Protein bars
  • Trailmix
  • Applesauce packs
• Trekking poles
• Sturdy hiking shoes
• Map of trail on phone with plenty battery life
• Small first aid kid
  • Band-aids & triple antibiotic
  • Gauze
  • Tylenol/ Ibuprofen
• Layers of clothing
  • Lightweight jacket/ windbreaker
  • Breathable long sleeve (or t-shirt in summer)
  • Leggings or hiking pants
  • Hat & gloves (if hiking in early spring or late fall)

Mount Mitchell Trailhead

The trailhead can easily be found via directions on AllTrails and on the map below.

For reference, the trailhead is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Asheville, 1 hour from Marion, and 2 hours 40 minutes from Charlotte.

The trailhead is located right across from Black Mountain Campground, which does have bathrooms you can use. The campground is open from late spring through early fall. By the time I got around to hiking this trail in November, these bathrooms were closed unfortunately.

The large gravel lot across from the campground where you can park to access Mount Mitchell Trail. Parking here is free.

What to Expect Hiking Mount Mitchell

Below I will outline each part of the trek to and from the summit, along with the expected trail terrain.

To the Summit- Started 9 AM

From the trailhead, you’ll follow along a small creek for about a quarter mile before turning onto the actual Mount Mitchell Trail. From there you’ll instantly begin hiking uphill. No time to ease your way into things.

The trail itself for the most part is a nice dirt pathway lined with trees. It does seem to be very well maintained so you won’t have to worry about any overgrown trees or plants.

There will be frequent exposed tree roots and rocks throughout this trail. It’s easy to twist your ankle on those so you’ll have to watch your step.

There aren’t very many notable viewpoints along the way, it’s really just a long hike through the woods. However, the pine trees and mossy rocks do make for a beautiful forest ambiance. Despite the inclines it’s a pretty relaxing hike.

At the Summit- 12:40 PM

When you come out of the forest, you’ll begin to see several tourists. Very different than other summit hikes you may be used to.

You will probably see more people at the summit than you will on the entire 12 mile hike!

There is a large concrete overlook built at the top (similar to Clingmans Dome in Tennessee) where you can get a beautiful 360° view of the surrounding mountains.

You can checkout the museum and gift shop at the summit which is run by the Mount Mitchell State Park service. Just be aware of the time so you can get back down to the bottom before dark.

Those facilities along with the bathrooms were closed when I went in mid-November, however there are port-a-potties available year round.

Descending to Trailhead- Ended 4 PM

Descending Mount Mitchell may be a little hard on the knees, but it will obviously go a lot quicker and easier than on the way up.

By the time I got back to the trailhead I had about an hour of daylight left. So you definitely want to make sure you begin this hike early in the day if hiking in fall.

Even though it may not be the most satisfying summit in the world, you are sure to feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing. Especially since this is not a very easy hike, so feel proud of yourself if you’ve hiked your way to the top!

I hope this guide gave you everything you need to know about hiking Mount Mitchell and helped prepare you for conquering North Carolina’s highest peak. Thank you so much for reading!