MT. MITCHELL STATE PARK – BIG TOM

LOCATION: Northwest North Carolina
HIKE STARTS: Mt. Mitchell
HIKE ENDS: Mt. Mitchell
TOTAL DISTANCE: 8.6 Miles
HIKE TYPE: Roundtrip, Loop Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Difficult
TRAILS USED: 179, 191, 191-A
TRAIL TRAFFIC: Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE: Day or Overnight Hike
MANAGEMENT: Mt. Mitchell State Park

HIGHLIGHTS: Mt. Mitchell at 6684 feet is the highest peak in North Carolina and it is named for Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a professor of sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill. He correctly deduced that the peak was the highest in the Black Mountain range, but Dr. Mitchell unfortunately died at a waterfall on the western slope of the mountain. There are spectacular views from a lookout tower at the summit of Mt. Mitchell and along the ridgeline which includes Mt. Craig (6647′) and Big Tom (6580′).

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