Acorn Hill. Here, There & Everywhere. SEE NC: MT. MITCHELL North Carolina. Our Ultimate Beginner Guide to Visiting Mount Mitchell.
In this video we show you our first visit to Mount Mitchell on the western side of North Carolina. Mount Mitchell, known in Cherokee as Attakulla, is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in mainland eastern North America. It is located near Burnsville in Yancey County, North Carolina; in the Black Mountain subrange of the Appalachians, about 19 miles (31 km) northeast of Asheville. It is protected by Mount Mitchell State Park and surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest. Mount Mitchell's elevation is 6,684 feet (2,037 m) above sea level.
Acorn Hill. Here, There & Everywhere. SEE NC: MT. MITCHELL North Carolina. Our Ultimate Beginner Guide to Visiting Mount Mitchell.
The Cherokee people, who long occupied this area of Mount Mitchell as part of their homeland, called the mountain Attakulla.
European-American settlers first called the mountain Black Dome for its rounded shape. They later named it after Elisha Mitchell, a professor at the University of North Carolina, who first explored the Black Mountain region in 1835. He determined that the height of the range exceeded by several hundred feet that of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Mitchell fell to his death at nearby Mitchell Falls in 1857, where he had returned to verify his earlier measurements.
The park offers the following: Camping Tent sites (backpacking only) and firewood. ​The park also offers access and overnight parking for campers who are backpacking into the Pisgah National Forest. Please note that the backpacking sites are not within Mount Mitchell State Park property.
As far as activitie, Mouth Mitchell offers hiking (40 miles), picnicking and amenities. Seasonal offerings in Mount Mitchell include: Concession stand, a licensed restaurant, Classroom (seasonal depending on programming), lounge, picnic shelters and exhibits.
Go early, this will give you the best chance for a clear view. If it is sunny at lower elevations, it doesn’t mean there won’t be clouds at the top. If you are in the area multiple days, check the weather for the best days. Pack a jacket, it is cold up at the top. Remember mountain travel takes longer. A 20-mile trip can take close to an hour. Take your time on the Parkway. The journey is part of the adventure. Make stops and experience as much as you can.
Acorn Hill. Here, There & Everywhere. SEE NC: MT. MITCHELL North Carolina. Our Ultimate Beginner Guide to Visiting Mount Mitchell.