Mt. Mitchell '07

Our group took a quick trip to Mt. Mitchell in '07. Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. The elevation is 6684 feet above sea level. That's not really high by Rocky Mountain standards and some other mountain ranges, but for the oldest mountains in the USA, it's the highest.

 

We traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway to mp 355 to the entrance of the Mt. Mitchell State Park. There is no entrance fee. The state highway that winds up to the parking lot is in excellent shape. Watch for the many bicyclists who ride here as well. The posted speed limit is 25 mph, if I remember correctly. That seems slow, but remember that there are visitors here who have limited experience in the mountains, and, for some of them, 25 mph is too fast.

The mountain was named for Elisha Mitchell, who lost his life climbing the peak while exploring and measuring the heights. Mitchell was, among other things, a naturalist, surveyor and explorer who loved the area and devoted his life to its exploration.

Before reaching the top, there is a campground. There is also a nice restaurant on the property.  A little higher  you come to the parking lot, which offers a nice view of the surrounding landscape. There is still a little bit of a climb left to get to the observation deck/tower at the pinnacle. There are some rest benches along the way if you need to stop and rest.

If you have never visited Mt. Mitchell, my advice is "GO".