NC High Peaks Trail Assn and Friends of Mt Mitchell State Park

Saturday morning, February 15, the NC High Peaks Trail Association offers another good winter stroll — at the Black Mountain Campground.  A special feature is a visit to Setrock Creek Falls — described as a “sliding, zigzagging falls about 60 ft. high” in Kevin Adams’s North Carolina Waterfalls, 3rd ed. 

Saturday, February 1 brings a good new hiking opportunity — to Crabtree Falls, one of the most beautiful in western NC.  In winter, the falls are often covered in ice. This hike is 2.3 miles each way, with moderate ups & downs over an old logging road and paved road.  The usual route from the Crabtree Falls Campground has more elevation change and is often unavailable in winter due to Blue Ridge Parkway closure.  This less traveled route will begin and end a

Welcome the New Year with a hike on Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi!  We will hike from the summit of Mount Mitchell to Mount Craig on the Deep Gap Trail.  The hike will be led by a ranger at Mount Mitchell State Park and will be less than two miles in length.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, Dec. 7 for a relaxed holiday stroll on the balds of one of Western North Carolina’s iconic peaks, Max Patch Mountain.

The three-mile jaunt will follow the Appalachian Trail as it crosses the bald and should offer spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains, the Blacks and west into Tennessee. The stroll will not include any serious climbing and footing is generally good.

It's here! Beaujolais Nouveau, has arrived and we'll be tasting it at Burnsville Wine And... on Saturday, November 23, 4-6 pm. Jake and Cynthia Blood will be pouring the "First Wine of the Season". They'll bring some yummy snacks to pair with this unique young wine from the 2019 harvest.

High Peaks will have maps and T-Shirts available for sale. These make great Christmas gifts. We'll also be happy to accept new and renewed memberships and donations to the High Peaks Trail Fund.

Join the N.C. High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, Nov. 16 for a challenging hike to Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower in Tennessee. Hikers should be rewarded with tremendous 360-degree views of the surrounding terrain.

The 9.6-mile hike is rated as very strenuous, as hikers will climb 1,400 feet on their way to the popular fire tower, which is located near Erwin, Tn. Although the hike is long and the climb significant, the trail is well-developed and not too steep, averaging a grade of less than 6 percent.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, Nov. 9 for a pleasant stroll at Lake James near Marion.

The 3.5-mile loop is rated as easy as it will follow a graded trail that offers beautiful lake views. There may also be late fall color at this low elevation.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a special treat when the club hosts an Open House at the Green Knob Fire Tower off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors should have grand views of the vibrant fall color from the observation deck and cabin, both of which are normally locked for safety and security reasons.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, Oct. 12 for a stroll to picturesque Douglas Falls and a visit to an historic fully restored fire tower in Dillingham.

The stroll of 1.5 miles is rated as easy, although the footing can be uneven and hiking poles may be advisable. There should be early fall color, and the falls is one of the area’s most scenic.