Come Join Us Exploring the Majestic Black Mountains and Scenic Toe River Valley of Western North Carolina

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/04/2021 - 17:51

Hiking in the Black Mountains and Toe River Valley near Burnsville, North Carolina is a very rewarding experience. The area has a wide variety of terrain to explore ranging from lush river valleys to majestic mountain ridges.  At  6,684 foot elevation, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. 

High Peaks Announces Its 2022 Hike Schedule

High Peaks is scheduling hikes every month of 2022.  There will be two levels of hiking, an easier and shorter hike and a longer strenuous hike.  Hikers should carefully evaluate their fitness level before signing up for any of our hikes.  Hikes are subject to change.  An announcement for each hike will be published here a week or two before the hike.  

High Peaks Leads New Year’s Day Hikes

Start the New Year off right by joining the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Jan. 1 for one of two hikes at the Black Mountain Campground.  THE HIKE IS "ON" FOR JANUARY 1.  We recommend masks at the beginning when we are all together.  If you are hiking with us on the First Day Hike please review the Liability Waiver below. You will be required to sign that you have read and understood it.

https://nchighpeaks.org/sites/default/files/HPHikeWaiverandSignupR2.pdf

High Peaks Leads Challenging Hike from Mt. Mitchell Summit Dec. 3

Submitted by sweller on Wed, 11/24/2021 - 09:57

Fit hikers looking for a challenge are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, Dec. 3 for a 6-mile jaunt down the Mt. Mitchell Trail from the summit to the Black Mountain Campground.

The outing will be open only to experienced hikers in top condition, as the trail is in rough shape with bad footing and a descent of nearly 4,000 feet that can be punishing on the knees.

High Peaks Leads Big Butt Hike Nov. 12

Submitted by sweller on Thu, 11/04/2021 - 08:30

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a strenuous hike up the Big Butt Trail on Friday, Nov. 12 on an outing that should offer tremendous views of the Black Mountain range.

The roughly 6-mile hike will include a challenging ascent of nearly 1,500 feet from Cane River Gap up and over Big and Little Butts, ending on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Walker Knob Overlook.

High Peaks Leads Nov. 10 Stroll on Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Submitted by sweller on Fri, 10/29/2021 - 06:38

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Wednesday, Nov. 10 for a moderate stroll along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail between the Graybeard and Glassmine Overlooks, a section that offers spectacular 360-degree views and ends with a dramatic vista of Glassmine Falls near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This 2.5-mile jaunt includes moderate climbs and descents of a few hundred feet and some rocky footing.

Prof. Silver's Talk on You Tube

If you missed his excellent presentation about the Black Mountains at the High Peaks Annual Meeting on October 9 you can view it on You Tube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSEQNZ3Yis

 

 

High Peaks Leads Lake James Stroll Thursday, Oct. 14

Submitted by sweller on Fri, 10/08/2021 - 09:23

NC High Peaks invites you to join a pleasant hike at Lake James State Park near Marion on Thursday, Oct. 14. The outing will feature visits to three historic cemeteries in the park.

High Peaks Leads Strenuous Hike over Blackstock Knob Oct. 8

HIKED POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15.

High Peaks will take advantage of early fall color at high elevations with a challenging hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail over Blackstock Knob on Friday, Oct. 8.

Appalachian State Professor Timothy Silver Keynotes High Peaks Annual Meeting Oct. 9

Award-winning author Prof. Timothy Silver of Appalachian State University will highlight the annual meeting of the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Burnsville Town Center.

Silver’s book, “Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains: An Environmental History of the Highest Peaks in Eastern America,” is widely admired as one of the most comprehensive and entertaining volumes written about Yancey County’s famous mountain range.

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