North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association & Friends of Mount Mitchell State Park

Burnsville-based NC High Peaks Trail Association has been awarded a $13,500 grant from the WNC Futures Fund’s Trail to Recovery Program to help rebuild the popular Balsam Nature Trail at Mt. Mitchell State Park. 

Although the Park remains closed because there is no access due to landslides and other road damage to the Blue Ridge Parkway caused by Hurricane Helene, the grant will offer visitors a much-improved experience once the Park re-opens.

The NC High Peaks Trail Association will lead a moderately strenuous hike on the Appalachian Trail from Spivey Gap to the High Rocks vista on Friday, May 23. This out-and-back trek will cover four miles total with 1400 feet of elevation gain, taking 2-3 hours to complete. The view from High Rocks can be spectacular.

NC High Peaks will lead a hike along the scenic Tanawha Trail on Friday, May 9th. The moderately strenuous 7.7 mile hike will start at Stack Rock and end at the Boone Fork parking area, taking 4-5 hours to complete. Along the way hikers will see a waterfall, Rough Ridge, Ravens Rock and cross under the Linn Cove Viaduct. 

Come join High Peaks on Friday, April 18 for a moderate hike at Lamar Alexander State Park near Flag Pond, TN. 

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Sat. April 5 for a fun but challenging hike up the Big Butt Trail from Cane River Gap. This up-and-back hike will cover seven miles with more than 2,000 feet of elevation change - a tough climb up but also tough on the knees coming down.

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, Feb. 21 for a fun but challenging hike up the Big Butt Trail from Cane River Gap. This up-and-back hike will cover seven miles with more than 2,000 feet of elevation change - a tough climb up but also tough on the knees coming down.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a fun hike along the Laurel River Trail near Marshall on Sat., Feb. 8.

This 7.2-mile jaunt is relatively flat, but offers some nice views of river rapids, rock features and even the ruins of the old town of Runion. It’s an out-and-back hike along the Laurel River to its junction with the French Broad, and should take about 3 hours.

Fit hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a five-mile tour of Bailey Mountain near Mars Hill on Saturday, Dec. 14. The hike offers views of the Smith Farm and the town of Mars Hill and its University.

The outing is rated as moderately strenuous, so hikers need to have their “trail legs” and be in decent shape.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the NC High Peaks’ Board Meeting, the Officers for 2024/2025 were selected by the Board Of Directors who were voted on by membership in October. The Officers are named in the attached photos.

Experienced, fit hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association hike to Grandfather Mountain - also known as Calloway Peak - on Friday, Dec. 6.

This is a tough out-and-back loop hike that covers 8 miles along the Tanawha, Daniel Boone Scout and Cragway Trails. There is some scrambling on rock faces as well as traversing three ladders bolted to steep faces, so this hike is not for those afraid of heights and not suited for dogs.