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

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, Oct. 4 for a challenging but rewarding out-and-back hike from Yellow Mountain Gap to Big Hump Mountain. This grassy-bald peak offers tremendous, 360-degree views, and fall colors should be at their peak.

The hike is 8.6 miles overall, including a section on the historic Overmountain Victory Trail - trod by Revolutionary War troops in the 1700s - but also includes several steep ascents and some rugged sections. Only the sure-footed and fit should participate.

Mt. Mitchell State Park will be closing Wednesday Evening (9/25) until at least Sunday due to expected heavy rains and high winds from Helene.

2025 NCHP Board of Director Candidates

The 2025 Nominating Committee would like to formally present the following slate of candidates for
Board review. We request the following four candidates be included in the elections to
be held during the NCHP Annual Meeting, which has been indefinitely postponed from October 5, 2024  

Nominating Committee: Buzz Kaas – Chair, Jayne Carbone, John Evans

Please join us on Saturday, October 5 at 10 am in the Burnsville Town Center for our Annual Meeting. Our keynote speaker will be Frances Figart, Creative Services Director for Smokies Life.

Join High Peaks on an easy/moderate hike to the summit of Craggy Pinnacle at Craggy Gardens on Sat., Sept. 21.

This 1.5 mile hike tops out at an elevation of 5,892 feet, offering tremendous, 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with fall color scheduled to be making its entrance to the area.

Hawk Watch at Mt. Mitchell;  September 21, 22, 23; 10am to 3pm. Meet at the Mt. Mitchell Summit Observation platform.

Mid to late September is the prime time for migrating raptors such as peregrine falcons, merlins, kestrels, sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks, bald eagles, ospreys, broad-winged hawks, red-tailed hawks, and red-shouldered hawk, to be seen flying south over the mountains. 

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a challenging 12-mile hike on the Buncombe Horse Range Trail on Friday, Sept. 6. The outing should offer nice views of the Toe River Valley from Maple Camp Bald.

Hikers should meet at the Buncombe Horse Trail-head off Colbert Creek Road at 8:30 a.m. We’ll take a Yancey Transportation van, $5 per person, up to NC 128 near Mt. Mitchell for the start of the hike.

Join NC High Peaks for a fun day at Mt. Mitchell State Park on Saturday August 17.  The day will begin with a stroll around the Balsam Nature Trail, a 3/4 mile trail with interpretive signs.  While rated as relatively easy the trail is uneven with tripping hazards so hikers may want to use hiking poles.  The hike will also take us to the summit of Mount Mitchell for 360-degree views from the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. After the hike we will adjourn to the newly reopened Mt. Mitchell Restaurant for lunch.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a strenuous loop hike around the tallest mountain in the Eastern U.S. - Mt. Mitchell - on Friday, Aug. 9.

This challenging, 6-mile outing includes some steep sections with fixed ropes to help hikers go down rock faces. The footing is very rough and if wet can be extremely slick, so this hike is only for experienced, fit hikers.

Take a break from the summer heat by joining High Peaks for a pleasant loop hike on the trails of Mt. Mitchell State Park on Saturday, July 20. Temperatures on the highest peak in the Eastern U.S. are typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in the surrounding valleys.

Meet in the parking lot of the restaurant at 8:30 a.m. Bring water, snacks, hiking poles if you use them and rain gear if the weather forecast warrants.