Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern US, is located in North Carolina’s Black Mountain Range and is part of the Appalachian mountain range. It was designated a state park in 1915 to protect its native trees. Visitors can hike, camp, and learn about the mountain’s history and wildlife, including rare and endangered species. The park is home to more than 20 peaks higher than 6,000 feet and offers stunning views of up to 85 miles on a clear day.
As the highest peak in the eastern United States, Mount Mitchell is often regarded as an American landmark. Located in North Carolina’s Black Mountain Range, it rises 6,684 feet (2,037 m) above sea level. The Black Mountains, which contain more than 20 peaks higher than 6,000 feet (1,829 m), are part of the massive Appalachian mountain range that stretches from Canada to the southern U.S. Mount Mitchell was designated a North Carolina state park in 1915 to protect its dwindling native trees from destructive logging practices and is the first park in the North Carolina state park system. The park is made up of 1,946 forested acres of lush valleys and rolling ridges.
Mount Mitchell is named after Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a University of North Carolina science professor who measured the peak in 1835 and found that it was the tallest in the area. More than 20 years later, in 1857, Dr. Mitchell died from a fall during a trip to remeasure the mountain to support his claim of its height, which had been disputed. He is buried on the mountain peak. Park visitors can see a marker detailing his work near the summit’s viewing platform. The view from the summit can stretch up to 85 miles (137 km) on a clear day.
Many activities are enjoyed by visitors to Mount Mitchell State Park. Hikers can take multiple short and long hikes on 18 miles (29 km) of trails that wind through the park. Tent camping is available at the park’s nine camping sites, and backcountry camping is available in the adjacent Pisgah National Forest. History buffs can visit the park museum to learn about Mount Mitchell’s natural and human history and the plants and wildlife that call it home.
Mount Mitchell’s wildlife includes black bears, bobcats, gray foxes, and more than 90 bird species. There are several rare and endangered species, such as the long-tailed shrew, toothpick owl, and northern flying squirrel. Much of the flora and fauna found in the park, with its high-elevation alpine climate, is more typical of colder climate areas such as New England or Canada than the southern United States. The flora of Mount Mitchell includes a variety of spruce and dark fir trees that give the Black Range its name, as well as native plants such as mountain raspberry, red elderberry, and blueberry. White snake root, St. John’s wort, and other wildflowers also dot the landscape.
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