Mount Mitchell

Activities Experience the Park! On a clear day, you can enjoy spectacular views and see as far as 85 miles. GPS: 35.7528, -82.2737 Mount Mitchell State Park 2388 State Hwy. 128 Burnsville, NC 28714 828-675-4611 mount.mitchell@ncparks.gov Fun Facts ■■ Mount Mitchell was established as the first state park in 1915, ■■ In 1835 Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a science professor, journeyed to the Black Mountains to measure their elevations. Using barometric pressure readings and mathematical formulas, he estimated the highest elevation to be 6,672 feet. ■■ In 1858, the highest peak in the mountain range was named for Dr. Mitchell to commemorate his discoveries. ■■ In the early 1900s, extensive logging operations stripped most of the mountain range causing alarm among citizens, including North Carolina Governor Locke Craig. ■■ The Black Mountains were formed more than a billion years ago. Once lofty and rugged, erosion wore down the pinnacles to the rounded shapes we see today. ■■ At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest point The Fraser fir, the most abundant tree along the crest of the Black Mountains, was named for John Fraser, an English botanist, who explored the area in the late 1780’s. 91 species of birds have been recorded in the park including, winter wrens, red crossbills and ruffed grouse. In the 1950’s, the balsam woolly adelgid (similar to an aphid) infested and killed a large number of Fraser firs and altered the forest ecology of the Black mountains. ■■ Six of the Black Mountain peaks are among the 10 highest peaks in the eastern US. ■■ The Black Mountains’ climate is more like that of ■■ Due to the abundance of Fraser firs, many of the trails at Mount Mitchell are said to smell like Christmas. Mount Mitchell State Park offers a restaurant near the summit where you can enjoy food and scenic views. Two regular visitors to the park office are a pair of deer—Lucy and Lucinda. In winter, they can be seen licking the salt off vehicles in the parking lot. east of the Mississippi. Canada than N.C., and many of the plants and animals are similar to those native to more northern alpine environments. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries grow in the park. Visitors can pick a few and eat the berries when they ripen, around August. ncparks.gov MNQPV The park protects the most extensive assortment of rare plant and animal species in the state park system. A birds-eye view shows that the mountain range bears the shape of the letter “J.”