Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell SP https://www.ncparks.gov/mount-mitchell-state-park/home https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mitchell_State_Park Mount Mitchell State Park is located at the end of NC 128 off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Burnsville, North Carolina. It includes the peak of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. From the parking lot, a steep paved path leads visitors to the summit and a raised observation platform with 360 degree views. In addition to Mount Mitchell itself, the park encompasses several other peaks which top out at over 6000' in elevation, including Mount Hallback, Mount Craig (just 52 feet (16 m) shy of Mount Mitchell in elevation and the second highest peak east of the Mississippi River), Big Tom and Balsam Cone. Trails lead to all these summits save Mount Hallback, and their exploration takes visitors away from the crowds on Mount Mitchell but to places similarly spectacular. About 8 miles (13 km) of trails exist within the park in all.

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.” 

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Pettigrew State Park South Mountains State Park – 2018 Park of the Year Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 234,000 acres of iconic landscape across our state in our parks, recreation areas and natural areas with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2017. Discover More with a Ranger Across North Carolina, state park rangers are proud of our parks and eager to welcome you and your family. Come to our parks to marvel at our state’s most beautiful natural resources, enjoy your favorite outdoor activities and learn about the rich science, culture and history that make our parks great. Fun facts about North Carolina State Parks ■■ There are 41 places to visit, including 34 parks, four recreation areas and three staffed state natural areas. ■■ The Division manages four state rivers, seven state lakes and six state trails. ■■ There are about 581 miles of trail to explore in our parks. ■■ The first state park created was Mount Mitchell State Park on March 3, 1915. Fort Macon State Park was the second. ■■ The Division celebrated 100 years of being Naturally Wonderful in 2016. ■■ Parks that welcome over 1 million visitors annually include: Jockey’s Ridge, Fort Macon and William B. Umstead state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas. ■■ The Division employs over 1,000 people across the state. ■■ Some www.ncparks.gov M N P Q Roy Cooper Governor unique activities you can do in our parks include: wind surfing and hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Elk Knob State Park, driving on the four-wheel-drive beach at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and rock climbing at Chimney Rock, Crowders Mountain, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and Stone Mountain state parks. Susi H. Hamilton Secretary 75,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $10,707.92 or $0.14 each. 03/18 Did you know that many plants atop Mount Mitchell are rare in North Carolina but common in Quebec? That the giant sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge are constantly moving? Do you know how to safely hold a crayfish? From fishing lessons to astronomy programs and tree identification hikes to guided paddles, parks offer programs for all ages. Visit our website for a list of upcoming programs at each park. Junior Rangers The Junior Ranger program offers educational and skill-based activities to encourage children to explore the outdoors. Children can complete activity guides, geared for ages 6-12, and attend ranger programs to earn a junior ranger patch unique to each park. Ask about the program at a park office or download the guide at: www.ncparks.gov/junior-rangers. Environmental Education Learning Experiences Parks have their own curriculum guides that are correlated to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Competency goals in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts are available. Each program includes pre-visit, on-site and post-visit student activities that have measurable objectives, background information, vocabulary, references and step-bystep activity instructions. Passport Program How many state parks can you visit? Use your passport as a guide and collect stamps, earn prizes and make “Naturally Wonderful” memories! Pick up your passport at a state park near you. North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge Can you hike, bike or paddle 100 miles in a year? Join the N.C. State Parks’ 100-Mile Challenge and log your miles online to earn digital badges and redeem prizes as you reach various milestones! This is a great way to get outside, get moving and keep track of your activity. Visit www.nc100miles.org to sign up. ■■ Several parks have educational trails, called TRACK trails, that include activities for children to complete along the way. William B. Umstead State Park Jockey’s Ridge State Park Friends Of State Parks Join the Friends of State Parks to help support, promote and advocate for the parks system as a whole, or join the friends group of your favorite park. The group helps provide funding for Junior Ranger and Youth in Parks – Environmental Education programs, as well as grants for state parks projects. You can also make a donation to help keep our parks around for future generations. Learn more at www.ncfsp.org or www.ncparks.gov/support-your-parks. Merchandise Want to show your N.C. State Parks pride? Visit the online webstore and purchase products such as coffee mugs, prints, t-shirts, pins, patches and Christmas ornaments. This exclusive merchandise makes a great gift for special state parks fans, including yourself. www.ncparkstore.com N.C. State Parks License Plate Show your support for state parks every time you drive your vehicle! Purchase an N.C. State Parks license plate through the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicl