Route: The High Country Loop

The ~170 mile loop explores some of the crown jewels of northwestern North Carolina- Grandfather Mountain, Wilson Creek, Linville Gorge, Mount Mitchell & the Black Mountain Crest, and the Roan Highlands (where it briefly dips into Tennessee). With over 35000 ft of elevation gain along the route, the High Country Loop is not for the faint of heart.

The High Country Loop is all on established trails and roads, utilizing 90-miles of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Grandfather Mountain to Mt Mitchell, the Black Mountain Crest Trail from Mt Mitchell to the Bolens Creek Trailhead, a 26 mile road walk from Bolens Creek to Hughes Gap on the Appalachian Trail, 14 miles of the Appalachian Trail through the Roan Highlands to 19E, a 13 mile road walk through Elk Park and Banner Elk to Grandfather Mountain, and 9 miles of trails on Grandfather Mountain.

This route links two state parks (Mount Mitchell & Grandfather Mountain State Park), two national forests (Pisgah & Cherokee National Forest), one national scenic trail (Appalachian Trail), one cross state trail (Mountains-to-Sea Trail), one wilderness area (Linville Gorge Wilderness Area), and one national wild & scenic river area (Wilson Creek).

The High Country Loop also summits or comes within spitting distance of 10 of the Southern Appalachians' 6,000ft peaks. Bonus points for tagging those along the way!

Because it is a loop, there is no set start/finish point. The loop can also be done in either direction- clockwise or counterclockwise.