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Route: Mt Mitchell (NC)

Location
North Carolina, US
Distance
5.3 mi
Description

Mt Mitchell (6684') is the highest peak in the eastern USA.

The ascent from Briar Bottom is gains nearly 3700' in about 5.25 miles.  Start at the Briar Bottom TH, for the ascent time stops at observation deck.  While there is a Strava segment for this, it is important to report your actual (watch) time, as relying on GPS can be off by many seconds.  Also, the Strava Segment doesn't go to the actual observation deck.

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Mt. Mitchell Vertical Mile

The vertical kilometer is a coveted challenge and one of the greatest tests in aerobic fitness! I haven't seen many of these in the U.S. so I thought we would get one started on the highest point in the east, Mt Mitchell. Would have loved to have this end on the observation deck, but unfortunately it is just shy.

Starting point: Mount Mitchell trail head. Park at the Black Mountain campground and walk the Briar Bottom trail for 0.25 miles before it forks right to put you on the Mount Mitchell trailhead.

https://www.strava.com/routes/3134904388686010312

GPS Track
Briar_bottom_to_Mt_Mitchell_FKT.gpx157.22 KB
Mt. Mitchell vertical km_0.gpx25.68 KB

FKTs

Comments

SarahHansel
Sun, 04/03/2022 - 09:08am

I started both my attempts at the 0.0 sign on the bridge on the parking lot side of the river. The GPX provided on this page starts a little farther up the trail but that seemed like the logical beginning to me, as it is where they begin marking the trail.