North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association & Friends of Mount Mitchell State Park

Join the High Peaks Birding Club for a bird stroll along the lovely Commissary Ridge trail at Mt. Mitchell on Wednesday, July 17th at 8:30 am.  

Meet Debbie Segal at the Ranger's Station at Mt. Mitchell State Park, located on FR 128.  This will be the first building and parking lot on the right after turning off the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Exceptionally fit and very experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, July 5 for a very challenging hike on the Black Mountain Crest Trail. The 11-mile jaunt will offer spectacular views from Yancey’s signature mountain chain.

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Saturday, June 15 for a strenuous hike along the Appalachian Trail at Firescald, a rocky ridgeline that offers dramatic views.

Join the High Peaks Birders for a stroll on the Commissary Ridge Trail at Mt. Mitchell State Park on Friday, May 31. 

We will follow the gradually-sloping gravel road in search of high elevation birds such as the  red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, hermit thrush, veery, golden-crowned kinglet, winter wren, chestnut-sided warbler, Canada warbler, black-throated green warbler, and others.  We may even spot a rare merlin or red crossbill.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a fun hike on the Appalachian Trail on Saturday, May 18. This out-and-back adventure will start at Sam’s Gap and climb to Street Gap, for a total distance of about 5 miles. The hike has several steep climbs and an overall elevation gain of 500 feet, so it is rated as moderately difficult.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, May 3 for a moderate hike at Bailey Mountain, a popular Madison County hiking destination.

The four-mile jaunt will include an elevation gain of 1,200 feet, so hikers should be in good physical condition.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a moderate-to-strenuous hike to picturesque Roaring Fork Falls on Saturday, April 20. 

The 4-mile outing includes a fairly steep climb during the first mile, so is probably not appropriate for the out-of-shape or beginners. 

Meet at the Roaring Fork Falls parking area just off South Toe River Road at 9 a.m. The group will carpool to the nearby trailhead which is on Private Property with very limited parking.

Celebrate Earth Day on Monday, April 22 by joining the Mt. Mitchell State Park staff and NC High Peaks Trail Association in a tree-planting project high atop the tallest mountain in the Eastern U.S.

The group will assemble at the Park Office at 9 a.m. and will be planting spruce and fir seedlings.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, April 5 for a challenging Spring hike along the Appalachian Trail from Devil Fork Gap to the I-26 crossing. The hike should offer nice views to the north and west from this section, which roughly follows the NC/TN border.

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, the NC High Peaks Trail Association will partner with Mt. Mitchell State Park to offer two invigorating hikes on Friday, March 15.

The easier hike will start at 11 a.m. and consist of a 2-mile out-and-back from the summit to Mt. Craig. This hike is rated as moderate-to-strenuous and does involve scrambling up and down some rock faces and a steep set of rock steps.