Click the links below to view information about activities for this park.
| Camping | Picnicking |
| Education and Events | Visitor Facilities |
| Education Center | Concession Stand / Gift Shop |
| Exhibit Hall | Restaurant |
| Hiking |
Camping: Family camping: The nine-site family campground is open throughout the year. Only tent camping is allowed. Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table. Modern restrooms for use during warm seasons are located nearby. Showers and hot water are not provided. In the winter, campers have access to pit toilets, and no running water is available.
Pack-in camping: Campers may leave vehicles in the park overnight to backpack into the Pisgah National Forest. Visitors who leave their vehicles in the park must register on the forms provided at the trailheads near the parking area or at the park office. Mount Mitchell offers a choice of trails from which to enjoy the nearby alpine woodlands.
**Note:** It's not uncommon to encounter black bears at Mount Mitchell State Park, particularly in warm weather
months. A few things to remember...
- Never feed bears. Bears that become accustomed to human food and lose their fear of people often must
be destroyed.
- Bear-proof storage containers are available at each campsite. Properly store all food, garbage and items
that might smell like food to a bear (toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorants, air fresheners, cooking and cleaning
supplies, etc.) when camping or leaving items unattended. If camping in the backcountry, hang your food bag from
a rope slung over a sturdy tree limb at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 25 feet away from your tent.
- If approached by a bear, slowly back away while yelling loudly and waving your arms. Remain in eye contact with the
bear and do not turn around or run. Throwing rocks or waving sticks may be necessary if the bear follows you. Act
aggressively and fight back if the bear attacks.
Education and Events: Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about Mount Mitchell State Park. Click the Events link on the Park Menu to the left to search our database of park events. To arrange a special exploration of Mount Mitchell State Park for your group or class, contact the park office.
Education Center: A fully equipped classroom is available for groups. Contact the park office for reservation information.
Educational materials about Mount Mitchell State Park have been developed for grades 4-6 and are correlated to North Carolina's competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The Mount Mitchell program introduces students to the forest types of the Blue Ridge Mountains, focusing on the potential causes for forest decline in the mountains and at Mount Mitchell. Accompanying the program is a teacher's booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators. To learn more about environmental education or to search our database of upcoming workshops, click the Education tab, above.
Exhibit Hall: Want to know how Mount Mitchell measures up? Check out the park's exhibit hall, and you'll find out how the east coast's highest peak stacks up against its neighbors as soon as you walk in the door. The 1,385-square-foot exhibit hall, located near the mountain's summit, is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., May through October. It offers visitors insight into the mountain's natural, cultural and historical faces.
Exhibits include:
Hiking: Choose between a short stroll or a more extensive hike into the woods. Either choice will be rewarding as the beauty of the park is best seen from one of its many trails. Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and carry proper gear as the high altitude makes the climate of Mount Mitchell chilly, even in summer. Severe storms above 6,000 feet are unpredictable and can be life-threatening. Fog and winds can impede search-and-rescue crew and helicopter access. Hike and camp in the back country at your own risk.
Never rely on GPS, cell-phone, or rescue beacon devices to prevent/survive emergency situations.
Always be prepared for the worst weather. Closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway occurs frequently when snow & ice accumulate. Be prepared to stay extra days or pack up and leave upon request by a park ranger at any time.
A short trail beginning at the summit parking lot leads to the stone observation platform. On a clear day, visitors can see as far as 85 miles and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Pisgah National Forest. The body of Dr. Elisha Mitchell is buried next to the platform where a stone marker recounts his work in the Black Mountains.
Picnicking: Try a mile-high picnic at Mount Mitchell. The shady picnic area, open year-round, is located at the north end of the summit parking lot. Forty picnic tables, stone grills and drinking water supply all the essentials. Two picnic shelters with fireplaces are perfect for group picnics. Each shelter accommodates up to 16 people. Use of the shelters is free of charge unless reservations are requested.
Visitor Facilities: Interpretive center: Near the summit parking lot is an interpretive center where exhibits offer interesting information about the park's history and depict mountain forests, geology and wildlife.
Concession Stand / Gift Shop: A concession stand and gift shop, adjacent to the summit parking lot, is open daily from May through October from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Light snacks, crafts and books may be purchased here. Restrooms are also available.
Restaurant: Enjoy a relaxing meal in the restaurant located approximately a half mile from the park office. Open May through October, hungry hikers and tourists will enjoy the restaurant's food as well as its scenic views. Open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. until one hour before park closing May through October.
N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation • 1615 MSC • Raleigh N.C. 27699-1615