Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Eskota, NC. The route reaches Commissary Hill at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 887 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi5,761 – 6,578 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Mount Mitchell Summit Trail 35.76641, -82.26526
Nearest town Eskota, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 887 ft · 1 hr 31 min
Elevation 5,762–6,577 ft
Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park
Trailhead: Mount Mitchell Summit Trail · 35.76641, -82.26526
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 71°F / low 59° · precip 15% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 200 ftSharp right onto Balsam Nature Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Buncombe Horse Range Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftReach Commissary Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Balsam Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
96% dirt1% paved3% unspecified
Weather
Partly cloudyTemperature 71°F59°
Precip15%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity77%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
75°55°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sun
69°55°
65%
Mon
57°50°
64%
Tue
64°44°
Wed
72°47°
Thu
73°52°
Fri
66°53°
40%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:32 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM — 10 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mount Mitchell Summit Trail Trailhead
- Camp Alice Trail–Commissary Trail, 3 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,109 ft
- Maple Camp Bald–Picnic, 3 summits 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,734 ft
- Camp Alice Trail via Buncombe Horse Range Trail 8.3 mi · ▲ 1,237 ft
- Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights 10.4 mi · ▲ 3,609 ft
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Hikes near Eskota, North Carolina