Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Eskota, NC. The route reaches Commissary Hill. It climbs 3,609 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi3,022 – 6,578 ft · steepest grade: 22%10.7 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
10.4 mi · ▲ 3,609 ft · 5 hr 16 min
Elevation 3,022–6,577 ft
Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park
Trailhead: Mount Mitchell Summit Trail · 35.76641, -82.26526
Weather Sep 5: 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 miPass Commissary Hill.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Buncombe Horse Range Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Buncombe Horse Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading N.
- 3.5 miTurn right onto Briar Bottom, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Briar Bottom Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftReach Commissary Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Briar Bottom, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading SW.
- 3.5 miContinue straight onto Buncombe Horse Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Buncombe Horse Range Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Balsam Nature Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 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
97% dirt1% gravel1% paved1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:53 PM
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
- Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights 3.2 mi · ▲ 887 ft
- 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
Get outside more
A wild hike near Eskota, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Eskota, North Carolina