AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Mount Mitchell State Park

Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 4 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,902 ft · 7 hr 45 min

Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 4 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Hamrick, NC. The route passes Picnic before reaching Mount Mitchell at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 4,902 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,884 – 6,683 ft · steepest grade: 35%16.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Buncombe Horse Trail 35.80086, -82.21149
Nearest town Hamrick, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 4 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 4,902 ft · 7 hr 45 min

Elevation 2,884–6,682 ft

Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park

Trailhead: Buncombe Horse Trail · 35.80086, -82.21149

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 89°F / low 71° · precip 14% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:52 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Buncombe Horse Trail, heading S.
  2. 6.1 miTurn right onto Big Tom Gap Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miSharp left onto Black Mountain Crest, heading SW.
  4. 1.4 miPass Picnic.
  5. 100 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Mount Mitchell Summit Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miReach Mount Mitchell, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading S.
  15. 1.4 miSharp right onto Big Tom Gap Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left onto Buncombe Horse Trail, heading N.
  17. 6 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mount-mitchell-picnic-out-back-3-summits

Trail surface

22% dirt2% paved76% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 89°F71°
Precip14%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity66%
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:52 PM
Sun 82°66° 71%
Mon 70°63° 71%
Tue 77°57°
Wed 85°60°
Thu 86°65°
Fri 79°66° 39%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.3 mi in (~254 min). Leave by 3:18 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Hamrick, North Carolina