Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 4 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Cattail Creek Community, NC. The route passes Picnic before reaching Mount Mitchell at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 4,633 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi3,780 – 6,683 ft · steepest grade: 33%14.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 35.81221, -82.27457
Nearest town Cattail Creek Community, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 4 sights
13.6 mi · ▲ 4,633 ft · 6 hr 51 min
Elevation 3,781–6,682 ft
Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park
Trailhead: 35.81221, -82.27457
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Deep Gap Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackberry Lane, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Deep Gap Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Black Mountain Crest, heading SW.
- 3.5 miPass Picnic.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Mount Mitchell Summit Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miReach Mount Mitchell, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading SW.
- 3.6 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Deep Gap Road, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right onto Blackberry Lane, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Deep Gap Road, heading W.
- 0.1 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
88% dirt2% paved10% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from this trailhead
- Blackberry Lane & Deep Gap Road 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,595 ft
- Ogle Rock–Blackberry Lane, 3 sights 7.2 mi · ▲ 2,152 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Cattail Creek Community, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Cattail Creek Community, North Carolina