Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 5 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Hamrick, NC. The route passes Deep Gap and Picnic before reaching Mount Mitchell at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 5,700 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,749 – 6,683 ft · steepest grade: 27%15.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Colbert Ridge Trail 35.80651, -82.20561
Nearest town Hamrick, NC
Directions
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Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 5 sights
15 mi · ▲ 5,700 ft · 7 hr 51 min
Elevation 2,750–6,682 ft
Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park
Trailhead: Colbert Ridge Trail · 35.80651, -82.20561
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 85°F / low 70° · precip 37% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:52 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Colbert Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 3.7 miBear left onto Black Mountain Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Deep Gap.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading S.
- 3.6 miPass Picnic.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Mount Mitchell Summit Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Mount Mitchell, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Mountain Mountain Crest, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading S.
- 3.6 miContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Colbert Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 3.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
48% dirt2% paved50% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 85°F70°
Precip37%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity72%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
85°70°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:52 PM
Sun
85°67°
35%
Mon
66°62°
47%
Tue
77°57°
22%
Wed
83°58°
Thu
82°62°
31%
Fri
85°63°
45%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~179 min). Leave by 4:34 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Colbert Ridge Trail Trailhead
- Ogle Rock–Deep Gap, 4 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 3,864 ft
- Horse Rock & Colbert Ridge Trail via Black Mountain Crest Trail 12.6 mi · ▲ 4,175 ft
- Maple Camp Bald–Deep Gap, 5 sights 13.6 mi · ▲ 5,230 ft
- Picnic–Deep Gap, 5 sights 15.4 mi · ▲ 5,615 ft
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Hikes near Hamrick, North Carolina