Standing at the monument on the top of Mount Mitchell. It was a good, damp, cloudy day.

(Mount Mitchell Photo Gallery)

One of the locations to which I most looked forward to visiting on my trips was Mount Mitchell.  Being able to stand at the highest point east of the Mississippi River is just an awesome thought.  Getting to the top was a great way to spend my 32nd birthday.

The drive to the park area of Mount Mitchell takes some time on a few windy roads, but it provides some amazing views of the Appalachians, Black Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains.  Along the way, travelers pass by the Eastern Continental Divide.

Once reaching Mount Mitchell state park, hikers and high pointers have multiple options for reaching the summit the mountain.  If you want to take the fastest route, there is a parking area near the top (at about 6578 feet) that allows to you to park at a the Summit Trail, paved trail that has a short walk to the top.  In that parking area, there is a gift shop and a concession area as well.

After entering the park, one can pick up the Old Mitchell Trail at the park office.  The same trail can also be picked up at other areas such as the restaurant in the park.  With some nasty looking weather approaching, I decided to pick up the trail there.  Unfortunately, it rained on me most of the way up the trail, so I did not get many pictures walking up the trail, but as I advanced, the weather improved and the rain subsided before I reached the summit.

The path does provide many spectacular views, and is not that difficult.  Also since it is a bit of a shorter path, it is a good choice for someone that does not have much time to spend on the mountain.

Once there, it was incredibly cloudy, and I waited about 30 minutes to end up with a chance to take pictures showed any of the views from the top of Mount Mitchell.  While waiting, I struck up a fun conversation with a Tennessee fan about college football.  I also ran into a group of India that had come to visit family in Charlotte.  It is always interesting to see who you will meet.

One thing that you have to do on your way to Mount Mitchell is enjoy the overlooks and roadside parks on the way to Mount Mitchell State Park.

One of the overlooks on the way to Mount Mitchell State Park.

After taking some time to enjoy the views, it was time to head back to the car and hope to make it to Clingmans Dome (a journey I came up just short in).  After realizing that I was going to be too late to get there, I travelled on to Georgia, where I planned to get to the summit of Brasstown Bald to view sunrise.