Mount Mitchell – Training for the Rim to Rim

Posted on by Rich Sharples

This was our biggest training hike in preparation for the Grand Canyon R2R.

Mt Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River and the closest thing we have to a real mountain in NC . It rises to 6,684 feet, so gave us some good elevation as well.

We started at the Black Mountain Campground off of South Toe River Road which makes it a 3,694 ft climb and a 11.8 mile round trip. Weather was hot and humid – underfoot was rocky, rooty and a little slippy in places. It’s a very decent slog and I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve hiked our biggest local mountain. Views from the top were awesome – coudl see all the way to Beech and Sugar.

Warning sign indicating no transportation available back to this point for hikers at Mt. Mitchell State Park, with instructions to hike down and a note about high Uber charges.
A group of six men smiling for a selfie while hiking in a wooded area, wearing outdoor gear and hats, with trail signs visible in the background.
Two hikers walking on a narrow trail surrounded by dense foliage and trees.
A man smiling at a table with a beverage and food items, including guacamole and a menu, in a restaurant setting.
Three men smiling while hiking on a forest trail surrounded by lush greenery.
A man wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and a wide-brimmed hat stands outdoors, holding a yellow object in one hand and a teal cloth in the other. He appears to be at a scenic lookout with other hikers in the background.
Three men posing for a selfie outdoors on a mountain trail surrounded by trees and cloudy skies.

The trail on AllTrails is here, and my Strava activity is here.

As it turned out, the rim to rim didn’t happen – a flash flood closed Phantom Ranch and the North Kaibab a few days before we flew. What we did instead is here.

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