Six Summits in Seven Miles – Mount Mitchell State Park

Stacey came to visit me the week before we left for Peru, so of course we wanted to get a hike or two in as “training” for the Inca Trail. Earlier in the week we got drinks at a bar in Asheville and we were told about this Mount Mitchell Circuit and ended up getting a guided hike starting at the base of Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi River), hiking seven miles and hitting six summits.

To get to Mt. Mitchell State Park you drive north on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville. It’s just a bit further north from Craggy Gardens, and there’s a large parking area at the base of Mt. Mitchell.

Of course, we chose the foggiest day of Stacey’s visit to do this hike, but even though we didn’t have clear views on every peak, it was still absolutely something to be seen; the trail was stunning and quite fairy-tale-esque! Plus, hiking in the pouring down rain made it an even more exciting adventure!

We had to pose by one of the peak-markers. By the end of the day, we stood at the top of Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Craig, Big Tom, Balsam Cone, Cattail Peak and Potato Hill, and it was a pretty cool feeling.

We saved the highest peak for last, and by the time we got to the top of Mt. Mitchell it was pure fog, but we did it! We stood at the top of the highest peak this side of the Mississippi! This was such a fun day, and we were so glad to have had Adam and his dog Sampson as our trusty trail guides!

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