Happy New Year! Just in time to ring in 2012, we’ve added some new maps in the Mount Mitchell area, including a general map of the whole park and surrounding trails, and a map each covering the Camp Alice/Commissary, Old Mitchell Trail, and Mount Mitchell Best Hikes. Each contains downloadable layers for display in your GPS or Google Earth.
Right now, Mount Mitchell State Park isn’t reachable by car due to road closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But the park is still accessible via the Mount Mitchell Best Hike which leads all the way to the peak from the lower elevations where the roads are open. It’s a strenuous trek, and be prepared for some cold, snow, and ice on the trail. But if you’re looking for a more wilderness-like hike and a secluded experience on the highest summit in the Appalachians without throngs of summer tourists, this is the time of year to do it!