Come Join Us Explore the Majestic Black Mountains and Scenic Toe River Valley of Western North Carolina

As home to the tallest mountain on this half of the continent, Yancey County offers some of the most spectacular hiking in the Eastern U.S. Topping the list is the Black Mountain Crest Trail, a rugged track that offers spectacular views and a chance to hike through a moss-matted forest of Spruce and Fir. Rare in the Southern U.S., you'd have to drive 1,000 miles north to Canada to find this eco-system, a remnant of the last ice age.

Celebrate Spring With a Mt. Mitchell Hike on March 15

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, the NC High Peaks Trail Association will partner with Mt. Mitchell State Park to offer two invigorating hikes on Friday, March 15.

The easier hike will start at 11 a.m. and consist of a 2-mile out-and-back from the summit to Mt. Craig. This hike is rated as moderate-to-strenuous and does involve scrambling up and down some rock faces and a steep set of rock steps. 

High Peaks Leads Moderate Hike Feb. 17

HIKE RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a moderate hike of four miles on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail on Saturday, Feb. 24.

The outing will go from Buck Creek Gap (NC 80) on the MST to Singecat Overlook, a round-trip of about four miles. There will be an option to hike part-way on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which would add another 1.5 miles to the hike.

High Peaks Installs Bear Boxes For Camper Safety Near Mt. Mitchell

The N.C. High Peaks Trail Association recently purchased, donated and installed two bear-proof steel food storage boxes at Commissary Ridge, a popular backcountry camping spot on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail not far from the Mt. Mitchell summit.

The roughly 3-foot-square, 330-pound boxes have bear-proof door latches that should enable campers to store food and other bear-attractive personal items locked away from the prying claws and powerful noses of the area’s black bears. 

John Whitehouse Honored for Trail Work

Pensacola resident and High Peaks founder John Whitehouse was recently honored with the Carolina Mountain Club’s Distinguished Service Award for his tireless commitment to maintaining and improving the area’s hiking trails.

“Few have done as much for our trails,” said longtime CMC member Rocko Smucker, who nominated Whitehouse for the award and made the presentation at the Asheville-based club’s annual dinner. “John is an outstanding leader and mentor. He gets people involved because he’s such a pleasure to be around.”