The view looking out from Mount Mitchell. Photo: Don Shetterly//Unsplash
The tallest peak of the Appalachian range is back open for hiking after Hurricane Helene ravaged the region a year ago. Mount Mitchell, the United States’ highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet, reopened for recreation on September 15.
Mount Mitchell State Park in North Carolina is the last to reopen in the state after Helene forced the closure of 13 parks in the state’s western region in September, 2024. The hurricane’s downpours and wind gusts caused more than 50 landslides on the Blue Ridge Parkway and shut the entire 469 miles of road.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein lauded the work done by the state’s transportation department, expressing gratitude that the park has opened “just in time for leaf season.”
While several trails in the area remain closed for repairs, Mount Mitchell can be accessed via the short, 0.2-mile paved road from the parking lot at Mount Mitchell Museum. Longer trail options are available for those seeking a more strenuous hike.
“We are eager to welcome back our visitors to enjoy the iconic views at Mount Mitchell,” said North Carolina State Parks Director Brian Strong. “We ask that visitors be mindful of continued facility closures, including those within neighboring public lands. We are continuing to make repairs at Mount Mitchell as well, so please use caution on the park roads and trails.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Florida’s Gulf Coast and was linked to as many as 250 deaths in the U.S – the deadliest hurricane in the contiguous U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2006. The storm whipped up surf for Gulf Coast surfers and even traveled north to create waves for surfers on the Great Lakes.
