Top of the State!

YANCEY

Mt. Mitchell

6684′

(#47/100 North Carolina county highpoints)

Mt. Mitchell is not only the highpoint of Yancey County, but it is also the highpoint of North Carolina…and the highest point east of the Mississippi.

And they are darn proud of it, too!

Fortunately for us, most of that elevation is gained via automobile.

From the parking lot there is a paved, but steep, walkway to the top.

Mt. Mitchell is in the Black Mountain subrange of the Appalachians.

Attakulla was the Cherokee name, then Black Dome by the early European settlers, and now Mt. Mitchell.

And speaking of “Mitchell”–here is his tomb!!!

Elisha Mitchell was a beloved Presbyterian minister and University of North Carolina geology professor, who made extensive explorations in the Black Mountains in the early 1800’s. He was the one who determined that this mountain was the highest east of the Mississippi.

When another geologist challenged his claim, he revisited the mountain and fell to his death over a waterfall. His calculations proved, however, that he was right. Dead right!

After enjoying the views from the summit, we took a longer way back to the car via the Balsam Nature Trail.

Pink Turtlehead and Cutleaf Coneflower

Now that was a highly satisfying highpoint!