Mount Mitchell Summit Road
NC 128Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Mitchell · North Carolina
Distance1.7mi · 2.7 km
Drive time3 minon the road
DifficultyModerate
MountainForest
Short paved climb to the East's highest peak
NC 128 branches off the Blue Ridge Parkway and climbs to the summit area of Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet, the highest point east of the Mississippi River. The fully paved two-lane road steepens to roughly nine percent through spruce-fir forest before the summit lot. Mind the steep grade, Parkway-dependent access, and frequent fog.
Where it runs
Blue Ridge ParkwayStart · North Carolina
Mount MitchellEnd · United States
Character
Corners14bends
Tightness5of 10
Max gradient9%≈ 1-in-11
Hairpins1tight bends
Climb111 mtotal ascent
Summit1955 mhighest point · 6414 ft
SpringSummerAutumn
Elevation
123 m rangeKnow before you go
- Steep nine percent grade
- Access cut if Parkway closes
- Fog and high-elevation weather
Sources
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