Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville

I was here in late July and it was so peaceful. The air was cool & misty and there was moss covering the trees and fallen logs. The air was so refreshing to breathe in. There was a small museum packed with information about the environment, wildlife, geology, and history of the area. The man who “discovered” it as being the highest point on this side of the Mississippi River is actually buried near the peak! He died there while conducting scientific research. The info in the museum compared the habitat to that of Canada. There are magical trails to hike and a short, wide paved hike up to the summit. I highly recommend you go and check it out for yourself! I will be back again soon!

The summit was very nice to drive up to, the road beautiful. We took the small trail between the parking lot and the summit, and walking casually it took us 20 minutes, lots of stairs and rocks. I suggest having a coat for the high wind up top! And a walking stick if it's muddy, many of the rocks get very slick. Beautiful fir trees and scenic overview at the end. Walking the trail really feels like being in another world.