The Longer Drive to Mt. Mitchell State Park Is Worth It

I’m so glad I know how to laugh at myself. I was on my way to Mt. Mitchell State Park when I pulled up behind a car that was moving at a snail’s pace. Just as I was about to hit the horn, I laughed at myself. In his slowness, I had the chance to take in my surroundings, something I always encourage others to do and generally do myself. Ox Creek Road, the road that, for now, is Burnsville’s connector to the park, is lined with farms, wildflowers, and lots of lush green.  In that moment, I relaxed and enjoyed the glorious scenery. 

Then I reached the Blue Ridge Parkway. I suspect the bulk of people who drive along this 469-mile roadway that stretches across Virginia and North Carolina don’t realize the pioneer responsible for the idea was North Carolina geologist Joseph Hyde Pratt. While he conceived of it in 1912, the idea lay dormant until 1933 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt brought the vision to life to put unemployed people during the Depression back to work. New York Architect Stanley Abbott was challenged to transform the roadway into a park. 

While I love knowing the history, I prefer thinking about the Parkway as my personal playground, AND one of the best botanical gardens I’ve ever visited. If I drive slowly, I can spot the colors emerging from so much lush greenery. As I write this, spiderwort, columbine, flame azalea, firepink, rosebay rhododendron, phlox, and more are blooming. Once I shifted my focus to seeing rather than rushing, I pulled into several overlooks to take in the floral wonder.  

Spiderwort Firepink Phlox

Certified wildflowerholic that I am, I know that late spring means purple fringed orchids will be blooming along the roadside going up to Mt. Mitchell State Park. That alone, at least for me, is a reason to visit. They are listed as being significantly rare in North Carolina, so seeing them thrills the daylights out of me! There are a few trailhead pullouts from which to see these beauties. As I always say, take photos, not flowers. Given how they’re currently blooming, it’s easy to see them without disturbing anything else. 

Purple fringed orchid

After a quick jaunt along the paved trail to the summit because it’s the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, I opted to meander along the easy-to-access Balsam Nature trail on my way down. While I always recommend hiking poles or a walking stick given landscape dips and roots and rocks, I would call it a relatively easy to moderate trail.  

The Summit at Mt. Mitchell State Park

What I struggle with is being able to adequately describe the incredibly refreshing feeling I get the moment I step into the woods and take that first deep Fraser fir-filled breath. It feels like a cool, clean, sweet, exhilarating hug. I completely understand why this trail is considered one of the best smelling hikes in the region. This is one perfume I’d be happy to bottle and take out whenever I need a boost. 

What this slightly-less-than-a-mile loop lacks in length, it makes up for in the wonders you encounter along the way. Massive moss-covered boulders, calming canopy of red spruce and Fraser firs, birdsong, squirrel chases, wildflowers such as the wood sorrel currently blooming, and a vast assortment of mushrooms, some of which look like whimsical characters in a fairy tale. And then there’s the light, which filters in through the treetops, illuminating a limb here, a flower or patch of moss there, always adding magic to the journey. 

Wood sorrel Common bonnet

Let’s not forget the cooler temperatures. Given its 6,684’ elevation, Mt. Mitchell is typically 10 – 30 degrees cooler than Burnsville, Asheville, and other surrounding areas. In the heat of summer, it’s the perfect place to meander without breaking a sweat.  Sure, there are days when dense fog settles in, but, in my opinion, that just adds a touch of mystery to the adventure. 

Whether you want to chill out or warm up after your journey, you can enjoy what Leigh and Melissa Howell refer to as elevated fare at Mt. Mitchell Café and Eatery. The couple also owns the popular Burnsville based Pig & Grits. A bowl of tomato basil bisque or adult grilled cheese panini can take the chill away while the sweet berry salad or chicken salad ciabatta offer a perfect taste of summer. Current hours are Thursday – Sunday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Summit Snack Shack is open every day from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Or pack a picnic – there are plenty of places to enjoy an al-fresco meal with a whopper of a view. 

All this to say, yes, the Parkway from Burnsville to Mt. Mitchell will be closed for another few months for repairs so it will take longer to get there. But that extra time may also be just the gift you deserve.