The tallest mountain east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft/2,037 m) is located in Mount Mitchell State Park, 25 mi/40 km northwest of Asheville. You can drive to the top, and the short walk to the observation point will reward you with some spectacular views if it's a clear day.
A number of other hiking trails are also available from the summit, including the 5.6-mi/9-km Mount Mitchell Trail, which runs along the eastern slope to Black Mountain Campground, about 3,600 ft/1,116 m below.
The Mount Mitchell Trail is also part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, an ongoing project that will eventually cross the length of North Carolina, linking Clingman's Dome at the Tennessee border with Jockey's Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks. https://mountainstoseatrail.org.
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