Ocean Outdoors
The red Mount Mitchell sign reading Highest Peak East of Mississippi River, Elevation 6684 Ft, in front of the round stone observation deck under a deep blue sky, with long shadows on the gravel

A photo story

Mount Mitchell, North Carolina

I made it to the top of Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, in November 2025. At 6,684 feet it's the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and the red sign out front says so, with the round stone observation deck behind it under a deep blue sky.

Mount Mitchell State Park is in Yancey County, and most people drive the summit road and walk the short way up to the deck. There were patches of ice along the walls of the ramp going up, and I took this from the gravel with the sun low behind me.

More stories

See all 210 stories or the state high points list.

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Shelf fungi on a fallen branch

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A pond at Long Pine Key

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