Black Mountain Crest

Hike Name: Black Mountain Crest Location: west NC Length: 24-26 Submitted by: Eugene Bessonov Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more North Carolina trail reviews North Carolina national parks North Carolina state parks
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Description
Black Mountain Crest Trail (BMCT) is referred by most sources as "the most rugged trail of the East". It is also the highest with twelve "summits" over 6000 feet. Total elevation gain calculated using Forest Service map is 6235 feet from Bowlens Creek to Mt. Mitchell and 2540 feet in the opposite direction (8775 feet total). Distance is 24-26 miles round trip. Formally Mt. Mitchell is not part of the trail.

Rare blazes and signs are orange, pink, and red; there are virtually none after Horse Rock. Water is available at Bowlens Creek, near Deep Gap, at Mt. Mitchell, in rare tiny pools between rocks.

Most of the time the trail is in clouds, and dew fills your shoes with water almost immediately. June is the best time to go: the days are long and the overgrowth is not above your head. In August you will not see your feet. The section between Horse Rock and Winter Star Mountain is not easy to follow. It must not be walked after dark because the trail is often only two steps from a cliff.

From the trail head (3075 ft), climb 3085 ft on an old logging road to traverse Celo Knob (6327 ft) at 6160 ft. Take right at the fork. Left trail leads to the top. Pass an old wooden cross about 50 yards on the left indicating old White Oak Creek Trail. Continue through Horse Rock (Percy's Peak, 6212 ft), Gibbs Mountain (6224 ft), no-name knob (6160+ ft) and three or four minor bumps over 6000 ft to a gap (5820 ft) under Winter Star (6212 ft). This will be the only climb that requires use of hands. Turn right at the top and traverse Deer Mountain (6160 ft, on the right), a subpeak of Winter Star. Go down to Deep Gap (5720 ft) and pass Colbert Ridge Trail on the left just before the gap. Gain 755 ft on the climb to Potato Hill (6475 ft). Next highest climb will be only 400 ft on the way back to Winter Star. Continue through Cattail Peak (6583 ft) and Balsam Cone (6611 ft). Pass Big Tom Gap Trail on the left. Continue to Big Tom (6581 ft), Mt. Craig (6647 ft), to the shops, museum and Mt. Mitchell (6684 ft).

On the way back to Bowlens Creek, watch for the leftmost of the trails going straight out of Deep Gap. It is hidden in the grass, but in a few yards you will see an orange arrow on a rock under your feet. Remember to turn left after Winter Star. Take left of the two steep almost parallel trails soon after the turn.

Three of us made it between 12 and 13 hours. After passing Horse Rock, checking on a lost hiker, I returned to the cars and started over. Three miles before Mt. Mitchell, I met another hiker and turned back, so we could pass Celo Knob before dark. It took 14 hours to walk 31 miles with total gain of 9995 feet. After passing Celo, we rushed down the logging road and reached Bowlens Creek in complete darkness. Clouds of lightning bugs showed us the way.

Directions to Hike
From I-40W take exit 86 onto 226N to Spruce Pine. Make left onto 19E to Burnsville. At 3rd light, turn left onto 197S (Pensacola Rd.). Watch for either of the two left turns onto Bowlens Creek Rd. (road 1109). Directions on 1109 will be opposite depending on the entrance. At the hairpin, watch for Water Shed road. Across road 1109 and 60 yards up the road is a private cemetery. Ask for permission to park and do not block the entrance. Walk up Water Shed toward the gate and cross the creek.

Contact Information
1) Forest Service, POB 128, Burnsville, NC 28741; 828-682-6146; www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc
2) Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 State Highway 128, Burnsville, NC 28714; 828-675-4611; www.ncsparks.net/momi.html

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