• Higher elevations, cooler temperatures. In general, for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained, the temperature drops from 3.3 F (when it’s cloudy) to 5.4 F (when it’s not). Thus, if you’re in Raleigh, elevation 384 feet, and plan to hike Mount Mitchell, elevation 6,684 feet, your hike could be as much as 34 degrees cooler.
• Water. Piedmont streams and lakes run tepid in summer, but in the mountains they’re always cool and refreshing. 

With that in mind, we give you 7 of our favorite mountain destinations. Note the these aren’t necessary our 7 favorite, but rather, 7 of our favorite. Our ranking changes daily, depending upon our mood.

Mount Mitchell Trail

Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville

5.5 miles (11 round trip), 3,700 feet of elevation gain, topping out at 6,684 feet

This is both our favorite mountain training hike in North Carolina and a hike we describe to folks as not as hard as it might sound. From the Black Mountain Campground, the hike is certainly challenging throughout, but punishing maybe twice, and both times for less than a half mile. As for bang for your buck, you start in a southern hardwood forest and end in a northern boreal forest where the temperature may be 20 degrees cooler. Also: snack bar at the top.

More info  here

Kimsey Creek Trail to Standing Indian Mountain

Nantahala National Forest west of Franklin

11 miles, 2,500 feet of elevation gain

The Standing Indian Campground is a great basecamp for training hikes. The campground sits in a horseshoe-shapped valley rimmed by the ridge-running Appalachian Trail. Numerous trails lead up from the valley, mostly from the Nantahala River, to the AT. Our favorite heads up Kimsey Creek to 5,499-foot Standing Indian Mountain, gaining about 2,500 vertical feet in the process. Return down Lower Trail Ridge for a nice loop hike, at the conclusion of which take advantage of the cooling waters in Kimsey Creek.

More info here

Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap north to US 19E. 

Pisgah and Cherokee National forests

13.7 miles

At first glance, 13.7 miles might seem doable in a day — and it is. Just not for everyone. We were reminded of this recently by a survivor of our last day-hike attempt here, back in 2016. Our last because even some of our sturdiest hikers emerged … angry isn’t quite the right word, but it’s close. On the plus side, this hike starts high — 5,511 feet, at Carvers Gap — and ends low — 2,873 feet at US 19E. Then again, it has at least three good climbs along the way. Test yourself by hiking the Appalachian Trail north 2 miles over Round and Jane balds, to the Grassy Bald split. Feeling strong? Keep moving on the AT through gorgeous ridgeline forest to the Overmountain Victory Shelter. You’re half-way at this point, so why not power through, especially knowing that the views from atop Little Hump and Hump mountains are among the best in the Southeast.

More info here.

Panthertown Valley: Schoolhouse Falls

Nantahala National Forest, Cashiers

30 miles

Panthertown is a hiker’s paradise, with more than 30 miles of trail located just outside Cashiers.  You’ll find it all here, from pine forests to rock outcrops with views deep into the surrounding country to water, including several accessible waterfalls ending in swimming holes. You have to hike in about a mile-and-a-half for one of the best, Schoolhouse Falls, but what a hike it is, past towering hemlocks and rock outcrops in an area described as the Yosemite of the East. The payoff is sweet: Schoolhouse is a picturesque curtain of water dropping 20 feet into a luxurious pool, at the far side of which is a sand beach. Those of you who apply to the gradual immersion school will be especially pleased by the gentle incline that introduces you to the cold. 

More info here

Rock Castle Gorge, Rocky Knob Recreation Area

Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd, Va. 

10.7 miles 

One of our favorite mountain loop hikes, you’ll start this one from the primitive camp parking area with a rigorous climb through mature hardwoods on your way to the vast meadows along the ridge. Share the views with cows before a raucous descent down to Rock Castle Creek. Legs spent? No worries. From here it’s a mellow 4-mile descent along the creek back to your car.. Views; the rugged, intimate beauty of the Blue Ridge Escarpment; Rock Castle Creek near the end; and easy access.

More info here

Mount Rogers / Grayson Highlands

Jefferson National Forest / Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia

100+ miles of trail

More info here and here and here.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest

350 miles

The MST’s mountain run, from Clingman’s Dome to the Devil’s Garden Overlook, is pretty much one long highlight reel. One of our favorite stretches is also one of its more low-key, running 10.8 miles from South Laurel Fork Road east to the Doughton Park Campground. There are subdued stretches through pristine transitional woods, there are shelf trail stretches that showcase the Blue Ridge Escarpment’s dramatic elevation gain, there are endless views east into the piedmont and, near the end, passage through rolling mountain meadows. Probably our favorite stretch of the MST’s mountain run.

More info here

* * *

Explore with us!

We’re hiking one of these hikes next weekend — and we’d love for you to join us! It’s the MST stretch, and it’s the first of our Summer on the MST Weekend Escape, to Doughton Park, June 10-12. Camping and food are included. Learn more here.

More mountain hikes

Discover more mountain hikes we love in these past blog posts. Click on the link.

• Hike the Mountains of the MST 
• 5 Mountain Hikes with Altitude, Attitude
• 5 of our Favorite Whoa! Moments
• Cool Hikes with Water
• 5 Hikes that Fly Under the Radar
• 5 Special Spots for Hiking and Backpacking
• 5 of Our Favorite Basecamp Backpack Trips

The post 7 Mountain Hikes for a Sizzling Summer of Fun appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

There’s a lot you can do starting right now to get in hiking shape.

Every day

First, on a daily basis walk, walk, walk. If you use a step-counter and your goal has been 10,000, up it to 15,000. Make yourself cognizant of the need to walk as much as possible. And take the stairs whenever the opportunity arises. If it helps, as you trek up the stairs in that dank, gray stairwell visualize one of the most scenic climbs you know.

Training hikes near home

On the trail, train on the hilliest trails you can find close to home. Here are some of our top choices for hilly hikes:

• Charlotte. Crowders Mountain State Park: From the Visitor Center, the climbs to both Crowders Mountain (Crowders and Rocktop trails) and The Pinnacle (Pinnacle Trail) have some steep sections; the 1.8-mile Tower Trail from the Linwood Access probably offers the best bang per vertical foot. At Morrow Mountain State Park, Sugar Loaf Mountain (2.8 miles) and Hattaway Mountain (2 miles) trails will build up your quads.
• Triad. Pilot Mountain: Start from the Pinnacle Hotel Road access and hike the Mountain Trail from the base of the mountain up to the Grindstone Trail, up to the top, gaining more than a thousand vertical feet in 4.5 miles. At Hanging Rock, start from the Flinchum Road Access on the Dan River and hike up the 3.6-mile Indian Creek Trail to the Visitor Center, then catch the 4.7-mile Moore’s Wall Loop Trail to the top of the park, a total elevation gain of about 1,700 feet. GetHiking! groups will be taking trips to Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock this weekend and next; see below for details on how to join us.
• Triangle. You can find some steep but short climbs in Eno River State Park (try Cox Mountain and Holden Mill Trail hiked clockwise), but your best bet for prolonged climbs is to drive to the Uwharrie National Forest and hike the 6.3-mile stretch from the Jumpinoff Rock Trailhead to Pisgah Covered Bridge Road, over Little Long Mountain and Kings Mountain.
• Greenville. Raven Rock State Park is a two-hour drive: there, you could get in a few laps on the 135-stair staircase leading down from 150-foot-high bluff to the Cape Fear River, and the 5-mile Campbell Creek Trail has some elevation.
• Charlottesville, Va. Having the Shenandoah National Park in your backyard is like having the best natural stairclimber around: so many good options. Leading Ridge Trail in the Central District offers the best elevation change: about 1,650 feet in one mile.
• Virginia Beach, Va. The bad news for mountain training when you live at the beach is that you live at the beach. But when it comes to natural stairmasters, you’re hard-pressed to top Mount Trashmore. Spend 30 minutes on the trash heap three or four times a week and you’ll be ready for most any climb.

Resources

Crowders Mountain, Morrow Mountain State Park, Pilot Mountain State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, Eno River State Park, Shenandoah National Park

For information on hiking the Uwharrie National Forest, check out Don Children’s “Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide,” Second Edition, Earthbound Sports. Learn more about the book here.

Join us on a challenging hike

This Saturday, our Piedmont Explorer group will be getting in some elevation at Hanging Rock State Park. Learn more here.

Next weekend, our GetHiking! Classic Hikes crew visits Pilot Mountain for a 10-mile hike starting from the base of the mountain, climbing as high as you can legally go, then heading back down. Learn more and sign up here.

Happy trails,

Joe

p.s. Stay tuned next week for information on a special workshop to get your core in shape for backpacking this summer!

The post Get those legs in shape for summer hiking appeared first on GetGoing NC!.