The 40 peaks over 6000 feet in the Southern Appalachians with at least 200 ft prominence or isolation of .75 miles. Includes peaks in North Carolina and Tennessee lying in the Smokies, Plott-Balsams, Great-Balsams, Craggy Mountains, Black Mountains, and Roan Mountains. A true test of navigation skills, about a third of these peaks have no discernable trail to the summit. Sponsored by the Carolina Mountain Club, see more at http://www.carolinamountainclub.org/index.cfm/do/pages.view/id/23/page/South-Beyond-6000
Highest peak
Mount Mitchell
6,684 ft / 2,037 m
Most prominent peak
Mount Mitchell
6,089 ft / 1,855 m prom
Most summited peak
Clingmans Dome
270 summits
Most difficult peak
Richland Balsam
Class 1
Difficulty breakdown
Class 1/2 7 peaks
Highlights
Latest summits
"Spent most of the morning trying to find a pancake place in Pigeon Forge that didn’t have a half hour wait (daddy promises were made and I had to pay up). Then took the Blue Ridge Parkway out for a long haul to the highest mountain east of the Mississippi.
Mount Mitchell was the highest mountain of the United States until 1845 when Texas joined the Union and Guadalupe Peak became the highest mountain of the USA.
We cheated and drove to the top, then walked the 300 yards to the observation tower." — wiweasel • Nov 25, 2023
"“Rest day” today. 🤣 Drove out to Clingman’s Dome road in SMNP. Hiked the icy paved trail up to the observation tower with hundreds of folks. Picked up the AT to head down via Mount Buckley and snagged Andrew’s Bald before hitting the Clingman’s visitor center and motoring up to Pigeon Forge to catch Dolly Parton’s Stampede." — wiweasel • Nov 23, 2023
"We left the cabin at 5:45am and got to the trailhead by twilight to make a go on Mount LeConte 12 miles and 3,000+’ of elevation in GSMNP - through Arch Rock, past Alum Cave and on up. Got into LeConte Lodge as they were locking it down for winter and strolled around camp. LeConte Lodge is the only lodging in the NP and you have to hike in on foot. No road access, resupplied by air drop.
At its highest elevation of 6,593 feet at High Top, Mount Le Conte rises more than 5,300 feet above its base in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
As we summited, it started snowing as we made our way out to Myrtle Point to check out the scenic vistas across the Smokey’s - but there were none - we were surrounded by fog and cloud in every direction. Regardless we made the best of it. Descended by 1pm and headed to dumb ole' Cades Cove.
" — wiweasel • Nov 22, 2023
"Tried to find an alternate route to Mount Lyn Lowry, but was blocked by No Trespassing and No Parking signs, which I half suspected, so go the usual route from Waterrock Knob parking off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We did find a trailhead for the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), so keep reading if you want it or to avoid duplicating our attempt.
Gina and I drove from Waynesville on the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway (US-23 south/US-74 west) toward Sylva, passed the rest areas, passed the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, passed under the bridge of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and turned right immediately onto Rosemount Road, then took the uphill fork to the left onto Greenspire Drive. After the pavement ended, it was a well-maintained gravel road that I would not be afraid to drive by car. Shortly before the No Trespassing sign we saw the MST on a sharp curve with room to park at least one vehicle. " — davidensley • Jul 11, 2023
"Purchased and printed GSMNP parking permit before departure using link at GSMNP Challenge. Arrived at noon with plenty of parking available. Gina and I hiked the bypass trail to the AT to Mount Buckley then to Clingmans Dome and the asphalt trail back to the parking lot. On the bypass trail I worked slowly through elevation sickness around 6400 ft without having to go back down." — davidensley • Apr 24, 2023