10 Highest Peaks on the Appalachian Trail

Home About the Trail 10 Highest Peaks on the Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail hikers are constantly climbing or descending. Some of those climbs take us to the highest peaks you'll find anywhere in the eastern U.S. We did some digging to determine the 10 highest peaks on the Appalachian Trail.

In turns out that most of the highest points on the trail are on the North Carolina / Tennessee border. In fact, New Hampshire's Mount Washington is the only entry on this list that's north of Virginia.

How many of these summits have you climbed?

The 10 Highest Peaks on the Appalachian Trail

#1. Clingmans Dome

Height : 6643 feet

: 6643 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Park : Great Smoky Mountains National Park

: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Details: Clingmans Dome has three claims to fame, being the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee and on the Appalachian Trail. There's an observation tower on the summit which offers spectacular 360? views of the Smokies. The Appalachian Trail goes right over the summit of Clingmans Dome, close to the tower.

#2. Mount Guyot

Height : 6621 feet

: 6621 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Park : Great Smoky Mountains National Park

: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Directly on the AT : The summit is within half-a-mile.



: The summit is within half-a-mile. Details: The summit of Mount Guyot isn't a particularly popular destination. The mountain is an a rugged and isolated part of the Smokies. You'll need to bushwhack your way to the peak

#3. Old Black

Height : 6370 feet

: 6370 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Park : Great Smoky Mountains National Park

: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Directly on the AT : The summit is within a mile of the trail

: The summit is within a mile of the trail Details: Old Black is only a mile away from Mount Guyot and is similar in many ways. There are beautiful views from the summit of Old Black, but as with Guyot you'll need to bushwhack your way to the top.

#4. Mount Washington

Height : 6288 feet

: 6288 feet Location : New Hampshire

: New Hampshire Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Parks : White Mountain National Forest and Mount Washington State Park

: White Mountain National Forest and Mount Washington State Park Details: Mount Washington is the highest peak in the north-east. It's famous for crazy weather including, for many years, the strongest wind's ever recorded on land.

#5. Roan High Knob

Height : 6285 feet

: 6285 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Parks : Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest

: Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Details: The Roan High Knob Shelter is the highest backcountry shelter. Out of all the peaks on this list, Roan High Knob has been one of the busiest. Amongst other things, there used to be a hotel on the summit that attracted famous politicians and European royalty.

#6. Grassy Ridge Bald

Height : 6165 feet

: 6165 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Park : Pisgah National Forest

: Pisgah National Forest Directly on the AT : Within half a mile

: Within half a mile Details: Grassy Ridge Bald is part of a series of multiple peaks that includes Roan High Knob Shelter, #4 on this list.

#7. Mount Rogers

Height : 5728 feet

: 5728 feet Location : Virginia

: Virginia Parks : Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Jefferson National Forest

: Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Jefferson National Forest Directly on the AT : Within half a mile

: Within half a mile Details: Mount Rogers is the highest peak in Virginia. There are no roads to the top of Mount Rogers but the hike is easy, making this one of the most popular summits on this list.

#8. Thunderhead Mountain

Height : 5527 feet

: 5527 feet Location : Tennessee

: Tennessee Parks : Great Smoky Mountains National Park

: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Details: Thunderhead Mountain is a famous part of a Tennessee, or to be more precise, a ridge on the mountain called Rocky Top is famous. Rocky Top was immortalized in a song that's popular all over the state. The Appalachian Trail passed right over Thunderhead Mountain.

#9. Whitetop Mountain

Height : 5518 feet

: 5518 feet Location : Virginia

: Virginia Park : Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

: Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Details: Just seven miles south of Mount Rogers, #7 on this list, you can drive right to the top. It's easy enough to reach that there used to be a popular folk festival on the summit.

#10. Big Bald

Height : 5516 feet

: 5516 feet Location : On the North Carolina / Tennessee border

: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border Parks : Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest

: Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest Directly on the AT : Yes

: Yes Details: Big Bald is accurately named. The top 300 feet of the mountain are completely barren. The A.T. is the only way to the top of Big Bald which offers beautiful views in every direction.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Wikipedia for many of these images and particularly Brian Stansberry.

Tags: Attractions and Appalachian Trail