Highest AT points by state

[troutfisher!]

I have a goal to hike the highest point on the AT in each state. So I have 14 trips to plan, some day-hikes, some overnights. I found a listing for Vermont that showed Near Killington Peak as the high spot. I then stumbled onto a comment that the high point in Vermont on the AT is Stratton Mountain.

So my question is "Where can I find a list of the highest spots by state for the AT?"

Planning and researching is part of the fun. This is my first WhiteBlaze post!

-- Big Red

[colorado_rob]

Cool subject!

AWOL would have all this AT highpoint info, by the way.

But, beyond AWOL, in the case of GA and NJ, I would consider one little side trip each, Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia, and is a short side trip from the AT. Same deal in NJ, "highpoint" is NJ's state highpoint, and is maybe a mile off the trail.

The Connecticut state highpoint is a bit off the AT, but the highest Mountain in CT is on the trail, "Bear Mountain". (the CT highpoint is a ridge on a mountain that actually peaks in Massachusettes, Mt. Frissel)

Woops, forgot about VA, that state highpoint for VA is 0.3 off the AT, Mt. Rodgers. Don't miss that one. I assume the AT highpoint in VA is at that trail junction, or maybe just a bit beyond, but definitely in Grayson SP.

You automatically go over the state HP in TN (clingman's dome), NH (Washington), MA (Greylock) and of course Maine (Katahdin).

[Gambit McCrae]

A quick look at the profile maps of the trail show these as the highest points on the trail per state, however some are less impressive then others as the highest points of several states look like trail junctures/ road crossings.

GA-Blood Mountain 4461'
NC-Standing Indian 5498'
TN/NC border- Clingmans Dome 6655'
VA-MT Rogers 5490'
WV-Blackburn ATC Spur? 1650'
MD-Annapolis rock/ black rock cliffs 1821'
PA-Middle Ridge Road 2075'
NJ- "Highpoint" 1679'
NY- Prospect Mountain 1433'
CT - Bear mountain/ RD? 2323'
MA - Mt Greylock 3491'
VE - Stratton Mt 3936'
NH - Mt Washington
ME - Katahdin 5268'

[peakbagger]

Please do factor in time of year for the Maine and NH summits, definitely summer time to early fall hikes and only in good weather as they high points have extensive above treeline sections. Mt Katahdin is in Baxter State Park in Maine that has a lot of regulations. Its arguably the toughest climb even though Mt Washington in NH and Clingmans are higher elevation. Mt Washington also has an auto road to the summit as well as cog railroad with a summit building while Mt Katahdin is strictly a long hike up really rocky trails. You really should make reservations in advance in the park to camp the night before. The camping options are primitive, pit toilets, no running water or power. If you want more amenities you need to stay outside the park and I strongly urge you to get a Day Use Parking Reservation (DUPR) in advance for your trip to assure you can climb the mountain when you get there as they limit the amount of cars that can park at the three trail heads.

By the way Stratton is also undeveloped so it requires a hike. Greylock has an autoroad to the summit and summit building.

[Snowleopard]

CT - Bear mountain/ RD? 1920'
MA Mt Greylock

The elevation for Bear Mt (CT) is incorrect; it is 2323'. Is the stone monument/cairn still on top? It used to be at least 20'.
MA -- Mt. Greylock 3,491′ It's pretty easy if you drive up (road to the top). I think Clingman's Dome also has a road.

[colorado_rob]

Here's a "peakbagger.com" link to a cool map showing all the state highpoints, scroll down to see it. Zoom in on the eastern USA. Basically, the little HP dots kind-of follow the AT, of course.

I realize, again, you're talking the AT highpoints in all the states, but just thought you might be interested in all of those state highpoints as well, since you'll be so near to them, or on them anyway on the AT highpoints

http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12004

Each high point on the interactive map has a clickable link to its own web page, tons of info and pics.

[tdoczi]

You automatically go over the state HP in TN (clingman's dome),

actually, and to my surprise as well when i realized this, i dont beleive that is technically 100% accurate.

assuming the observation tower sits atop the highest point on the mountain (perhaps this assumption is wrong, and also quite possible the highest point is a large-ish area all essentially at the same elevation) then the trail passes within sight of but not over the peak of the mountain.

its an interesting question. if we want to go super geeky about it. especially on the tops of mountains such as clingman's with a broad, flat area on top, how do we know which spot is the absolute, positively highest?

in the case of someplace like mt washington i assume they put the marker in the right place.

but are these markers always in the exact right spot or is it just in a convenient close enough sort of spot? what of places not so clearly marked?

this is probably beyond what the OP is asking, and even beyond what i intended with my contribution.

the simple point is this- to get to what most people would consider the summit of clingman's dome you have to leave the AT. though not by very much.

[troutfisher!]

Yes, I don't want to over-analyze the details of the exact high spot and whether it is exactly on the trail. I each hike would be a hike, not a drive to the top. A quarter-mile spur trail included to reach a "view" is worth it.

My question now is specifics...
West Virginia - Blackburn ATC Spur or Peters Mountain?
Maryland - Annapolis Rock or Near High Rock? or Black Rock Cliffs?
Pennsylvania - Middle Ridge Road... is this the same as Methodist Hill?
Vermont - Stratton Mountain 3936' or near near Killington Peak 3870' - 4010'?

[colorado_rob]

actually, and to my surprise as well when i realized this, i dont beleive that is technically 100% accurate.

assuming the observation tower sits atop the highest point on the mountain (perhaps this assumption is wrong, and also quite possible the highest point is a large-ish area all essentially at the same elevation) then the trail passes within sight of but not over the peak of the mountain.

its an interesting question. if we want to go super geeky about it. especially on the tops of mountains such as clingman's with a broad, flat area on top, how do we know which spot is the absolute, positively highest?

in the case of someplace like mt washington i assume they put the marker in the right place.

but are these markers always in the exact right spot or is it just in a convenient close enough sort of spot? what of places not so clearly marked?

this is probably beyond what the OP is asking, and even beyond what i intended with my contribution.

the simple point is this- to get to what most people would consider the summit of clingman's dome you have to leave the AT. though not by very much.

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother interesting topic! For example, no one has yet to absolutely positively find the true highpoint in Florida. There is a monument at the "official" point at a roadside park on "britton hill", but the actual HP is off in the woods nearby, and it is really hard to define, because of course the ground is nearly dead flat... All kinds of analysis goes on there, using lasers, whatever.

Regarding man-made structures, like the Clingmans dome ramp, most "high pointers" recognize the highest "natural" point, but what the heck, we also "climb" the towers/ramps/whatever when we can. Most state's actual high points have markers, some don't though. Many are dead-nuts accurate, some are a bit off.

Cool stuff, there is a whole culture of "high pointers" out there, and I'm a card-carrying member (I've been to all 50 state HP's, just finished this last July in Kansas....)

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

Gladstone, MI! I used to do diamond exploration up that way back in the early 1980s! Spent a lot of time all around the Michigamme Reservoir.

You might find good references in the county highpointers website www.cohp.org. Seeing the listing provided above from profile maps with NC's AT highpoint showing to be at Standing Indian didn't look right to me. I am generally aware that the former Cloudland Hotel on Roan High Knob was built astride the NC/TN border, in Mitchell Co, and the Roan High Knob shelter is in Mitchell Co at around 6,250'. That made me look at Clingman's Dome, as Clingman's Dome is on the NC/TN border also. As best I can see from an older USGS topo map, the AT passes by just to the north of the summit of Clingman's Dome on the TN side and reaches a high point between the 6,600' and the 6,640' contour as it curves back into NC slightly east of the summit.

So, if the AT today follows the line shown on an older USGS topo, the area around the summit of Clingman's Dome is the TN and the NC highpoint along the AT.

Other AT segments in NC having elevations above Standing Indian include one in Haywood Co near Mt Guyot in Haywood Co. at around 6,240' and near Grassy Ridge Bald in Avery Co (just NOBO of Carver's Gap), where it reaches a shade over 5,900'

AO

[Sarcasm the elf]

The elevation for Bear Mt (CT) is incorrect; it is 2323'. Is the stone monument/cairn still on top? It used to be at least 20'.
MA -- Mt. Greylock 3,491′ It's pretty easy if you drive up (road to the top). I think Clingman's Dome also has a road.

It's been a couple of years since I summited Bear mtn in CT, the pyramid was still there but quite worse for the wear. It partially toppled years ago and I seem to recall reading somewhere that this was due to lightning strikes.

https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/sho...mageuser=26465

[Snowleopard]

It's been a couple of years since I summited Bear mtn in CT, the pyramid was still there but quite worse for the wear. It partially toppled years ago and I seem to recall reading somewhere that this was due to lightning strikes.https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/sho...mageuser=26465

Thanks Sarcasm. I haven't been up there in years.

[jfarrell04]

054G atop Bear Mountain.JPGThis is from the top of Bear Mtn in Connecticut in September 2012

[BuckeyeBill]

Isn't Mt. Everette higher than Bear Mountain or did they reroute the trail around it? Mt. Everette is listed as 2602' and Bear Mountain is at 2323'.

[tdoczi]

A quick look at the profile maps of the trail show these as the highest points on the trail per state, however some are less impressive then others as the highest points of several states look like trail junctures/ road crossings.

VA-MT Rogers 5490'
NJ- "Highpoint" 1679'
VE - Stratton Mt 3936'

when you say "mt rogers" i'm not sure if you mean the highest point on the AT thats on mt rogers or mt rogers itself.

but if you mean the mt rogers summit itself, which is off the of the AT, then highest summit in VT near to and accessible from the AT is killington.

likewise highpoint's summit is also off the trail.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Isn't Mt. Everette higher than Bear Mountain or did they reroute the trail around it? Mt. Everette is listed as 2602' and Bear Mountain is at 2323'.

Everett is just over the border in Massachusetts.

[tdoczi]

Vermont - Stratton Mountain 3936' or near near Killington Peak 3870' - 4010'?

they both have their pluses and minuses.

if by the rules of your own game summits with spur trails off of the AT a short distance "count" then killington is the one for VT

[TX Aggie]

Yes, I don't want to over-analyze the details of the exact high spot and whether it is exactly on the trail. I each hike would be a hike, not a drive to the top. A quarter-mile spur trail included to reach a "view" is worth it.

My question now is specifics...
West Virginia - Blackburn ATC Spur or Peters Mountain?
Maryland - Annapolis Rock or Near High Rock? or Black Rock Cliffs?
Pennsylvania - Middle Ridge Road... is this the same as Methodist Hill?
Vermont - Stratton Mountain 3936' or near near Killington Peak 3870' - 4010'?

For Maryland, I can say that they are both only 1 mile apart and it’s worth seeing both if you’re there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Old Grouse]

This seems a good time to mention the 1995 Hugh Grant movie, "The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill and Came Down A Mountain."

[BuckeyeBill]

Everett is just over the border in Massachusetts.

Duh, I misread the book. Thanks.