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List of mountains in North Carolina facts for kids

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Mount Mitchell viewed from Mount Mitchell State Park Restaurant, Oct 2016
Mount Mitchell is the tallest mountain in North Carolina.

North Carolina is home to many amazing mountains! This article will introduce you to some of the most famous and tallest peaks in the state. Get ready to explore the highest points and other cool mountains that make North Carolina's landscape so special.

North Carolina's Tallest Mountains

North Carolina has some incredibly high mountains, especially in the western part of the state. These mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch across many eastern U.S. states. The highest mountains are often found in ranges like the Black Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Meet the Top 20 Highest Peaks

Here's a list of the 20 tallest mountains in North Carolina. These mountains are chosen because they stand out quite a bit from the land around them. This means they have a "prominence" of at least 160 feet (about 49 meters).

Clingmans Dome observation tower TN1
Clingman's Dome is the third tallest mountain in North Carolina.
Old Black, Mount Guyot and Mount Chapman viewed from Clingmans Dome, May 2017 (cropped)
From left: Old Black, Mount Kephart, Mount Guyot and Mount Chapman are some of North Carolina's highest mountains.
Richland Balsam viewed from Cowee Mountain Overlook, Oct 2016
Richland Balsam is the eighth tallest mountain in North Carolina.
Waterrock Knob viewed from the Plott Balsams overlook, May 2017 1
Waterrock Knob is the twelfth tallest mountain in North Carolina.
The 20 Tallest Mountains in North Carolina
Rank Mountain Name Mountain Range Height (meters) How much it stands out (Prominence in meters) Location
1 Mount Mitchell Black Mountains 2037.283 1857.451 35°45′53″N 82°15′54″W / 35.764857°N 82.26506°W / 35.764857; -82.26506 (Mount Mitchell)
2 Mount Craig Black Mountains 2026 87 35°46′39″N 82°15′42″W / 35.777584°N 82.261759°W / 35.777584; -82.261759 (Mount Craig (North Carolina))
3 Clingmans Dome Great Smoky Mountains 2024.786 1373 35°33′47″N 83°29′55″W / 35.562919°N 83.498601°W / 35.562919; -83.498601 (Clingmans Dome)
4 Mount Guyot Great Smoky Mountains 2018.081 481.8888 35°42′19″N 83°15′28″W / 35.705311°N 83.257683°W / 35.705311; -83.257683 (Mount Guyot)
5 Balsam Cone Black Mountains 2011.68 109.728 35°47′23″N 82°15′21″W / 35.789705°N 82.255846°W / 35.789705; -82.255846 (Balsam Cone)
6 Mount Gibbes Black Mountains 1987.296 121.92 35°44′21″N 82°17′07″W / 35.739124°N 82.285235°W / 35.739124; -82.285235 (Mount Gibbes)
7 Mount Chapman Great Smoky Mountains 1955.902 175.87 35°41′12″N 83°16′16″W / 35.686712°N 83.271089°W / 35.686712; -83.271089 (Mount Chapman)
8 Richland Balsam Great Balsam Mountains 1953.768 917.448 35°22′03″N 82°59′25″W / 35.367588°N 82.990335°W / 35.367588; -82.990335 (Richland Balsam)
9 Old Black Great Smoky Mountains 1941.576 51.816 35°42′54″N 83°15′20″W / 35.715047°N 83.255426°W / 35.715047; -83.255426 (Old Black)
10 Celo Knob Black Mountains 1928.47 185.014 35°51′09″N 82°14′55″W / 35.852423°N 82.248678°W / 35.852423; -82.248678 (Celo Knob)
11 Blackstock Knob Black Mountains 1926.33593835725 134.111995708416 35°44′17″N 82°19′07″W / 35.738063°N 82.318615°W / 35.738063; -82.318615 (Blackstock Knob)
12 Waterrock Knob Plott Balsams 1917.80153863035 593.445581009742 35°27′51″N 83°08′16″W / 35.464088°N 83.137812°W / 35.464088; -83.137812 (Waterrock Knob)
13 Roan High Knob Unaka Range 1915.66793869863 1062.22796600871 36°06′16″N 82°07′21″W / 36.104561°N 82.122448°W / 36.104561; -82.122448 (Roan High Knob)
14 Mount Lyn Lowry Plott Balsams 1901.95193913754 109.727996488704 35°27′49″N 83°06′38″W / 35.46371°N 83.110627°W / 35.46371; -83.110627 (Mount Lyn Lowry)
15 Luftee Knob Great Smoky Mountains 1900.12313919606 95.7071969373697 35°41′33″N 83°12′55″W / 35.692447°N 83.215382°W / 35.692447; -83.215382 (Celo Knob)
16 Mount Kephart Great Smoky Mountains 1894.94153936187 200.253593591885 35°37′52″N 83°23′24″W / 35.630988°N 83.389906°W / 35.630988; -83.389906 (Mount Kephart)
17 Black Balsam Knob Great Balsam Mountains 1894.02713939113 301.44719035369 35°19′41″N 82°52′28″W / 35.328003°N 82.874571°W / 35.328003; -82.874571 (Black Balsam Knob)
18 Winter Star Mountain Black Mountains 1890.67433949842 86.2583972397313 35°49′04″N 82°14′57″W / 35.817668°N 82.249273°W / 35.817668; -82.249273 (Winter Star Mountain)
19 Mount Collins Great Smoky Mountains 1886.10233964473 141.731995464576 35°35′11″N 83°28′23″W / 35.586275°N 83.473046°W / 35.586275; -83.473046 (Mount Collins)
20 Marks Knob Great Smoky Mountains 1880.31113983004 75.8951975713537 35°40′48″N 83°14′55″W / 35.67999°N 83.248498°W / 35.67999; -83.248498 (Marks Knob)

Other Cool Mountains to Explore

North Carolina has many other amazing mountains that are popular for hiking, exploring, and enjoying nature. While they might not be on the "top 20" list for height, they are still very special!

Cold Mountain from Haywood-Jackson Overlook, Oct 2016 2
Cold Mountain is a famous peak.
Grandfather Mountain peaks from Half Moon Overlook, Oct 2016
Grandfather Mountain is known for its "Mile High Swinging Bridge."
Big Pinnacle of Pilot Mountain high res
Pilot Mountain has a unique "knob" at its top.
Stonemtnnc
Stone Mountain is a huge granite dome.
Whiteside Mountain viewed from the top
Whiteside Mountain has tall, sheer cliffs.

Here are some other notable mountains in North Carolina:

Learn More About Mountains

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List of mountains in North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.