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Mountain Peaks in North Carolina

44 mountain peaks in North Carolina with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Haywood County has the most (10). The darkest skies are at Hooper Bald (Bortle 3).

Top mountain peaks

Mount MitchellMountain Peak
Mount MitchellYancey County · 2,037 m
KuwohiMountain Peak
KuwohiSwain County
Mount GuyotMountain Peak
Mount GuyotHaywood County · 2,018 m
Brown MountainMountain Peak
Brown MountainCaldwell County · 832 m
Mount AlbertMountain Peak
Mount AlbertMacon County · 1,569 m
Pilot MountainMountain Peak
Pilot MountainSurry County · 731 m
Cold MountainMountain Peak
Cold MountainHaywood County · 1,820 m
Mount CraigMountain Peak
Mount CraigYancey County · 2,023 m
Adams MountainMountain Peak
Adams MountainCaldwell County · 759 m
Stone MountainMountain Peak
Stone MountainAlleghany County · 700 m
Roan MountainMountain Peak
Roan MountainMitchell County · 1,915 m
Mount PisgahMountain Peak
Mount PisgahBuncombe County · 1,740 m

Mountain Peaks by county

All mountain peaks (44)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Mount MitchellYancey County2,037 mBlack Mountain3
KuwohiGreat Smoky MountainsSwain County—Bryson City3
Mount GuyotGreat Smoky MountainsHaywood County2,018 mGatlinburg3
Brown MountainCaldwell County832 mGamewell3
Mount AlbertMacon County1,569 mFranklin3
Pilot MountainSurry County731 mPilot Mountain4
Cold MountainHaywood County1,820 mCanton3
Mount CraigYancey County2,023 mBurnsville3
Adams MountainCaldwell County759 mGamewell3
Stone MountainAlleghany County700 mThurmond3
Roan MountainMitchell County1,915 mRoan Mountain3
Mount PisgahBuncombe County1,740 mCanton3
Beech MountainAvery County1,657 mBanner Elk3
Black Balsam KnobHaywood County1,892 mBrevard3
Shining RockHaywood County1,821 mHazelwood3
Richland BalsamJackson County1,950 mHazelwood3
Three Top MountainAshe County1,483 mWest Jefferson3
Thunderhead MountainGreat Smoky MountainsSwain County1,615 mGatlinburg3
Waterrock KnobHaywood County1,912 mMaggie Valley3
Wayah BaldMacon County1,625 mFranklin3
Flattop MountainAvery County1,507 mBanner Elk3
Grandmother MountainAvery County1,403 mBanner Elk3
Gregory BaldGreat Smoky MountainsSwain County1,508 mMaryville3
Mount CammererGreat Smoky MountainsHaywood County1,500 mCove Creek3
Hibriten MountainCaldwell County678 mLenoir5
Hooper BaldGraham County1,655 mAndrews3
Howard KnobWatauga County1,340 mBoone6
Whiteside MountainJackson County1,395 mFranklin3
Table RockBurke County1,198 mSpruce Pine3
Peak Mountain (North Carolina)Avery County1,500 mBanner Elk3
Max PatchMadison County1,407 mCove Creek3
Mount SterlingGreat Smoky MountainsHaywood County1,760 mCove Creek3
Bee MountainAvery County898 mBanner Elk3
Big Yellow MountainAvery County1,658 mRoan Mountain3
Pixie MountainAvery County1,237 mBanner Elk3
North Eaglenest MountainHaywood County1,501 mHazelwood4
Brier KnobAvery County1,245 mBanner Elk3
Sugar MountainAvery County1,596 mBanner Elk3
Tanasee BaldHaywood County1,694 mBrevard3
Old BlackGreat Smoky MountainsHaywood County1,940 mGatlinburg3
Celo KnobYancey County1,924 mBurnsville3
Chestnut MountainCaldwell County1,010 mGamewell3
Wesser BaldMacon County1,409 mFranklin3
Grassy Ridge BaldAvery County1,879 mRoan Mountain3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph mountain peaks

Summits catch first and last light — alpenglow can turn rock pink or orange minutes before sunrise and after sunset while valleys stay in shadow.

  • Photograph the peak from a lake, meadow or ridge at sunrise when the face that looks east lights up first.
  • Long lenses compress ridgelines; shoot the peak from several miles away to make it look massive.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer at high elevations — plan summit hikes for early morning.
  • Snow on the summit holds detail best when you expose for the highlights and lift shadows later.
  • Alpenglow lasts only a few minutes; set up and focus beforehand.

Season: Early summer keeps snow on the peaks with green valleys below; autumn adds aspen or larch color in many ranges.