Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Blue Ridge (southern Appalachians) contains the highest peaks east of the Mississippi. Key summits:
| Peak | Elevation | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Mitchell | 6,684 ft (2,037 m) | NC | Highest east of Mississippi |
| Clingmans Dome | 6,643 ft (2,025 m) | NC/TN | Highest in Great Smokies, Appalachian Trail |
| Mount LeConte | 6,593 ft (2,010 m) | TN | Highest fully in TN; lodge accessible by trail |
| Roan Mountain | 6,285 ft (1,916 m) | NC/TN | Rhododendron gardens, AT |
| Grandfather Mountain | 5,946 ft (1,812 m) | NC | Mile High Swinging Bridge, biosphere reserve |
| Mount Rogers | 5,729 ft (1,746 m) | VA | Highest in VA; wild ponies |
| Whitetop Mountain | 5,520 ft (1,682 m) | VA/NC | Second highest in VA |
| Mount Pisgah | 5,721 ft (1,744 m) | NC | Blue Ridge Parkway MP 408 |
| Mount Craig | 6,647 ft (2,026 m) | NC | Second highest east of Mississippi |
| Big Meadows (Shenandoah) | 3,500 ft (1,067 m) | VA | Not a peak; plateau on Skyline Drive |
Ancient metamorphic rocks (gneiss, schist) thrust up; resistant quartzite caps many summits. Blue Ridge Parkway traverses the crest.