This Land, Your Land

The threat of bear activity that closed several campgrounds near Mount Mitchell has abated and the recreation areas have reopened, the Forest Service said Monday.

The following were to reopen by the end of the day:

* Briar Bottom Campground.
* Black Mountain Campground.
* Neals Creek Road.
* Buncombe Horse Trail - from Forest Service Road 472 to the intersection the Big Tom Gap trail (TR 1918).
* Mt. Mitchell Trail - from Black Mountain Campground to Mt. Mitchell State Park.
* Mountain to Sea Trail - From N.C. 128 to Black Mountain Campground.
* Higgins Bald Trail (TR 1908).

Camping at Mount Mitchell State Park has been suspended at least through August 29 because of black bear activity, the state Division of Parks and Recreation said today.

Bears have been reported rummaging for food in the campground area, and similar activity has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to close campgrounds and trails in the adjacent Pisgah National Forest, a news release says.

The National Forest Service closed the Black Mountain Campground, Briar Bottom Group Campground, Forest Service Road 472 and Neals Creek Road today, and previously closed the Mount Mitchell Trail between Black Mountain Campground and Mount Mitchell State Park, and portions of the Buncombe Horse Trail and the Higgins Bald Trail.

The Mount Mitchell campground has nine tent-only sites.

Closing the campground will likely encourage bears to abandon the area to seek natural food sources, the state says.