30.7 mile ride:  Turn right out of the parking lot onto state road 70 west.  Go 1.7 miles and turn right onto state road 80 north (Lake Tahoma Road).  This road passes Lake Tahoma and ascends very gradually until mile 10.5 when the serious climbing up Eyebrow Ridge begins.  This section leads you up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Follow the Parkway (south) 11.5 miles to the Mount Mitchell State Park entrance (local road 128).  Bear right to enter the park and follow it to the parking lot at the top (4.8 miles).