Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Encyclopedia
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) is a long-distance trail
, for hiking and backpacking, that runs across North Carolina
from the Great Smoky Mountains
to the Outer Banks
. The trail's western endpoint is at Clingman's Dome, where it connects to the Appalachian Trail
in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
. Its eastern endpoint is in Jockey's Ridge State Park
on the tallest sand dune on the east coast. The trail is envisioned as a scenic backbone of an interconnected trail system spanning the state. As such, the trail's route attempts to connect as many trail systems and natural scenic areas as practicable. A little over half of the trail is complete in multiple, disconnected segments across the state.
The Mountains-to-Sea State Park Trail was made an official land-based unit of the state park system by the General Assembly on August 2, 2000. Since that time, the State Trail unit has grown to encompass 691 acres in three tracks. Each of these tracks is leased to local governments for management as nature parks, under the guidance of the NC Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR). The vast majority of the foot trail is located on lands not directly managed as part of its associated state park unit.
The trail is a part of the North Carolina State Trails Program which is a section of NCDPR, and as of January 2011, 530 miles
of trail has been designated as a part of the MST by NCDPR.
The segments of MST along the Blue Ridge Parkway
were designated as National Recreation Trail
in 2005.
The MST has the distinction of being the highest elevation, long-distance trail in the eastern United States, where it crosses Mount Mitchell
at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters).
In the mountain section, starting in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, camping is allowed at permissible campsites with a back-country permit. Please contact the GSMNP back-country office for permit and reservation information.
Camping within the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor is prohibited except for permissible parkway campgrounds (Doughton Park, Julian Price Park, Linville Falls, Crabtree Meadows, and Mt. Pisgah). In some areas, hikers can cross the BRP boundary lines into the Nantalhala and Pisgah National Forests to camp at well-established campsites. Planning is being done to create designated, private campsites for the MST on parkway land; however, the only backpack site currently open is in Julian Price Park.
On the North Carolina Piedmont section of the MST, camping is not permitted along the Sauratown Trail
section (from Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock State Parks) since the trail is managed and maintained on land leased from private landowners. A list of nearby campgrounds and lodging is maintained on the Sauratown Trails Association Website. There are three privately managed campgrounds a short distance off the Sauratown Trail.
Camping inside the North Carolina State Parks are only allowed at permissible camping sites and campgrounds. Large sections of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area
, and neighboring public lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, also prohibit camping.
Stealth camping or any illegal camping along the MST is highly discouraged. Possible citations and fines may be enforced if such camping is found by the managing land agency.
.
, and it is managed by the Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department. The natural area has a small, volunteer built trail network, which includes the MST, a few primitive campsites, a canoe
access and a picnic
area. The natural area was acquired to help fill in a gap in the MST.
, who also sold Grandfather Mountain
to the state. The Richardson Tract was bought by Guilford County, partly using grants from the state. Both tracts were intended to be managed together as a buffer for the Greensboro Watershed and as a corridor for the MST to reach Haw River State Park
from the watershed trails. The Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department will manage the preserve with guidance from the Guildford County Open Space Committee and the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. Planning for the preserve's facilities is still ongoing, and it is not open to the public.
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
, for hiking and backpacking, that runs across North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from the Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the...
to the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
. The trail's western endpoint is at Clingman's Dome, where it connects to the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
. Its eastern endpoint is in Jockey's Ridge State Park
Jockey's Ridge State Park
Jockey's Ridge State Park is a North Carolina state park in Dare County, North Carolina in the United States. Located in Nags Head, North Carolina, it covers 426 acres and includes the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It is the most visited park within the NC park...
on the tallest sand dune on the east coast. The trail is envisioned as a scenic backbone of an interconnected trail system spanning the state. As such, the trail's route attempts to connect as many trail systems and natural scenic areas as practicable. A little over half of the trail is complete in multiple, disconnected segments across the state.
The Mountains-to-Sea State Park Trail was made an official land-based unit of the state park system by the General Assembly on August 2, 2000. Since that time, the State Trail unit has grown to encompass 691 acres in three tracks. Each of these tracks is leased to local governments for management as nature parks, under the guidance of the NC Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR). The vast majority of the foot trail is located on lands not directly managed as part of its associated state park unit.
The trail is a part of the North Carolina State Trails Program which is a section of NCDPR, and as of January 2011, 530 miles
Miles
Miles is the plural of mile.Miles may also refer to:- People :*Miles Brothers, American cinema pioneers* Miles ** Miles Browning, World War II admiral** Miles Davis, jazz trumpet player** Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver...
of trail has been designated as a part of the MST by NCDPR.
The segments of MST along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
were designated as National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
in 2005.
The MST has the distinction of being the highest elevation, long-distance trail in the eastern United States, where it crosses Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell can refer to:* Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States* Mount Mitchell , in Jasper National Park of Canada* Mount Mitchell * Mount Mitchell , in Queensland...
at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters).
Incorporated trails
The MST incorporates several other notable trails as part of its route.- The MST shares several miles of its route with the Appalachian TrailAppalachian TrailThe Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
near the MST's western trail-head. - Art Loeb TrailArt Loeb TrailThe Art Loeb Trail is a trail located in Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina. The Northern Terminus is at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp in Haywood County, while the trail's southern Terminus is located near the Davidson River Campground, near Brevard, in Transylvania County...
- The MST follows most of the Tanawha TrailTanawha TrailThe Tanawha Trail, stretching from Julian Price Park to Beacon Heights parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, in the United States. Tanawha, the Cherokee word for fabulous hawk or eagle is an appropriate name for this trail that offers hikers spectacular views...
's length. - The MST shares most of the Sauratown TrailSauratown TrailSauratown Trail is a hiking and bridle trail in Stokes and Surry counties, North Carolina, which crosses the Sauratown Mountains and interconnects Pilot Mountain State Park and Hanging Rock State Park. It is the only bridal trail which goes between two NC State Parks...
's route, which is the only bridle trail that connects two NC state parks and is the longest trail on private owned lands in the state. - A recent addition to the trail is the Haw River TrailHaw River TrailThe Haw River Trail is a long multi-use trail being built through the North Carolina Piedmont. The trail follows the path of the Haw River from Haw River State Park on the Rockingham/Guilford County line to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.- Land trail :...
which begins at Haw River State ParkHaw River State ParkHaw River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Guilford and Rockingham Counties, North Carolina in the United States. As one of the newest state parks in North Carolina, Haw River has limited recreational opportunities...
in GuilfordGuilford County, North CarolinaGuilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
and ChathamChatham County, North CarolinaChatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
Counties and continues to Cane Creek in southern Alamance County. - The MST follows the entire length of the Neusiok TrailNeusiok TrailThe Neusiok Trail is a hiking trail located in the Croatan National Forest in Carteret County, North Carolina. The trail traverses the forest from a sandy beach on the Neuse River to a salt marsh on the Newport River, and along the way, it crosses cypress swamps, hardwood ridges, longleaf-pine...
.
Camping
Hikers should be aware that the Mountains-To-Sea Trail does contain camping restrictions across its route. Hikers should research and follow all rules and regulations for camping, as the MST does cross through lands managed by various public and private land agencies & individuals.In the mountain section, starting in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, camping is allowed at permissible campsites with a back-country permit. Please contact the GSMNP back-country office for permit and reservation information.
Camping within the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor is prohibited except for permissible parkway campgrounds (Doughton Park, Julian Price Park, Linville Falls, Crabtree Meadows, and Mt. Pisgah). In some areas, hikers can cross the BRP boundary lines into the Nantalhala and Pisgah National Forests to camp at well-established campsites. Planning is being done to create designated, private campsites for the MST on parkway land; however, the only backpack site currently open is in Julian Price Park.
On the North Carolina Piedmont section of the MST, camping is not permitted along the Sauratown Trail
Sauratown Trail
Sauratown Trail is a hiking and bridle trail in Stokes and Surry counties, North Carolina, which crosses the Sauratown Mountains and interconnects Pilot Mountain State Park and Hanging Rock State Park. It is the only bridal trail which goes between two NC State Parks...
section (from Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock State Parks) since the trail is managed and maintained on land leased from private landowners. A list of nearby campgrounds and lodging is maintained on the Sauratown Trails Association Website. There are three privately managed campgrounds a short distance off the Sauratown Trail.
Camping inside the North Carolina State Parks are only allowed at permissible camping sites and campgrounds. Large sections of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state park in Durham and Wake Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Near Wake Forest, North Carolina, it covers over 30,000 acres and includes the 12,000 acre Falls Lake....
, and neighboring public lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, also prohibit camping.
Stealth camping or any illegal camping along the MST is highly discouraged. Possible citations and fines may be enforced if such camping is found by the managing land agency.
Park lands
The MST as a State Trail unit of the state park system encompasses 691 acres of land in three tracks. The NC Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) leases each of these tracks to local governments for operation as nature parks. Currently, only one of the tracks is open to the public, located in Alamance County. The two unopened tracks are in Guilford County and Johnston CountyJohnston County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...
.
Shallow Ford Natural Area
Shallow Ford Natural Area is the only land track of the State Trail currently open to the public. It consists of 191 acres located in Alamance County along the banks of the Haw RiverHaw River
The Haw River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 110 mi long, that is entirely contained in north central North Carolina in the United States...
, and it is managed by the Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department. The natural area has a small, volunteer built trail network, which includes the MST, a few primitive campsites, a canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
access and a picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
area. The natural area was acquired to help fill in a gap in the MST.
Richardson-Taylor Preserve
The Richardson-Taylor Preserve, formally known as the Morton-Richardson Tract, is a new 440 acre nature preserve that was jointly acquired by the Guilford County Open Space Program and the State of North Carolina. The preserve was acquired in two parts, the Taylor Tract and the Richardson Tract. The 196 acre Taylor Tract was bought by the state park system from the Morton familyHugh Morton
Hugh MacRae Morton was a photographer and nature conservationist who developed Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.-Personal life:...
, who also sold Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain is a mountain, a non-profit attraction, and a North Carolina state parknear Linville, North Carolina. At 5,946 feet , it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway...
to the state. The Richardson Tract was bought by Guilford County, partly using grants from the state. Both tracts were intended to be managed together as a buffer for the Greensboro Watershed and as a corridor for the MST to reach Haw River State Park
Haw River State Park
Haw River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Guilford and Rockingham Counties, North Carolina in the United States. As one of the newest state parks in North Carolina, Haw River has limited recreational opportunities...
from the watershed trails. The Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department will manage the preserve with guidance from the Guildford County Open Space Committee and the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. Planning for the preserve's facilities is still ongoing, and it is not open to the public.
List of destinations
The trail currently or is planned to pass through several notable natural areas in North Carolina. This list notes them from west to east:- Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
(Location of western trail-head) - The Blue Ridge ParkwayBlue Ridge ParkwayThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
(The trail roughly follows the parkway throughout the mountains.) - Nantahala National ForestNantahala National ForestThe Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...
- Middle Prong WildernessMiddle Prong WildernessThe Middle Prong Wilderness was designated in 1984 and it covers in the Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. The Wilderness Area spans steep, rugged high-elevation ridges ranging from 3,200 to over 6,400 feet. The area gets its name from the Middle Prong of the Pigeon River finding...
- Pisgah National ForestPisgah National ForestPisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
- Mount Pisgah Recreation Area (Blue Ridge Parkway)
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- Craggy Gardens Recreation Area (Blue Ridge Parkway)
- Mount Mitchell State ParkMount Mitchell State ParkMount Mitchell State Park is a North Carolina state park in Yancey County, North Carolina in the United States. Established in 1915 by the state legislature, it became the first state park of North Carolina...
- Lake James State ParkLake James State ParkLake James State Park is a North Carolina state park in Burke and McDowell Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Nebo, North Carolina, it covers 565 acres and borders the southern end of the Lake James with a shoreline....
(connected via designated spur trail) - Linville Gorge WildernessLinville Gorge WildernessThe Linville Gorge Wilderness is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States...
- Harper Creek Wilderness Study Area
- Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area
- Grandfather Mountain State Park
- Julian Price Memorial ParkJulian Price Memorial ParkJulian Price Memorial Park is a park of at the foot of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, named in honor of Julian Price. It is at milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and directly adjacent to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Together these parks comprise the largest developed area set...
(Blue Ridge Parkway) - Moses H. Cone Memorial ParkMoses H. Cone Memorial ParkThe Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is a country estate in honor of Moses H. Cone in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is on the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 292 and 295 with access at Milepost 294. Most locals call it Cone Park. The park is run by the National Park Service and is open to the...
(Blue Ridge Parkway) - E. B. Jeffress Park (Blue Ridge Parkway)
- Doughton Park (Blue Ridge Parkway)
- Stone Mountain State ParkStone Mountain State ParkStone Mountain State Park is a North Carolina state park in Alleghany and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina in the United States.-Size and location:Located in Wilkes and Alleghany counties of North Carolina, it covers 13,747 acres ....
- Pilot Mountain State ParkPilot Mountain State ParkPilot Mountain State Park is a North Carolina state park in Surry and Yadkin Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Pinnacle, North Carolina on highway US 52, it covers 3,703 acres and includes the distinctive 2,241 foot peak of Pilot Mountain.-History:The Saura, a...
- Hanging Rock State ParkHanging Rock State ParkHanging Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Stokes County, North Carolina in the United States. The park is north of Winston-Salem and is located approximately from Danbury in Stokes County.-History:...
- Greensboro Watershed
- Richardson-Taylor Preserve (Part of the State Park Trail)
- Haw River State ParkHaw River State ParkHaw River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Guilford and Rockingham Counties, North Carolina in the United States. As one of the newest state parks in North Carolina, Haw River has limited recreational opportunities...
- Shallow Ford Natural Area (Part of the State Park Trail)
- Occoneechee Mountain State Natural AreaOcconeechee Mountain State Natural AreaOcconeechee Mountain State Natural Area is a North Carolina state park in Orange County, North Carolina in the United States. Located adjacent to the town of Hillsborough, it covers 124 acres and includes Occoneechee Mountain, the highest point in Orange County and a settlement of the...
- Eno River State ParkEno River State ParkEno River State Park is a 3,900 acre North Carolina state park in Durham and Orange Counties, North Carolina in the United States. It is near Durham, North Carolina along the banks of the Eno River...
- Falls Lake State Recreation AreaFalls Lake State Recreation AreaFalls Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state park in Durham and Wake Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Near Wake Forest, North Carolina, it covers over 30,000 acres and includes the 12,000 acre Falls Lake....
- Cliffs of the Neuse State ParkCliffs of the Neuse State ParkCliffs of the Neuse State Park is a North Carolina state park in Wayne County, North Carolina in the United States. It is located near Seven Springs, North Carolina and covers along the southern banks of the Neuse River. It has a swimming area, camp sites, hiking trails, fishing areas, and picnic...
- Cherry Branch – Minnesott Ferry
- Croatan National ForestCroatan National ForestThe Croatan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest, was established on July 29, 1936, and is located on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture...
- Cedar Island National Wildlife RefugeCedar Island National Wildlife RefugeCedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, located in Carteret County, North Carolina, is on the end of a peninsula marking the southern end of Pamlico Sound. The refuge lies five miles east of the Atlantic Ocean and about northeast of Beaufort, North Carolina...
- Cedar Island – Ocracoke Ferry
- Cape Hatteras National SeashoreCape Hatteras National SeashoreCape Hatteras National Seashore preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over . Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C...
- Hatteras – Ocracoke Ferry
- Pea Island National Wildlife RefugePea Island National Wildlife RefugePea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located on the north end of North Carolina's Hatteras Island, a coastal barrier island and part of a chain of islands known as the Outer Banks, adjacent to Cape Hatteras National Seashore...
- Jockey's Ridge State ParkJockey's Ridge State ParkJockey's Ridge State Park is a North Carolina state park in Dare County, North Carolina in the United States. Located in Nags Head, North Carolina, it covers 426 acres and includes the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It is the most visited park within the NC park...
(Location of eastern trail-head)
External links
- Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail — Non-profit organization that maintains, builds and promotes the trail.
- North Carolina State Trails Program
- Session Law 2000-157 made the MST a state park.
- Shallow Ford Natural Area Website