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Trail Details
Blaze Color: White
From Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (north), to the junction right with spur to Fork Ridge Trail to Ocanaluftee River, and on to western terminus of BRP at mp 469.1
Blaze Color: White
Oconaluftee River & BRP mp 469.1 to Soco Gap at BRP mp 455.7 (Swain and Jackson Counties). (Incomplete, but BRP open to hikers and bikers).
Blaze Color: White
From Soco Gap, BRP mp 455.7 (US-19) to Balsam Gap BRP mp 443.1 (US-23/74) (Now under construction. BRP open to hikers and bikers)
Blaze Color: White
From Balsam Gap, BRP mp 443.1 (US-23/74) to Bear Pen Gap, BRP mp 427.6.
Blaze Color: None (wilderness)
From Bear Pen Gap, BRP mp 427.6 to Beech Gap (NC-215), BRP mp 423.2. Fully complete.
Blaze Color: White
(This section has a 37.7 mi alternate blue-blazed route). From Beech Gap (NC-215), BRP mp 423.2, to Pisgah Inn at BRP mp 408.6.
Blaze Color: White
Pisgah Inn, BRP mp 408.6 to Folk Art Center, BRP mp 382. From the Pisgah Inn to the Mount Pisgah Parking Area, the trail is co-signed as the Buck Spring trail. This leads past the old Buck Spring Lodge built by George Vanderbilt, where there are interpretive signs. From the parking area, the trail joins with the Mount Pisgah trail which leads to the top of Mount Pisgah itself. Continuing toward Asheville, the trail is co-signed as the Shut-in Trail and follows parts of Vanderbilt's original route to the Lodge from his Estate. Follows the Parkway closely along this section and meets up with it several times. Good day-hikes can be made from these sections of trail. Joins with trails leading to the Mills River and Bent Creek areas of Pisgah National Forest. Crosses the French Broad River, Interstate 26, US highways 25, 74-A, and 74 on bridges with the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the Folk Art Center, the trail begins climbing again toward Mount Mitchell.
Blaze Color: White
From the Folk Art Center, BRP mp 382 to Balsam Gap at BRP mp 359.8. Follows the Blue Ridge Parkway closely most of this segment. Travels from the low-elevation area near Asheville on a mostly gentle climb to Bull Gap near Ox Creek Road. Follows a historic carriage trail through many switchbacks to Rattlesnake Lodge, a Best Hike on this site. Ascends more steeply to Lane Pinnacle, then undulates to the picnic area at Craggy Gardens. A popular, heavily traveled section of trail travels to near the Craggy Visitor Center where the MST splits left and travels to the junction w/ Douglas Falls trail. Climbs back to the Parkway and follows it closely, up and down, to Balsam Gap.
Blaze Color: White
From Balsam Gap, BRP mp 359.8 to Black Mountain Recreation Area by the South Toe River. Climbs Blackstock Knob in a spruce-fir forest above Asheville Watershed. Follows knife-ridge, then descends on an amazingly well-built trail to fields below Potato Knob. Fantastic veiws of Asheville reservoir. Descends to Mount Mitchell Road, NC 128. Section from road up to Potato Knob Fields is a Best Hike on this site. Climbs gently, co-signed with the Buncombe Horse Range trail (old railroad bed) thru high-elevation hardwood forest to point near Camp Alice at Mount Mitchell State Park. Turns L; ascends co-signed with the Camp Alice trail very steeply through spruce-fir forest to Mount Mitchell's summit, highest point east ofthe Mississippi River at 6,684'. Descends 3600' in 5.5 miles to the Black Mountain Campground via the Mount Mitchell trail where there are old-growth spruce forests. This segment is the Mount Mitchell Best Hike on this site.
Blaze Color: White
From Black Mounain Recreation Area by South Toe River in Pisgah NF to Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1.
Blaze Color: White
From Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1 (NC-80) to Woodlawn Park (US-221). The MST leaves the Blue Ridge Parkway here and doesn't return to it until Grandfather Mountain. Parts of this seciton follow old US Forest Service Roads.
Blaze Color: White
From Woodlawn Park (US-221) north of Marion this scenic and challenging section has a climb to Bald Knob and to Dobson Knob Road. At this time the route is currently be constructed (tread work) by the FMST and the Central Blue Ridge Task Force. White MST Blazes are up along this section and are easty to follow. Grant money will provide a bridge across the North Fork of the Catawba River during the summer of 2004. After Kistler Memorial Highway 19.8 miles have been designated by DPR to Ripshin Ridge (NC-181) parking area at Greentown Trail. Along the route the Linville River must be forded by wading. Scenic Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock follows. One of the most secnic areas along the MST is the Linville Gorge area. The views from Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock make this seciton a "jewel" of the MST.
Blaze Color: White
From Ripshin Ridge (NC-181) to Beacon Heights BRP 305.3 The MST passes the highest waterfalls of its entire route on this section.
Blaze Color: White
Beacon Heights, BRP mp 305.3 (near Grandfather Mountain) to Blowing Rock (US-321) BRP mp 291.9. Among trails followed is exceptionally scenic Tanawha Trail. Going unde the Lynn Cove bridge around Grandfather Mountain makes this area a great hike in the fall. MST white blazes will soon be painted along this section.
Blaze Color: White
From Blowing Rock (US-321) near BRP mp 291.9 to Deep Gap (US-421) BRP mp 276.4. The trail follows the shoulder of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Blaze Color: White
Deep Gap (US-421), BRP mp 276.4 to Horse Gap (NC-16). The trail follows the shoulder of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Blaze Color: White
From Horse Gap (NC-16), BRP mp 261.2 to Devils Garden Overlook BRP mp 235.7 (Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes Counties). Passes through Doughton Park with campground for 7 mi of MST route. Most follows shoulder of parkway. The Bluff Mountain Trail / MST offers views to Mt. Rogers in Virginia on clear days. The MST has been extended from Bringer Cabin to Devils Garden Overlook, just follow the white MST blazes.
Blaze Color: White
Devils Garden Overlook BRP mp 235.7 through Stone Mountain State Park to its headquaters parking area. Follows some named trails, but other trails are to be selected by Stone Mountain State Park. Some of the MST follows old Forest Service Roads. For a routing update please call Stone Mt. State Park and speak with Ed Farr at (336) 957-8185.
Blaze Color: White
Stone Mountain State Park headquarters parking area to US-21 and junction with state bike route #4, North Line Trace. This backcountry route is followed to Danbury. Must hike road shoulders.
Blaze Color: White
From US-21 and bike route #4 to the end of Surry County. Crosses I-77, US-601, and US-52; towns are Thurmond, Dobson, Black Water, Ararat, and Pilot Mountain. Follow road shoulders.As you leave the mountains you will see Pilot Mt. in the far distance. A great walk or bike through farm lands.
Blaze Color: White
From Surry County boundary through Stokes County. (This section includes 7 miles of trails in Hanging Rock State Park.) The Sauratown Trail that connects Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock has been designated by DRP. The Sauratown Trail is a horse and hiking trail. Major road crossings are NC-66, NC-8/89, and US-311; towns are Danbury and Walnut Cove. Leave bike route #4 in Danbury and follow NC-89 to Walnut Cove, but NC-55 into Forsyth County. The Sauratown Trail offers 22 miles of hiking or horse back riding on the MST to Troy's Den at Haning Rock State Park, where the MST exits the Western NC area for the purposes of this site.
