North Carolina's Mountains to Sea Trail Details

Here's a list of the individual segments of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

It sometimes seems like you can see the sea from the Mountains section of the trail.
It sometimes seems like you can see the sea from the Mountains section of the trail.
This way to the Mountains to Sea Trail!
This way to the Mountains to Sea Trail!

The trail is divided into 7 sections (or segments) within the Western North Carolina area. These match up with the 7 segments published by the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, and is a change from the 21 sections originally devised by Allen DeHart.

Nearly all of the trail in the Mountains section of the state is complete, but some sections do follow the Blue Ridge Parkway for very short distances, or other gravel/country roads. All sections, where blazed, are blazed with a white circle.


Section 1

Mountains to Sea Section 1 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Clingman's Dome to Waterrock Knob** From the start of the trail at Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (north), to the summit of Waterrock Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail is all on existing...
  • 68.9mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Clingman's Dome to Waterrock Knob

 

Section 2

Mountains to Sea Section 2 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Waterrock Knob to Pisgah Inn** From Waterrock Knob to Flat Gap, the trail follows the Blue Ridge Parkway closely at most times. It gains some distance from the motor road on the southwest slope of the ridge line from there to Haywood Gap. From...
  • 61.0mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Waterrock Knob to Pisgah Inn

 

Section 3

Mountains to Sea Section 3 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Pisgah Inn to Black Mountain Campground** 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...
  • 67.7mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Pisgah Inn to Black Mountain Campground

 

Section 4

Mountains to Sea Section 4 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Black Mountain Campground to Beacon Heights** From Black Mounain Recreation Area by South Toe River in Pisgah NF to Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1: Climbs the ridge. From Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1 (NC-80) to Woodlawn Park (US-221): The MST leaves the...
  • 75.2mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Black Mountain Campground to Beacon Heights

 

Section 5

Mountains to Sea Section 5 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Beacon Heights to Devil's Garden Overlook** Beacon Heights, BRP mp 305.3 (near Grandfather Mountain) to Blowing Rock (US-321) BRP mp 291.9. Among the co-signed trails followed by the Mountains to Sea Trail on this stretch is the exceptionally...
  • 90.3mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Beacon Heights to Devil's Garden Overlook

 

Section 6

Mountains to Sea Section 6 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Devil's Garden Overlook to Pilot Mountain State Park** 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...
  • 67.5mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Devil's Garden Overlook to Pilot Mountain State Park

 

Section 7

Mountains to Sea Section 7 Trail

Most Difficult
  • **Pilot Mountain State Park to Hanging Rock State Park** 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...
  • 36.0mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Pilot Mountain State Park to Hanging Rock State Park

 

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