All hike descriptions are given in the north to south direction along the parkway. The difficulty of these hikes are based on the Carolina Mountain Clubs estimate for a hiker of average ability, and the first letter in parentheses refers to the north to south direction and the second to the south to north direction (E=easy, M=Moderate; S=Strenuous). Thus, (E/M) signifies that the section is an easy hike
in the north to south direction and moderately difficult when hiked south to north. Milepost mileage for the BRP is given to help in locating trail access points, and the BRP mileage will often differ slightly fro the MST Trail mileage. Only access points with parking permitted are included in this listing below. Trail miles are given for each section and are one way only (double that when planning a round-trip hike). This material below is intentionally superficial, and persons are referred to the excellent publication, Trail Profiles: The Mountains to Sea Trail, by Walt Weber and to the Carolina Mountain Club website for BRP hikes: www.carolinamtnclub.com/choosebrpw.htm for detailed information, maps, and profiles of these sections. The parts of the MST below are maintained by the Carolina Mountain Club Task Force.
The dayhikes below are between Mt. Pisgah Inn and Mt. Mitchell. The trail is marked with a three-inch white round blazes.

MST Hiking Safety Tips, click here!

Beacon Heights to Blowing Rock at HW-321. The MST follows the Tanawha, Boone Fork and Rich Mountian trails through this area for 25.0 miles. This area is extrmely secnic in the fall with Grandfather Mountain in the background. The only campground is J. Price Park along the MST for $14.00 per night at mile 13.5. The Cone Manner is a historic place you will want to stop before reaching Blowing Rock at HW-321.

TRAIL NOTES

For safety reasons the ST is sub-divided into 16 sections, and all section boundaries except one are located at accessible roads. Two 4"x4" posts are located at each section line, with the section number and mileage on each. For example at Bradley Road, a post on the east side of the road has an arrow pointed east, with the section number (13) and mileage. A post on the west side has an arrow pointed west, with the section number (14) and mileage. The trails are marked with round white disks at frequent intervals, with two posted at directional changes. Although the trail itself is easy to follow, it incorporates some farm roads in the route, and it is easy (especially if you're talking or daydreaming) to walk past a turn. If you don't see a disk after a while, you may need to backtrack to pick up the trail.

The ST also has every ¼ mile marked by horizonal blue stripes on the nearest tree: one for ¼ mi., two for ½ mi., three for ¾ mi., and four for each even mile, then repeating the process. Cumulative mileage from the east end of the ST is also marked at each quarter mile. The markings are purposely non-conspicuous and may not be obvious. In fact at least one tree and several of the disks are already gone (casualties of the great ice storm of ought three).

Trail difficulty ratings are usually fairly subjective, what is strenuous for one person is easy for another and, the travel time posted at public parks is a bit of a joke. Instead, the ST uses trail difficulty factors for each section, (one in each direction). On average, climbing a foot will use as much energy (calories) as walking level ten feet, so level or descending grades will have a factor of 1.00 (never lower), while ascending grades will be greater than one. For example, Section 10 is 2.10 miles long and has a 500' vertical difference. Westbound it has a factor of 1.09, Eastbound, 1.45. Westbound the trail seems like 2.30 miles, while eastbound has a factor of 1.45, or equal to 3.05 miles. This doesn't mean that the eastbound climb would take that much more time, since most people just exert the extra effort, and the fitter a person is, the closer the two times will be. Each individual can use the factors given, and a little mental math (this ain't rocket science) to estimate where, or how long they wish to hike.

Just for the record, the total climb Westbound is 2,790 vertical feet (difficulty factor 1.24), while Eastbound it is 3160 vertical feet (difficulty factor 1.28). A one-way hike along the ST is 0.70 Mi. "longer" Eastbound Stream crossings noted in the following trail description can be roughly rated as follows:named creeks (Vade Mecum, South Double, West Prong, Mill, and Grassy Creeks, respectively) are usually about 20' wide and can be crossed during normal weather conditions without much difficulty; un-named creeks (maybe a dozen) are about 8' wide, and can usually be crossed by stepping on a rock or two: branches are 2-4' wide and can be jumped or even stepped across.
Numerous feeder branches and bogs are bridged by small wooden bridges. The STA is also looking into at several options to build pedestrian bridges across the named creeks on an as-needed basis.

The Peninsula Trail starts on the east side of Church Street (across the road from the Laurel Bluff Trail) and follows a winding peninsula adjacent to Lake Townsend. Roadside parking is available at the trailhead on Church Street.

This trail takes a winding route along the peninsula, allowing hikers to see the pleasant backwaters of Lake Townsend. This trail has been designated as part of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Peninsula Trail is sponsored by the local chapter of the Sierra Club.

The Osprey Trail starts south of the Peninsula Trail, also on the east side of Church Street. You can walk along the east side of Church Street to make a connection from the Peninsula Trail to the Osprey Trail (or vice versa). The trail is approximately 2-1/2 miles long, and ends at Yanceyville Road. Roadside parking is available at the trailhead.

Watch out for Ospreys flying overhead -- they have been known to
hover over these waters looking for fish. The Osprey Trail is also
part of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The Townsend Trail is one of the longer Watershed Trails, with trailheads at Yanceyville Road in the west and Southshore Road in the east. Roadside parking is available at the Yanceyville Road trailhead and on Southshore Road, .3 miles from Townsend Road.

This trail is the final segment of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail that falls within the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department's trail system. The Townsend Trail is sponsored by the local chapter of the Sierra Club.

Bicycles are prohibited on the Peninsula, Osprey and Townsend Trails.

The Laurel Bluff Trail starts on the east side of Lake Brandt Road, approximately 1/4 mile north of the Lake Brandt Marina, just south of the Water Resources Department pumping station. The trail can also be accessed from Church Street; there is a small gravel parking lot at the Church Street entrance.

The Laurel Bluff Trail is one of the Watershed Trails that has been designated as part of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The trail traverses beautiful woodland and wetland areas along the edge of Reedy Fork Creek. This is a great place to watch for wildlife.

Bicycles are prohibited on the Laurel Bluff Trail.

The Laurel Bluff Trail is sponsored by the T. Gilbert Pearson Chapter of the Audubon Society.

The Owl's Roost Trail, which has been designated as part of the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail, starts at the north end of Bur-Mil Park (at the fishing pier). This 5.2-mile trail follows the edge of the peninsula around to the south, ending at the Lake Brandt Greenway, just north of the Weaver Bridge. Parking is available at Bur-Mil Park. Access to this trail can also be made by parking at Strawberry Road and walking southbound to Bur-Mil Park. The Owl's Roost Trail is fairly rugged compared to some of the other Watershed Trails.

The Owl's Roost Trail is a multiple use trail designed for mountain bike enthusiasts as well as hikers. The fire lanes within this area can also be used by mountain bikers, creating an additional 2.5 miles of trail. (Refer to map; broken lines indicate fire lanes on this map). Cyclists are requested to use caution (watch for pedestrians) and to avoid riding after rainfall. The Owl's Roost Trail is sponsored by the Greensboro Fat Tire Society.

The Nat Greene Trail, another link in the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail, follows the eastern shore of Lake Brandt. The trailheads are found just east of Horse Pen Creek on the north side of Old Battleground Road and at the entrance to the Lake Brandt Marina. The trail can also be accessed from the Lake Brandt Greenway, just south of the H. Michael Weaver Bridge (see page 4 in this booklet for more information about the Lake Brandt Greenway). Please note that the Marina is closed on Tuesdays.

Bicycles are prohibited on the Nat Greene Trail. The Nat Greene Trail is sponsored by the Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club.

Section 13: (3.0 miles)
From Highway 98 at Lick Creek to the Rolling View State Recreation area

Section 12: (1.4 miles)
From the deadend of Boyce Mill Road to Highway 98 at Lick Creek

Section 11: (5.6 miles)
From NC-50 (Creedmoor Road) to deadend of Boyce Mill Road

Section 10: Quail Roost Section (2.7 miles)
From NC-50 (Creedmoor Road) to Ghoston Road (SR-1908)

Section 9: Twin Creek Section (0.5 miles)
From Ghoston Road to New Light Road (SR-1907)

Section 8: Shinleaf Recreation Section (3.6 miles)
From New Light Road to NC-98

Section 7: Upper Barton Creek Section (2.3 miles)
From NC-98 to Six Forks Road (SR-1005)

Section 6: Blue Jay Point Section (3.5 miles)
From Six Forks Road to Six Forks Road

Section 5: Loblolly Point Section (1.5 miles)
From Six Forks Road to Bayleaf Church Road (SR-2003)

Section 4: Cedar Creek Section (2.6 miles)
From Bayleaf Church Road to causeway on Possum Track Road (SR-2162)

Section 3: Neuse Bend Point Section (3.0 miles)
From Possum Track Road causeway to dead-end of Possum Track Road

Section 2: Honeycutt Creek West Section (2.6 miles)
From dead-end of Possum Track Road to Honeycutt Creek causeway on Raven Ridge Road

Section 1: Hoenycutt Creek East Section (3.5 miles)
From Honeycutt Creek causeway on Raven Ridge Road to Falls Lake Dam on Fall of the Neuse Road.

A basic map of this section can be obtained by downloading this PDF File and using the above Section information.

A basic trail guide of this section can be obtained by downloading this PDF File and using the above Section information.

USGS: Cherry Point, Core Creek, Newport.

TRAILHEAD: Parking lot at Pinecliff Recreation Area.

From the parking area, follow blazes north along the Neuse River for 1.2 mi. Turn left, enter pine forest. Continue on, passing Copperhead Shelter and reaching NC 306 at 6.5 mi. (NC 101 is 2 mi., right, on NC 306). Cross 306 and follow trail south to NC 101 at 9.3 mi. (Grocery store is 1 mi. east at JCT of NC 101 and SR 1711.) Cross NC 101 and reach JCT of Billfinger Road (FSR 147) and FSR 169 at 12 mi. Follow Little Deep Creek Road (FSR 169) south for about 2 miles, and turn left crossing boardwalk over canal onto trail. At 14.7 miles cross Aligator Tram Road (FSR 124) and continue south on trail.

Cross SR 1154, Mill Creek Road, at 18.8 mi. (east 2 mi. is E-Z Check Grocery. Owner allows hikers to park vehicles while on the trail, but the store is now closed.) The town of Newport is 7 miles west on SR 1154. Follow blazes through pine and hardwoods for 1.6 miles reaching the Newport River parking area at 20.4 miles.

Excerpt from "North Carolina Hiking Trails"
by Alan de Hart, with changes and updates supplied by John Jaskolka

A map can be seen on the Carteret Wildlife Club Website, which is the Task Force that maintains the Neusiok Trail