Copyrighted Guidebooks & Maps

In addition to information about hiking the trail on this website, several guidebooks and maps copyrighted by others provide guidance about hiking all or part of the trail.  In alphabetical order of author's name, they are:

Hiking North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail by Allen De Hart. This guidebook was published in 2000 by the University of North Carolina Press and is available in many bookstores and on Amazon.com.  Although the hiking directions are somewhat out of date because new trail is being added every year, the book contains much valuable information about the areas the trail goes through and the history of the trail.

Sauratown Trail Map by Wayne Horton. This map was published in May 2009 for the Sauratown Trails Association, the organization that built and maintains the trail system that links Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock state parks. You can order it through the Sauratown Trails Association.

The Thru-Hiker’s Manual for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail of North Carolina by Scot Ward. This guidebook is published in two versions – an east-bound guide and a west-bound guide. The most recent editions were published in early 2010 and may be purchased directly from Scot Ward's website.  The author has hiked the MST three times, and this book is the most up-to-date source of hiking directions for the entire trail. It also contains a great deal of information about water sources, camping sites and places to resupply.  HOWEVER, this book includes illegal camping sites and does not identify them as such. If you use this guide, please check the legality of your camping sites and please do not camp illegally. Illegal camping puts you in danger, and it threatens the future of the trail by encouraging landowners to close the trail on and near their land.

MST Trail Profiles and Maps: From the Great Smokies to Mount Mitchell and Beyond by Walt Weber for the Carolina Mountain Club. This book was published by Grateful Steps Press in 2009. It includes maps and profiles for about half of the mountain sections of the trail. It also includes valuable information about the history and natural features of the trail. Information about where to buy the book is available from the Carolina Mountain Club.

 
US Forest Service (USFS) Maps
 
Richland Balsam to Pisgah Inn: Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness.
 
Craggy Gardens to Woods Mountain: South Toe River, Mount Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map.
 
Linville Gorge Wilderness is on Linville Gorge Wilderness.
 
 
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps

Clingman's Dome to the Oconaluftee River (MST Section 1) is on Great Smoky Mountains National Park #229.

Balsam Gap South to Beech Gap/NC-215 (MST Sections 4 and 5) is partly on Nantahala & Cullasaja Gorges #785.

Richland Balsam to just south of Asheville (part of MST Section 4, Section 5 and 6, and part of Section 7) is on Pisgah Ranger District #780.

East of Asheville to near Grandfather Mountain (part MST Section 8, Sections 9 to 12, and part of Section 13) is on Linville Gorge/Mt. Mitchell, Pisgah NF #779.

Disclaimer: FMST does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, quality, suitability of any information provided on the website, or linked from or to it.