Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST)

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a simple footpath stretching almost 1,000 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks.

The trail is an official part of the state parks system but segments of it are managed by different agencies and local governments.  Local communities help connect the trail through links to greenways and urban trails.  Land trusts help acquire land.  The trail is open for hiking across the state.  About 500 miles of dedicated trail-roughly half the planned length-has been completed to date.  A series of connectors on bicycle routes and back roads knit together finished sections to span the state.  The blaze designating the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a white dot, about three inches in diameter.

Our favorite MST run from home

We would like to share with you pictures of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that we most frequently run.  It's our favorite portion of the trail and is less than 1/2 mile from our home.  This section runs from Hendersonville Road to the French Broad River, 5.4 miles each way.  You can reach this portion of the trail from the Blue Ridge Parkway, mile marker 389 or at  the French Broad River bridge.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  For more information on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, visit www.ncmst.org

Carsonite trail markers found along the trail.

Valley Springs Road crossing Valley Springs

Foot bridge crossing at Valley Springs.

Climb south of the Valley Springs bridge.

Heading south immediately after crossing the equestrian road.

Bridge over Dingle Creek 

This deer was taking advantage of the trail also.

French Broad River