The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is an iconic hiking journey in the Southeast. This trail begins in Kuwohi, near Bryson City, NC, in the Great Smoky Mountains and stretches almost 1200 miles to Jockey’s Ridge in the Outer Banks of NC. So, how lucky are we here in the Great Smokies to have a big segment of this epic trail in our backyard?!
Taking on the entire MST is a monumental event and would require intensive pre-planning and dedicated time. So, we are focusing on Segment One of the Mountains-to-Sea from Kuwohi, formerly Clingman’s Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Newfound Gap Rd (US 441) to the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center.
This 46.8-mile route is made up of well-marked wooded trails, grassy shoulders of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and unpaved mountain roads. The biodiversity is a definite highlight. The scenery is dazzling, no matter the time of year. And the Deep Creek waterfalls, as well as many stream crossings along the way, are a sweet bonus. Segment One could be a fantastic backpack camping experience.