2013 Updates to the Mountains to Sea Trail

[Tennessee Viking]

Lots of stuff is happening all across North Carolina on the Mountains to Sea Trail.

In the mountains,
- A proposal is being laid out for two routes leading out of the Smokies to Plott Balsams/Waynesville area. One route will lead out of Deep Creek and follow the Tuskasegee River to Pinnacle Park/Waterrock Knob. The other, is a route by the Carolina Mtn Club, using a section of trail established from Soco Gap to Heintooga Ridge Road which will hopefully connect to the Smoky's trail.
- NPS has agreed on a proposal to establish dispersed camping from Beacon Heights to Devil's Garden Overlook. The site use will possibly be by permit only. And monitored by NPS, local trail crews, and volunteers.

On the Piedmont,
- Elkin Valley Trail Association has been crazy into building a new trail corridor from Stone Mtn SP to Elkin, and hopefully toward the Pilot Mtn SP area.
- Lots of trail building along the Haw River
- There is now a long stretch of continuous trail of natural tred and paved greenway from Eno River SP to Clayton (only a small section awaiting a bridge project near US401).
- An official greenway/road route has been designated from Clayton/Smithfield to Howell Woods to maneuver through Johnston County.

In the Coastal Plain,
- The FMST is hoping to route the trail into the Bladen Lakes area to feature NC's natural bay lakes. And then move toward the coast via some of North Carolina coastal plain preserves and natural habitats before rejoining its existing route in the Croatan/Outer Banks.