Editing Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) is one of the newest and most scenic long-distance trails in the region.  
Maintained by the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and affiliated groups & agencies, it travels from 
the 6,643 foot peak of Clingman's Dome to the sand dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park, NC. Even though it 
is still being constructed, it is nearly a 1,000-mile journey that is routed through the state of North Carolina 
on new and existing trails, country roads, through state parks, and along the coastal beaches.  

== Blazing ==

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is uniquely blazed by white dots.  The trail is also marked by posts and signs with the Mountains-to-Sea trail logo.

== Mountain Section ==

The MST's mountain section (Clingman's Dome to Stone Mountain State Park, NC) has numerous trailheads that are within an hour or two drive of the Tri-Cities.  The trail passes through the Great Smoky Mountains Naitonal Park, Nantalhala/Pisgah National Forests, the cities of Asheville & Blowing Rock, climbs to the top of Mount Mitchell, and travels alongside a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  A number of its sections offer from easy access along the Parkway to the most remote mountainous backcountry and wilderness areas.  Difficulty can range from easy to difficult.

After Stone Mountain State Park, the MST travels through the backroads and state park of North Carolina to the Outer Banks.

== Mountain Sections of the MST ==
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail mountain section is broken down into 18 sections:

{{Template:MST Trails}}


<googlemap version="0.9" lat="35.7648" lon="-82.2651" type="terrain" zoom="10" height="500" width="600">
35.7648, -82.2651, Mt. Mitchell State Park
</googlemap>

== Camping ==
Before venturing out over-night on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, hikers must be aware that camping permissions along the Mountain-to-Sea Trail varies greatly.  So proper planning and researching needs to be conducted.  Though camping is permitted in most of the backcountry areas in the Nantalhala and Pisgah National Forests, there are camping restrictions on other parts of the trail.  The trail section inside the Smokies (GSMNP) requires a backcountry permit and campsite reservations.  Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, camping is prohibited except at Parkway campgrounds (proper registration required).  Camping is permitted inside Mount Mitchell and Stone Mountain State Parks at only approved sites (proper registration required).  Open fire regulations also need to be followed for each site depending on agency regulations.

== External Links == 
* [http://www.ncmst.org Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail]

== Maps ==
* [http://artshikingmaps.info/mst/mstsections.shtml Art's Hiking Maps of the MST]
* [http://www.carolinamtnclub.com/data/2009TrailsMapBook.htm Trail Profiles and Maps-MST by Walt Weber (Carolina Mtn. Club)]

== Books ==
* [http://uncpress.unc.edu/browse/book_detail?title_id=899 Hiking North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail by Allen deHart]
* [http://www.thru-hiker.us/Home The Thru-Hiker's Manual for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail of North Carolina by Scot Ward (Taba)]

<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. -->
[[Category:North Carolina]]