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 its 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 carsonites, posts, and signs with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail logo.

[[File:MST_Blaze.JPG|200px|MST White-dot Blaze]]   [[File:MST_Sign.jpg|200px|MST Sign]]   [[File:MST_Post.jpg|115px|MST White-dot Blazed post]]

== 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 starts in the Great Smoky Mountains Naitonal Park, and passes through the Nantalhala/Pisgah National Forests, the cities of Asheville & Blowing Rock, climbs to the top of Mount Mitchell, and travels alongside 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 of the trail can range from easy to difficult; level hillside to steep and rocky grades.

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

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

{{Template:MST Trails}}


<googlemap version="0.9" lat="35.9648" lon="-82.2651" type="terrain" zoom="8" height="400" width="600">
35.5629404, -83.498449, Clingman's Dome
Western Terminus
Section 1 trailhead
35.520545, -83.418817, Section 1 Route Split @ Campsite 57 - Deep Creek Trail
(1A - Great Smoky Mountains Route / 1B - Tuckaseegee River Valley Route)
35.5058543, -83.301430, Ocanaluftee Visitor's Center
Section 1 & 2 trailhead
35.4967356, -83.155560, Soco Gap
Section 2 & 3 trailhead
35.4642681, -83.1376431, Waterrock Knob and the Plott Balsams
Point of Interest
35.4340997, -83.074322, Balsam Gap
Section 3 & 4 trailhead
35.3217434, -82.964888, Bear Pen Gap
Section 4 & 5 trailhead
35.3039448, -82.909065, NC-215
Section 5 & 6 trailhead
35.3204478, -82.861891, Graveyard Fields/Ridge and Black Balsams 
35.4026099, -82.7570729, Pisgah Inn
Section 6 & 7 trailhead
35.592352, -82.482066, Folk Art Center
Section 7 & 8 trailhead
35.705833, -82.366667, Craggy Gardens and Mountains
Point of Interest
35.7648, -82.2651, Mt. Mitchell State Park and the Black Mountains
Point of Interest
35.7489504, -82.334075, Balsam Gap
Section 8 & 9 trailhead
35.7709247, -82.164946, Buck Creek Gap
Section 9 & 10 trailhead
35.7669900, -82.041178, US-221 @ Woodlawn 
Section 10 & 11 trailhead
35.8869640, -81.884451, Table Rock Rec. Area
Point of Interest
35.9521636, -81.846600, Ripshin Ridge
Section 11 & 12 trailhead
36.0316788, -81.802912, Gragg Prong bridge 
@ Roseborough Road/USFS 981
Point of Interest
Parking
36.0316788, -81.802912, Beacon Heights
Section 12 & 13 trailhead
36.1484795, -81.663094, US-321/221 @ Blowing Rock
Section 13 & 14 trailhead
36.2296312, -81.49954, Deep Gap
Section 14 & 15 trailhead
36.2469036, -81.457872, E.B. Jeffress Park and Cascade Falls
Point of Interest
36.2742409, -81.379509, The Lump
Point of Interest
36.3128428, -81.362944, Horse Gap @ NC-16
Section 15 & 16 trailhead
36.3910258, -81.245570, BRP and NC-18
Section 16 & 17 trailhead
36.4342657, -81.104379, Devil's Garden Overlook
Section 17 & 18 trailhead
36.3937204, -81.041937, Stone Mountain State Park
Section 18 trailhead
36.3433892, -80.465949, Pilot Mountain State Park
Point of Interest 
36.4033924, -80.260277, Hanging Rock State Park
Point of Interest 
36.1755740, -79.852409, Greensboro Watershed
Point of Interest 
36.0427837, -79.000282, Eno River State Park
Point of Interest 
36.0139077, -78.689876, Falls Lake
Point of Interest 
34.8349410, -76.807480, Croatan National Forest
Neusiok Trail
Point of Interest 
35.9614040, -75.634775, Jockey's Ridge State Park
Eastern Terminus
</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.

== Updates ==
Currently, the National Park Service is advising MST hikers to NOT hike along the Parkway between the Oconaluftee River To Balsam Gap due to possible dangers of walking through the Parkway tunnels.  FMST has created a re-route via road walk posted for this situation.  This re-route will take hikers through towns Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva.  Then re-joins the trail at Balsam Gap near Waynesville.

[http://www.ncmst.org/the-trail/plan-your-hike-2/trail-sections/section-2-to-3/ Re-route]

== Photos ==
Mountain section:
[[File:MST-1.jpg|100px|View of Looking Glass Rock from the MST/BRP]] [[File:MST-2.jpg|200px|Cascade Falls]] [[File:MST-7.JPG|200px|View from Craggy Gardens]] [[File: MST-8.JPG|200px|Waterfall along Gragg Prong]]


Piedmont section:
[[File:MST-3.jpg|200px|Falls Lake]]

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

== Maps ==
* [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]]
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 == Mileages of the MST-Mountain Section  ==
-The Mountains-to-Sea Trail mountain section:
+The Mountains-to-Sea Trail mountain section is broken down into 18 sections:
-The MST has recently undergone significant re-routing when leaving the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on the North Carolina Piedmont and Coastal Plain sections.
+{{Template:MST Trails}}
-[http://www.ncmst.org/the-trail/trailguide/ Official Friends of the MST Trail Guides and Information]
-<display_map type="terrain" height="400" width="auto">
+<googlemap version="0.9" lat="35.9648" lon="-82.2651" type="terrain" zoom="8" height="400" width="600">
-.5629404, -83.498449~Clingman's Dome~Western Terminus<br>Section 1 trailhead
+.5629404, -83.498449, Clingman's Dome
-.520545, -83.418817~Section 1 Route Split @ Campsite 57 - Deep Creek Trail~(1A - Great Smoky Mountains Route / 1B - Tuckaseegee River Valley Route)
+Western Terminus
-.432042, -83.421549~Bryson City, NC (1B)
+Section 1 trailhead
-.5058543, -83.301430~Ocanaluftee Visitor's Center~
+.520545, -83.418817, Section 1 Route Split @ Campsite 57 - Deep Creek Trail
-.4967356, -83.155560~Soco Gap~
+(1A - Great Smoky Mountains Route / 1B - Tuckaseegee River Valley Route)
-.4642681, -83.1376431~Waterrock Knob and the Plott Balsams~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.5058543, -83.301430, Ocanaluftee Visitor's Center
-.4340997, -83.074322~Balsam Gap~
+Section 1 & 2 trailhead
-.3217434, -82.964888~Bear Pen Gap~
+.4967356, -83.155560, Soco Gap
-.3039448, -82.909065~NC-215~
+Section 2 & 3 trailhead
-.3204478, -82.861891~Graveyard Fields/Ridge and Black Balsams
+.4642681, -83.1376431, Waterrock Knob and the Plott Balsams
-.4026099, -82.7570729~Pisgah Inn~
+Point of Interest
-.592352, -82.482066~Folk Art Center~
+.4340997, -83.074322, Balsam Gap
-.705833, -82.366667~Craggy Gardens and Mountains~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+Section 3 & 4 trailhead
-.7648, -82.2651~Mt. Mitchell State Park and the Black Mountains~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.3217434, -82.964888, Bear Pen Gap
-.7489504, -82.334075~Balsam Gap~
+Section 4 & 5 trailhead
-.7709247, -82.164946~Buck Creek Gap~
+.3039448, -82.909065, NC-215
-.7669900, -82.041178~US-221 @ Woodlawn~
+Section 5 & 6 trailhead
-.8869640, -81.884451~Table Rock Rec. Area~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.3204478, -82.861891, Graveyard Fields/Ridge and Black Balsams
-.9521636, -81.846600~Ripshin Ridge~
+.4026099, -82.7570729, Pisgah Inn
-.0316788, -81.802912~Gragg Prong bridge~@ Roseborough Road/USFS 981<br>Point of Interest and Parking~MarkerG.png
+Section 6 & 7 trailhead
-.0316788, -81.802912~Beacon Heights~
+.592352, -82.482066, Folk Art Center
-.1484795, -81.663094~US-321/221 @ Blowing Rock~
+Section 7 & 8 trailhead
-.2296312, -81.49954~Deep Gap~
+.705833, -82.366667, Craggy Gardens and Mountains
-.2469036, -81.457872~E.B. Jeffress Park and Cascade Falls~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+Point of Interest
-.2742409, -81.379509~The Lump~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.7648, -82.2651, Mt. Mitchell State Park and the Black Mountains
-.3128428, -81.362944~Horse Gap @ NC-16~
+Point of Interest
-.3910258, -81.245570~BRP and NC-18~
+.7489504, -82.334075, Balsam Gap
-.4342657, -81.104379~Devil's Garden Overlook~
+Section 8 & 9 trailhead
-.3937204, -81.041937~Stone Mountain State Park~
+.7709247, -82.164946, Buck Creek Gap
-.3433892, -80.465949~Pilot Mountain State Park~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+Section 9 & 10 trailhead
-.4033924, -80.260277~Hanging Rock State Park~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.7669900, -82.041178, US-221 @ Woodlawn
-.1755740, -79.852409~Greensboro Watershed~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+Section 10 & 11 trailhead
-.0427837, -79.000282~Eno River State Park~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.8869640, -81.884451, Table Rock Rec. Area
-.0139077, -78.689876~Falls Lake~Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+Point of Interest
-.8349410, -76.807480~Croatan National Forest~Neusiok Trail<br>Point of Interest~MarkerG.png
+.9521636, -81.846600, Ripshin Ridge
-.9614040, -75.634775~Jockey's Ridge State Park~Eastern Terminus
+Section 11 & 12 trailhead
-</display_map>
+.0316788, -81.802912, Gragg Prong bridge
+@ Roseborough Road/USFS 981
-===Trails documented on this wiki===
+Point of Interest
-Currently there are {{#ask:[[Category:Trail||Trails||Trail Stubs]][[Trail System::Mountains-to-Sea Trail]]|format=count|limit=5000}} trails covering {{#number_format:{{#ask: [[Category:Trail||Trails||Trail Stubs]][[Trail System::Mountains-to-Sea Trail]]|?Trail Distance#mi|mainlabel=-|format=sum|limit=5000}}|1}} miles of this trail system documented on this wiki.
+Parking
-{{Park trail table template|#userparam=intro}}
+.0316788, -81.802912, Beacon Heights
-{{#ask:[[Category:Trail||Trails]] [[Trail System::Mountains-to-Sea Trail]]
+Section 12 & 13 trailhead
- |mainlabel=trail
+.1484795, -81.663094, US-321/221 @ Blowing Rock
- | ?Trail Distance#mi-p2=distance
+Section 13 & 14 trailhead
- | ?Difficulty=difficulty
+.2296312, -81.49954, Deep Gap
- | ?Trail Marking=marking
+Section 14 & 15 trailhead
- | ?Trail Highlight=highlight
+.2469036, -81.457872, E.B. Jeffress Park and Cascade Falls
- | ?Allowed activities=use
+Point of Interest
- |format=plainlist
+.2742409, -81.379509, The Lump
- |headers=hide
+Point of Interest
- |link=none
+.3128428, -81.362944, Horse Gap @ NC-16
- |template=Park trail table template
+Section 15 & 16 trailhead
- |userparam=row
+.3910258, -81.245570, BRP and NC-18
- |named args=yes
+Section 16 & 17 trailhead
-}}
+.4342657, -81.104379, Devil's Garden Overlook
-{{#ask: [[Category:Trail Stubs]] [[-Has subobject::Mountains-to-Sea Trail]]
+Section 17 & 18 trailhead
- | mainlabel=-
+.3937204, -81.041937, Stone Mountain State Park
- | ?Trail=trail
+Section 18 trailhead
- | ?Trail Distance#mi-p2=distance
+.3433892, -80.465949, Pilot Mountain State Park
- | ?Difficulty=difficulty
+Point of Interest
- | ?Trail Marking=marking
+.4033924, -80.260277, Hanging Rock State Park
- | ?Trail Highlight=highlight
+Point of Interest
- | ?Park=park
+.1755740, -79.852409, Greensboro Watershed
- |format=plainlist
+Point of Interest
- |headers=hide
+.0427837, -79.000282, Eno River State Park
- |link=none
+Point of Interest
- |template=Park trail table template
+.0139077, -78.689876, Falls Lake
- |userparam=stubs row
+Point of Interest
- |named args=yes
+.8349410, -76.807480, Croatan National Forest
-}}
+Neusiok Trail
-{{Park trail table template|#userparam=outro}}
+Point of Interest
+.9614040, -75.634775, Jockey's Ridge State Park
+Eastern Terminus
+</googlemap>
 == Camping ==
@@ Line 100: / Line 102: @@
 == Updates ==
-The National Park Service is advising MST hikers to NOT hike the original route along the Parkway between the Oconaluftee River To Balsam Gap due to possible dangers of walking through the Parkway tunnels.
+Currently, the National Park Service is advising MST hikers to NOT hike along the Parkway between the Oconaluftee River To Balsam Gap due to possible dangers of walking through the Parkway tunnels.  FMST has created a re-route via road walk posted for this situation.  This re-route will take hikers through towns Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva.  Then re-joins the trail at Balsam Gap near Waynesville.
-Two new routes have been created to bypass the tunnels. Route A takes a longer backcountry route through the Smokies to exit near Cataloochee Ranch and onward to Soco Gap then Waterrock Knob.  Route B exits the park at Deep Creek near Bryson City and continues on roads toward Pinnacle Park & Waterrock Knob near Sylva/Waynesville.  From Waterrock Knob, the MST is on established trail with short crossings of the parkway and forest roads.
+[http://www.ncmst.org/the-trail/plan-your-hike-2/trail-sections/section-2-to-3/ Re-route]
 == Photos ==
@@ Line 123: / Line 125: @@
 * [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. -->
+<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. -->
-[[Category:Trail Systems]]
+[[Category:North Carolina]]