Blog - Page 10 of 14 - My Walk in the Woods

Hunting Island, SC

My family and I were vacationing at Fripp Island (on the coast in South Carolina) for my recent birthday. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to explore an area that has always piqued my interest – Hunting Island, SC. This was one of my first coastal and maritime forest hikes, and it did not disappoint. 10 miles of hiking offered various levels of trails that led me to everything from an isolated beach, idyllic sunrise, lighthouse, nature center, fishing pier, lagoons, maritime forests and my favorite – an eery, separate island with a graveyard-like surf with a tangle of trees.

MST: Craggy Gardens Visitors Center to Graybeard Overlook

Today was a beautiful September day with the promising signs of Fall and some milder temperatures. I was excited about completing another area of Segment 3 of the MST while also celebrating the MST Birthday. This hike was the last portion of Segment 3 that I have not hiked between Pisgah Inn and Glassmine Overlook, and I was looking forward to reaching that milestone.

MST: Tanbark Tunnel to Potato Field Gap

This trail was the most difficult to date of all my day hikes. Due to scheduling and location, I hiked this one out-and-back. The total 10.4 miles with a lot of ascending and descending had me dragging when I made it back to the truck. However, the view at Lane Pinnacle and the solitude made this a rewarding trek.

40 Hike Challenge: #16 Hanging Rock State Park

Distance: 5.3 miles one-way

My Hike: 6.7 miles (including Tory’s Den and Falls and continuing to the Visitor’s Center)

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

Elevation Change: gain-1564′; loss-1261′

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Hike #16 from Tory’s Den parking lot to Hanging Rock Visitor’s center continues the MST’s journey through North Carolina’s Piedmont section and the Sauratown mountains. The trail provides a spectacular reward at the summit of Moore’s Knob with 360 degree views from the stone lookout tower. Moore’s Knob is the tallest summit in the Sauratown mountains (2,579ft) and from the tower you can see Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and the extent of the Blue Ridge as it comes down from Virginia into the North Carolina foothills.

40 Hike Challenge: #13 Stone Mountain State Park

Distance: 5.0 miles one-way

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

Elevation Change: gain-1565′; loss-1076′

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The hike through Stone Mountain State Park is the first of the 40 Hike Challenges in the “Piedmont” section of the Mountains to Sea Trail. There are many trail options in and around Stone Mountain- from summit trails to waterfalls. The main road through Stone Mountain Park (John P. Frank Pkwy) gives access to many different drop off points and trailheads for various opportunities.