MST Segment 11 Archives - My Walk in the Woods

40 Hike Challenge: #25 Smithfield’s Neuse Riverwalk

Distance: 3.1 miles one way

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 73 feet; loss, 85 feet

Source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains – to – Sea Trail

The Smithfield Riverwalk in segment 11 of the Mountains-To-Sea-Trail combines the serenity of the Neuse River with the active downtown of Historic Smithfield. The hiker on this trail gets a complete overview of the vibrant community by traveling from a state of the art recreation complex; an undisturbed woodland area; a calming river and concluding in a revitalized town with much character.

40 Hike Challenge: #24 Raleigh’s Neuse River Greenway

Distance: 4.4 miles one way

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 211 feet; loss, 181 feet

Source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains – to – Sea Trail

This Day Hike is listed in the 40 Hike Challenge guide as the first in the Coastal Region. The Mountains to Sea Trail runs concurrently with the Neuse River Trail which is also part of the East Coast Greenway, an exciting trail project to connect Maine to Florida. The Neuse River Trail follows the river from Falls Lake Dam to Clayton, NC. It is a paved undulating greenway that is available for hikers as well as cyclists. On this early, brisk, Friday morning in November there were only a few joggers on the trail.