MST: Segment 4 Archives - My Walk in the Woods

MST: TableRock to Buck Creek (MST Seg 4)

Segment 4 of the Mountains to Sea Trail journeys through some of the more scenic and strenuous terrains of the Pisgah National Forest. About 11 miles of this section traverses the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness – from Pinnacle Trailhead to TableRock. Today I explored trails I had never been on before as I continued my trek on the MST. On previous day hikes I had completed the trail from Tablerock to Shortoff , and not too long ago, I did an out and back hike that took me from the Greentown Trailhead (Hwy 181) to Buck Creek.

MST: Pinnacle Trailhead to Shortoff Mtn. (Seg 4)

I will go ahead and tell you now, there’s going to be a lot of pictures ! As I have stated many times before, Segment 4 is my favorite and Linville Gorge is one of the reasons why. I grew up less than 30 minutes from the Shortoff Trailhead and I can still remember the drives up Wolfpit road in my dad’s old Ford Bronco. The area surrounding the gorge, specifically Lake James has seen some dramatic changes over the years with many high-end housing developments and the creation of the Fonta Flora Trail. However, the beauty and serenity of standing on top of Shortoff and looking up the gorge still sparks a spiritual renewal deep within my soul.

MST: Buck Creek Gap Overlook to Woodlawn Picnic Area (Seg 4)

Throughout the mountains section of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), this trail shares a close relationship with the Blue Ridge Parkway. It crosses and parallels the Parkway many times as it meanders in an out of adjoining wilderness areas. Buck Creek Gap Overlook sits at the junction of the Parkway, Hwy 80 and the Eastern Continental Divide. It is at this point, about 182 trail miles from Clingman’s Dome, where the MST leaves its friend the Blue Ridge Parkway and heads across Woods Mountain and on into the Linville Gorge. It will be another 67 miles before the MST joins the Parkway again at Beacon Heights, just below Grandfather Mountain.

MST: Greentown (Hwy 181) to Buck Creek

The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) consists of 18 Segments. Segment 4 extends 75 miles from Black Mountain Campground to Beacon Heights and is one of my favorite places to hike. These trails are surprisingly diverse as they descend, climb, meander and challenge hikers of all levels. From the breathtaking experience and vistas of Linville Gorge to the vast amount of waterfalls, this segment always causes me to count my blessings to live here in Western North Carolina.

MST: Mt Mitchell to Buck Creek Gap

MST Trailhead just off the Mt Mitchell Summit

This hike has been on my to-do list since I began day-hiking the MST and the 40 Hike Challenge a year ago. I have heard a lot about the Old Mitchell Trail that extends down 6 miles from Mt Mitchell to the Black Mountain Campground. My father and uncle have shared with me their summer camp stories near the South Toe River and and their hikes on the momentous trail to the summit of Mitchell. But today would mark a milestone for me as I officially complete Segment 3 of the MST.