Category: MST Segment 8

Distance: 3.5 miles (one-way)

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 401 feet; loss, 430 feet

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

Hike #18 of the Mountains to Sea 40 Hike Challenge follows concurrently with the Laurel Bluffs Trail from Lake Brandt Marina to the N. Church St. Parking area. This series of trails offers excellent opportunities to experience many aspects of the nature preserve not far from the busy metro area of Greensboro and it’s surrounding neighborhoods. Lake Brandt offers different options for the public to experience the outdoors with fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding or just relaxing by the water. However, swimming is not allowed in Lake Brandt.

Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge #18: Greensboro Watershed Lakes”

Distance: 2.0 mile (loop)

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 268 feet; loss, 268 feet

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

It was great to get back to the 40 Hike Challenge. Since I have completed most of the challenge’s day hikes in Western North Carolina, I have had to do some strategic planning to get to the hikes further east. With Fall finally starting to arrive and after waiting out a week of rain, it was exciting to have a weekend to explore portions of our great state that I have never seen. Hike #17, The Cascades Preserve, is situated just outside of Greensboro in Segment 8 of the MST.

Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge #17: Cascades Preserve loop”