Mountains to Sea Archives - Page 6 of 7

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.

40 Hike Challenge: #22 & #23 The Falls Lake Trail + Raven Ridge Rd to Falls Lake Dam

The Falls Lake Trail and the Mountains to Sea Trail run concurrently along the southern border of the undisturbed water reservoir of Falls Lake, extending well beyond the reaches of the Eno River to the west and the Neuse River at the Falls Lake Dam to the East. Even though there are many access points and being in close proximity to the metropolitan area surrounding Raleigh, the trail feels as if you are hours away from any traffic or cities.

40 Hike Challenge: #33 Lejeune Memorial Greenway

Distance: 9.2 miles round trip

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 100 feet; loss, 89 feet

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

Hike 33 of the Mountains-to-sea 40 Hike Challenge extends along the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, NC. The trail is actually a paved greenway and begins at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens. If you are planning on completing this hike or if you are in the area, I recommend that you take some additional time to visit all of the memorials available here.

40 Hike Challenge: #32 Stones Creek Game Land

Distance: 3.5 miles one-way (My hike: 4.7 miles)

Degree of difficulty: Moderate

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

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

The Stones Creek Game Land is actually a pine preserve, where the NC Wildlife Resource commission has been active to restore the forest and specifically the Long Leaf Pine. Several areas have been heavily cleared, but it is obvious where new plantings have occurred and the flora and wildlife are beginning to thrive.

40 Hike Challenge: #4 – Graveyard Ridge and Skinny Dip Falls – Black Balsam Knob Road to Cherry Cove Overlook

Distance: 6.8 miles one-way

Difficulty: Strenuous

Elevation Change: gain = 1356 ft; loss = 2927 ft

My Hike: 6.8 Miles one-way (dropped car @ Cherry Cove Overlook)

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

I hiked this with my son, Noah and his friend. We tried to get out early on a Saturday morning, but a lot of other people had that same idea. The Black Balsam Knob hike provides outstanding views and very unique terrain.