North Carolina Trails Archives - Page 6 of 7

40 Hike Challenge: #27 & #28 Town of Roseboro + Old Cape Fear Countryside

The Coastal Region of the Mountains to Sea Trail extends through many small, rural towns as it meanders to the coast. One aspect of the trail that hikers learn to traverse are many of the backroads that lead to these towns. The 40 Hike Challenge includes a few hikes that allow the hiker to experience these towns and rural road walks. Hikes 27 & 28 through Roseboro, NC and White Oak, NC are short hikes in welcoming communities packed with history.

Youngs Mountain Trail

Youngs Mountain Trail is located in Rutherford County, NC just north of Lake Lure and is one of the latest additions (April 2021) to the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail system. The trail is remote and strenuous, but the experience and the views are something that all hikers will appreciate and cherish. This is another excellent example of Conserving Carolina’s leadership in working with communities to help protect precious resources. The trail is a 2.1 mile trip to the summit of Youngs Mtn with 1200′ elevation and currently can only be hiked as an out and back.

40 Hike Challenge: #26 Bentonville Battlefield

Distance: 2.3 miles one way

Degree of difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: Gain, 82 feet; loss, 75 feet

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

The Bentonville Historic Trail is #26 of the 40 Hike Challenge. You can read about the others here. Bentonville Battlefield located in segment 12 of the MST is the site of North Carolina’s largest battle in the Civil War. Confederates suffered approximately 2,600 casualties: 239 killed, 1,694 wounded and 673 missing. The Union army had 1,527 casualties: 194 killed, 1,112 wounded, and 221 missing. Occurring in the last days of the War, in March 1865, it was one of many tipping points which lead to the final resolution of this sad and bloody chapter in our nation’s history.

Wildcat Rock Trail – Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail

The Wildcat Rock Trail is part of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail in Henderson County, NC. This national award winning trail is also a portion of the planned Hickory Nut Gorge Trail that will one day be 100 + miles linking many of the existing trails and breath taking vistas as well as encircling scenic Lake Lure. In 2017 this project was designated as the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. Conserving Carolina continues on the front lines of this project and many other excellent trails and greenways. Their dedication, vision and success in working with communities, neighbors, developers and regulatory agencies is worthy of recognition.

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.