This is a great weekend to get started on the 40 Hike Challenge! The Challenge is met by successfully completing every hike in the new trail guide Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-To-Sea Trail. The guide features 40 hikes carefully chosen by Friends to appeal to hikers of all experience levels.
The MST spans 1175 miles across North Carolina—meandering through small towns and historic sites, within national and state parks and on footpaths through places of astounding natural beauty. The 40 hikes that make up the Challenge are spread across the state and are representative of the many natural and cultural gems that are connected by the MST. Walking any or all of the MST is a path to experiencing the state in a whole new way.
Hike all 40 of the Great Day Hikes before March 31, 2023 to be eligible for completion of the challenge. When you submit the hike tracking form, either online or by downloading here, you will earn a special patch recognizing your feat. The downloadable form is also a great way to keep track of completed hikes.
Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail is available through Friends’ online store and in local bookshops.
While hiking, share photos and stories on Facebook and Instagram by hashtagging #MST40Hike. We’ll be posting firsthand stories from the 40 Hikes throughout the summer – so watch for some inspiration to help you decide where to hike next. Please make sure to follow proper social distancing, wear masks if applicable, and most importantly, have a back-up plan if the trail head appears full.
The 40 Great Day Hikes will also be the focus of the 43rd Birthday Hike in September, a celebration of the MST’s founding. More details will be announced in July.
Start exploring North Carolina—one day hike at a time.
