2025 proved to be another successful year for Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and our work to build, maintain, protect and promote the MST.
Great strides were made in the planning, design and construction process of several large-scale projects across North Carolina, and there were a handful of changes to the trail route as it winds its way across the state.
As of December 31, 2025, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is 1,174.1 miles from Kuwohi in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks.
From west to east, here are the substantive changes to the MST that were completed in 2025:
- Segment 6: In Elkin, our partners at the Elkin Valley Trails Association were able to build a new 1.4 miles of natural surface trail coming east out of downtown Elkin, following parts of the Yadkin River and passing under Interstate 77 before returning to the road walking route.
- Segment 6: The Turtle Creek Trail near Elkin also added 0.6 miles of new natural surface trail, and 0.2 miles of road walking, to replace what had been a half mile of road walking.
- Segment 12: Working with our partners at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, we opened 1.3 miles of new natural surface trail thanks to funding from the state’s Complete the Trails Program. This new mileage adds to the existing 3.6 miles of MST on site at Bentonville.
- Segment 12: In collaboration with local and state partners, we opened 3.6 miles of natural surface trail at the Pondberry Bay Preserve near Roseboro. While not officially part of the MST thru route yet, this trail marks the first public natural surface hiking trail in Sampson County and provides a critical link for future trail development in the area.
- Segment 18: A new multi-use path opened in Buxton near the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, which the MST follows for a half mile.
We’re excited to complete multiple projects on the MST in 2026 that should have an even larger impact on the trail route moving forward. Stay tuned!
