The MST turns 49 this September

Each year, we celebrate how far the trail has come since September 1977, when Howard Lee (pictured far right), then the Secretary of the NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, proposed “establishing a state trail between the mountains and the seashore in North Carolina.”

This year, there are several great ways to get involved:

The MST Annual Birthday Challenge – Participate by hiking 49 miles on the MST or volunteering 15 hours or removing 49 pounds of litter on the MST from Sept. 1st through Sept. 30th.
The Ultimate Three Segment Challenge – hike a total of 147 miles in 3 different segments, that’s 49 miles in each segment, on the MST from Sept 1st through Sept 30th.
Participate in an MST Workday or Outreach – see the list of workdays and outreach opportunities below.
Give or Fundraise to Support the MST – give a special $49 birthday gift to t he trail.

As part of our continuing commitment to making the MST a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds, abilities and experience levels, we encourage you to invite friends, colleagues, family and neighbors who have not been on an MST adventure to join in. Whether you are solo hiking or hiking with a group, we encourage your participation! Reach out to your local hiking clubs and schedule a hike to enjoy the MST!

The MST Annual Birthday Challenge

49 Mile Challenge

Hike 49 miles or Volunteer 15 hours
or remove 49 pounds of litter on the MST between September 1st – 30th, 2026

Hike 49 miles, volunteer 15 hours or remove 49 pounds of litter on the MST during the month of September for a chance to win great prizes! Ten lucky winners will be drawn at random to receive MST swag! You can repeat your favorite sections over and over or explore new mileage on the MST. Whether you are solo hiking or hiking with a group, we encourage your participation! Reach out to your local hiking clubs and schedule a hike to enjoy the MST!

This year we celebrate hikers and volunteers along the MST!
All hikers who complete 49 miles on the MST or volunteers who work 15 hours on the MST or volunteers who remove 49 pounds of litter on the MST from September 1st through September 30th, 2026, are eligible to win a prize. Ten lucky winners will be drawn at random to receive MST swag! Whether you are solo hiking or hiking with a group, we encourage your participation!
Log your activities below.
Once you have completed the Challenge you can submit your total mileage, dates of hikes or hours of service via this form by October 7th to be eligible for prize drawing. Ten lucky winners will be drawn at random to receive MST swag!
For logistics, we recommend using our trail guides (which are available for free to all current members of Friends of the MST) or Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail. If you would like to log volunteer hours, register for CERVIS and log your hours here

Log New Activities

View the Leaderboard

Report Challenge Completion

The Ultimate three segment Challenge

Hike 147 miles in 3 different segments (49 miles in each segment) on the MST between September 1st – 30th, 2026. You select which segments you want to conquer and report your results!

Hike a total of 147 miles in 3 different segments to complete the MST’s Ultimate Three Segment Challenge.

This year we’re introducing MST’s Ultimate Three Segment Challenge!
All hikers who complete a total of 147 miles (49 miles in each segment) in three different segments from September 1st through September 30th, 2026, win MST swag.
Log your activities and view a Challenge Leaderboard via the links below.
Once you have completed the Three Segment Challenge you can submit your total mileage, dates and segments, using this form by October 7th to win MST swag.
For logistics, we recommend using our trail guides which are available for free to all current members of Friends of the MST.

Log New Activities

View the Leaderboard

Report Challenge Completion

Workdays and outreach opportunities in September 2026

Please check back frequently as more events across the state will be added.

TUESDAY, 1st

Segment 7, Hanging Rock State Park with Task Force Leader, Harry Wilson. Join us to rehab the Indian Creek trail from the visitor center to the Dan River. This is an approximate 4-mile trail so we will meet at a staging area and then split up to work this trail from several different locations depending on the turnout. Meet at the old Hanging Rock General Store/ TFara Pottery Store off of Moore’s Springs Road at 8:30AM. Here is a link to the meet location: (3500 Moore’s Springs Road) HERE . Sawyers bring your equipment. Others can bring weed eaters, loppers, pruners, etc. Harry will also bring tools. To register, email Harry at hwilson5@triad.rr.com

WEDNESDAY, 2nd

Segment 12, West Roseboro Easement – Join Ben Jones and crew to work on the West Roseboro Easement from 12:00-4:00. CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

SATURDAY, 5th

Segment 15, Liberty Fest – Volunteer to help host the FMST booth at Liberty Fest in Holly Ridge or just come out to see us! For details and to register, contact Sherri at sseagroves@mountainstoseatrail.org

SUNDAY, 6th

Segment 9, Litter Pick Up – Join the Mebane Trail Rangers to pick up litter at Lake Michael from 2:00 – 4:00. Lake Michael, 7300 Lebanon Road, Mebane. To register click HERE.

TUESDAY, 8th

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force with Roger Mays – Our sawyers will fan out with swampers and remove a number of dead falls and snags. For details and to register, click HERE.

FRIDAY, 11th

Segment 12, West Roseboro Easement – Join Ben Jones and crew to work on the West Roseboro Easement. For more details and to register: https://cerv.is/0184×207

SATURDAY, 12th

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force with John Arthur – We will begin trimming the brush and small trees that grew since last year’s trimming efforts. We use gas hedge trimmers and hand loppers. For details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 8, Stokes Stomp Festival – Help host the FMST booth at the Stokes Stomp Festival in Danbury or just come out to see us! For details and to register, contact Sherri at sseagroves@mountainstoseatrail.org
Segment 9, Orange County Workday at Moorefields with Task Force Leader, Bill Boyarsky – Join us as we remove wisteria. For more details and to register, contact Bill at bill.boyarsky@gmail.com

MONDAY, 14th

Segment 9, Alamance County with Task Force Leader, Andrew Sam – Join us to work on the Valley Paddle Access and the back 9 of the Valley Golf Course. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 4, Linville Gorge / Harper Creek with Task Force Leader, Doug Veazey – Join us to work on the trail in the Linville Gorge or Harper Creek area. Start time is 8:30AM. For more details and to register contact Doug at doug.veazey@gmail.com

TUESDAY, 15th

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force with Roger Mays – Brush and small tree trimming using gas hedge trimmers and hand loppers. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 10, Litter Pick Up and Picnic with the Trashy Ladies – Join us for a cleanup and picnic on a new section of Segment 10 – Panther Creek Loop. For more details and to register, click HERE.

THURSDAY, 17th

Segment 12, Pondberry Bay Preserve – Join Ben Jones and crew to work at the Pondberry Bay Preserve. For more details and to register, https://cerv.is/0184×208

SATURDAY, 19th

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force with John Arthur – Brush and small tree trimming with gas hedge trimmers and hand loppers. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 11, Johnston County with Task Force Leader, Austin Cross – Join us in Johnston County for a workday at Rose Dairy Preserve. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 3, Latinos Aventueros Festival at the NC Arboretum Asheville – Help host the booth at the festival as we celebrate Latinos Aventueros 5-year anniversary or visit the festival for fun! For more details contact Sherri at sseagroves@mountainstoseatrail.org

MONDAY, 21st

Segment 9, Alamance County with Task Force Leader, Andrew Sam – Join us to work on the Valley Paddle Access and the back 9 of the Valley Golf Course. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 4, Linville Gorge / Harper Creek with Task Force Leader, Doug Veazey – Join us to work on the trail in the Linville Gorge or Harper Creek area. For more details and to register contact Doug at doug.veazey@gmail.com

TUESDAY, 22nd

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force, Roger Mays – Brush and small tree trimming w/ gas hedge trimmers and hand loppers. For more details and to register, click HERE.

THURSDAY, 24th

Segment 16, Croatan Task Force, John Arthur – Help John Arthur recruit new FMST members/volunteers at Craven Community College from 11:00 – 1:00. For more details and to register, contact John at johnarthur2346@gmail.com

SATURDAY, 26th

Segment 10, Falls Lake Workday with Task Force Leader, Jeff Brewer – Come help with trail work on the MST to celebrate National Public Lands Day across America! For more details and to register click HERE.
Segment 10, Oak Ridge Heritage Day, 10:00 – 4:00 – Oak Ridge MST Committee will host a booth at Oak Ridge Town Park on Linville Road in Oak Ridge. Kids will be able to make their very own personalized hiking stick for free! Stop by and say hello, learn more about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and celebrate the MST’s 49th birthday with us.

MONDAY, 28th

Segment 9, Alamance County with Task Force Leader, Andrew Sam – Join us to work on the Valley Paddle Access and the back 9 of the Valley Golf Course. For more details and to register, click HERE.
Segment 4, Linville Gorge / Harper Creek with Task Force Leader, Doug Veazey – Join us to work on the trail in the Linville Gorge or Harper Creek area. For more details and to register, contact Doug at doug.veazey@gmail.com

TUESDAY, 29th

Segment 12, Pondberry Bay Preserve – Join Ben Jones and crew to work at Pondberry Bay Preserve. For more details and to register, https://cerv.is/0184×209

Donate to support the MST

It’s not a true celebration until you’ve given the trail a birthday gift!

As a nonprofit organization, our work to build, maintain, protect and promote the MST is supported by people like you. Consider giving a special $49 gift to the trail in honor of the MST’s 49th birthday to support our work. While a gift of any amount is always appreciated, we will choose two donors at random who give $100 or more from September 1 – September 30 to receive a copy of Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

None of the work we do would be possible without our donors. Your employer may also have a matching gift program – an easy way to double your giving.

Make a Birthday Gift

Fundraise to Support the MST

Commit to raise funds to help build, maintain, protect and promote the MST.

Raise $490 or more to receive a special surprise!

Invite your friends to support your love of the MST by setting up a Facebook fundraiser (or other peer-to-peer system that you prefer.)

You can set up a peer-to-peer fundraiser through Facebook quite easily. If you choose this route, l et us know so we know to watch for those gifts because we aren’t notified by them. It’s easy to do, click here to find our fundraising page on Facebook. You’ll be on a pre-filled template for general donations – you can edit the standard donation copy by downloading 49th Birthday Campaign copy. We can also send you photos from the trail or any logos you may need.