Day Hike 11: Sheets Cemetery to South Laurel Fork Road
Mindless Wander
Distance: 4.2 miles
- Difficulty: Easy. Flat.
- Camping: No.
- Land manager: National Park Service.
- Volunteer Task Force Leader: Jeff Simpson, jsncmst22@gmail.com.
- Piggyback trail: No.
- Connecting trails: None.
The trail isn’t always marked through meadows. Upon entering a meadow, stop and locate where the trail goes.
One of the joys of hiking is that it can set your mind free. That’s especially true on this 4.2-mile stretch, which doesn’t require as much attention to trail tracking as some stretches of the MST. Rambling past organic pine nurseries, beneath healthy hemlocks and through carpets of running cedar, it’s easy on this bit of trail to let your thoughts drift or disappear altogether. It’s also a good stretch if you’re looking for a fast aerobic workout that will go by quickly.
Likewise, this is a good stretch for trail runners. The tread is even, begins with a general downhill stretch, has a mellow mid-way climb (gaining about 260 vertical feet in about a mile), and finishes with a descent to trail’s end.
For detailed hiking directions and parking information, download the Segment 5 guide from our Trail Guides page, using the “Primary Trailheads” section to pinpoint the location. You can also visualize the route on our interactive map; click “Day Hikes” to view the endpoints.
