Cherokee, North Carolina · Swain County · rwn · North Carolina Division of Parks & Recreation · MST
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a developing long distance hiking trail, which connects the Great Smokys to the Outer Banks. The trail is an official unit of the NC State Park System, and it is supported by the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a developing long distance hiking trail, which connects the Great Smokys to the Outer Banks. The trail is an official unit of the NC State Park System, and it is supported by the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Gentle terrain, well-marked. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
Difficulty is derived from OpenStreetMap’s Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) hiking scale, trail visibility, surface, distance, and elevation gain. Always verify current conditions before heading out.
Personalised to this trail’s length, elevation, difficulty, and the live forecast.
Recommendations adapt to the current forecast + trail stats. Use them as a starting point — local conditions, your experience, and the time of day you start all matter.
Trail conditions in North Carolina change with weather, season, and fire activity. Closures, washouts, and rerouting are common. Before heading out:
Closest trailheads, sorted by distance from this one.
Photo: Joshua EarleNorth Carolina's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichSteep is hard. These are the ten North Carolina trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Joshua EarleTen gentle, well-marked North Carolina trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Sergei AkulichNorth Carolina's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Joshua EarleFederal parks and recreation areas in North Carolina ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleNorth Carolina's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.
