NC MST Segment 1

Segment 1 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs for 46.8 miles from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This segment is called Peak to Peak as it passes between the two high mountains.  This segment includes 34.7 miles of hiking trails, 7.4 miles along the parkway and 4.7 miles on gravel roads.

Route:

The western trailhead is at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the NC-TN state line.

The trail follows the Appalachian Trail northbound for several miles before descending through the Smokies for the longest stretch of roadless stretch of the MST at more than 22 miles before coming out at Mingus Mill.  The trail follows Oconaluftee River Trail from the Visitor Center to the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

From here, it follows the parkway along the road, going on trails around the tunnels.  In Qualla Boundary, the trail follows gravel roads before returning to hiking trail to cross US-19 at Soco Gap.  

The trail then climbs up for several miles to the eastern trailhead at Waterrock Knob.

External Links:

Mountains-to-Sea Trail website: https://mountainstoseatrail.org/segment/1/