Mountains-to-Sea Trail Map (Haywood Gap to NC-215)

Route map of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (from Haywood Gap to NC-215) as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Map (Haywood Gap to NC-215)

Route map of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (from Haywood Gap to NC-215) as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Haywood Gap (Blue Ridge Parkway) -- 5,225'

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail enters the Pisgah Ranger District from the west here, at the non-descript Haywood Gap at Milepost 426.5 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The MST crosses at the vehicle seen ahead...to head into Pisgah Ranger District one follows it entering the woods to the right (north)...

Haywood Gap (Blue Ridge Parkway) -- 5,225'

This view is located opposite the MST crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Haywood Gap, and looks down the valley of Wolf Creek...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail @ Haywood Gap -- 5,225'

A commonly-use MST trailhead post points the way ahead as the path departs east from Haywood Gap into the Pisgah Ranger District...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,220'

A secondary reminder, a short distance in, that this is indeed the MST...

Mountains-to-Sea/Haywood Gap Trail Junction -- 5,220'

Not a hundred yards in you'll arrive at a Y-split, where the Haywood Gap Trail breaks left to head down into the heart of the Middle Prong Wilderness. The MST makes a hard right...

Mountains-to-Sea/Haywood Gap Trail Junction -- 5,220'

Again, it's hard to screw up which way to go at this junction...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,220'

You can tell immediately that this isn't one of the Districts more heavily trafficked sections of trail. Still, it's the MST, so it's well-marked and easy to follow...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,210'

Since this entire section of the trail remains well above 5,000-feet, you'll be able to enjoy the sights and smells of the high elevation forest all the way to NC-215 (and beyond)...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,210'

The trail stays surprisingly level as it snakes around the steep northern slopes of Parker Knob...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,200'

There are tantalizing glimpses north, towards the Middle Prong, but the thick canopy does its best to keep it hidden...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,200'

Have you noticed the ferns lining the trail in just about every shot thus far? Yeah...that's a big bonus for the fern-loving soul...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,190'

While most of the trees at this elevation are middling in size, every so often a giant is seen...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

Spring greens at high elevation never disappoint...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

The trail now decides to add even more green...in the form of a thick blanket of tall grass..

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

Back under the red spruce for a bit...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

...and back into the green tunnel...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,190'

The trail is now swinging south again so, as it nears the Blue Ridge Parkway, it crosses back onto National Park Service property...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,190'

The harsh climate at these elevations results in frequent natural hurdles like these to overcome...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

Even the look of the high elevation environment exudes refreshment...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

Runoff from recent rain tumbles from beneath the moss-covered ground clutter...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,180'

The MST as it now passes through the very damp drainage below Horsebone Gap...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 5,190'

Cutting a straight line through the spruce...