Mountains-to-Sea Trail(edit)

trail_hike_comments: **Black Mountain Campground to Beacon Heights** From Black Mounain Recreation Area by South Toe River in Pisgah NF to Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1: Climbs the ridge. From Buck Gap at BRP mp 344.1 (NC-80) to Woodlawn Park (US-221): The MST leaves the Blue Ridge Parkway here and doesn't return to it until Grandfather Mountain. Parts of this section follow old US Forest Service Roads. From Woodlawn Park (US-221) north of Marion this scenic and challenging section has a climb to Bald Knob and to Dobson Knob Road. The route was constructed (tread work) by the FMST and the Central Blue Ridge Task Force. White MST Blazes are up along this section and are easy to follow. Grant money provided a bridge across the North Fork of the Catawba River during the summer of 2004. After Kistler Memorial Highway, 19.8 miles have been designated by DPR to Ripshin Ridge (NC-181) parking area at Greentown Trail. Along the route the Linville River must be forded by wading. Scenic Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock follows. One of the most secnic areas along the MST is the Linville Gorge area. The views from Shortoff Mountain and Table Rock make this seciton a "jewel" of the MST. From Ripshin Ridge (NC-181) to Beacon Heights BRP 305.3 The MST passes the highest waterfalls of its entire route on this section as it passes through the scenic and rugged Wilson Creek area. Though not formally designated as a wilderness, parts of the trail will feel wilderness-like and there are some significant stream crossings as well as ridge-top views. Beyond Wilson Creek the trail ascends again to Beacon Heights on the Blue Ridge Parkway., trail_bike_comments: None