Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Richardson-Taylor Preserve

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.

This 8.3 km route sits in the sweet spot for a half-day outing — long enough to feel rewarding, short enough to leave the afternoon free. Expect around 1 hour and 51 minutes.

Point-to-point in layout, this trail takes you from A to B across the landscape. Consider your return logistics before heading out. The trail is officially waymarked as MST, so look out for the trail markers along the way.

As a Regional Walking Network (RWN) route, this trail is maintained and waymarked at the regional level. It typically connects towns, villages, and natural highlights across the wider area.