discovering north carolina’s mountains-to-sea trail: a companion for hikers and armchair explorers

Jerry Barker has long championed North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) and led its development for many years. In Discovering North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, he draws on that experience to take readers on a unique journey along the trail’s full route, sharing the rich history and stories that live on each segment. Connecting the trail to the Indigenous history of western North Carolina, the long military presence near the Carolina coast, and more, Barker offers a new way to understand and appreciate not only the natural beauty of North Carolina but also its people and history. Dedicated long-distance hikers and day-trippers alike will value and enjoy this armchair guide.

* Includes abundant illustrations with over fifty color photographs and maps for each of the MST’s nineteen segments
* Narrates significant histories related to each MST segment
* Places prominent natural features of the trail in context
* Introduces hikers to nearby attractions, cultural heritage sites, and trail towns

Jerry Barker, a writer and avid hiker, is a former president of Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.