Hiking the MST couldn't be more convenient.

Unlike the enormous and often cumbersome snowshoes of the past, modern snowshoes are small and light. Many of them are adjustable, allowing you to extend them for hikes in heavy powder, or shrink them as needed. Strap them to your backpack, so they are always there if you need them. With these true friends, you can go just about anywhere.

Winter is a great time to stay at our NC cabins and tackle the MST. For starters, it’s not hot. Bare trees make for bigger views. Snow is pretty. And there is the promise of warm drinks by the fire at the end of the day – always better during the winter!

So gather together a group of friends, or tell your family to cancel all their other plans. Grab your cold weather gear, and head to our NC Blue Ridge Parkway cabins for a much needed winter break.

Mountains to Sea Trail Section 16

The Mountains to Sea Trail (section 16) passes right by our North Carolina pet friendly cabins. In other words, it is possible to walk out your cabin door, head west, and walk all the way to Tennessee border in the Great Smoky Mountains. Head east and the trail will eventually lead you to the stunning North Carolina coast. Guests of our Blue Ridge Parkway cabins are certainly not obligated to don hiking boots and walk hundreds of miles; but isn’t it nice to know that if you wanted to, you could?

October is Mountains to Sea Trail month, with many great activities and events happening in honor of the trail throughout the state. There will be guided hikes for all levels during October: some will be under a full October moon, some will reward you with a cookout at the the top of a mountain, and some will simply provide great company. There will also be work parties for trail maintenance or to extend the trail. In addition, look forward to river paddles, overnight trips, and no end to the fun. We are so fortunate to have this great resource in our back yards – we hope you will take time this month to come out and celebrate North Carolina and the Mountains to Sea Trail.

More than 500 miles of the footpath are completed, connected by back roads and bike routes. The plan is to one day finish the path so that it will be possible to walk on trails all the way across the state, from the  mountains to the sea. At the western edge of the trail sits Clingman’s Dome with an elevation of over 6600 feet, while in the east, the highest sand dune in Jockey’s Ridge State Park is less 140 feet high.

This trail gives the hardy folk who walk it a real taste of North Carolina, since it passes through three national parks, many national forests, two National Wildlife refuges and two wilderness areas. There are rivers to wade and bridges to cross. Furthermore, it passes through many towns and cities, giving travelers a sense of the variety of culture that exists in North Carolina.

Many people walk the trail in stages, while an adventurous few attempt it all at one go. We hope you’ll stay at our North Carolina pet friendly lodging and walk our stretch of the Mountains to Sea Trail with your dog. We think you’ll be happy you did.