A. Background

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) concept was first proposed in 1977 by Howard Lee - then secretary of the NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. The Mountainsto-Sea State Trail was authorized as an official unit of the State Parks system by the NC General Assembly on August 2, 2000, and became North Carolina’s flagship state trail.

The NC Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) is responsible for the planning and coordination of state trails. Section sponsors build, maintain, and manage segments of the state trail (See Appendix A: NC State Trails System Act). When trail sections are completed, NCDPR officially designates those sections as part of the State Parks System. As of April 2022, approximately 650 miles of the MST have been designated.

A vast majority of the designated MST is located on lands not directly managed as part of a state park. As the trail crosses the state, it passes through properties owned and managed by local governments, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and state and federal government agencies. Temporary routes follow rural back roads across North Carolina to connect existing trail segments. These temporary routes are not eligible for state designation, but provide a continuous path for trail users. A majority of the current MST in Surry County exists as a temporary road route. This creates a trail experience that is less desirable for many. Surry County is committed to developing a permanent, safe, and scenic trail route that offers users views and experiences of the County’s rolling Piedmont farms, country churches, hardwood and pine forests, and friendly people.

This project is part of ongoing efforts by the State of North Carolina, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (FMST), and various local governments and community organizations to establish new trail sections of the MST to replace segments that are currently aligned along roadways throughout the State.

A majority of the current MST In Surry County exists as a temporary road route.