GetHiking! Saturday Saunter on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

A light fleece for a July day hike? You might need one when we gather Saturday morning to hike a 5-mile stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, from Red Mill Road to ... Red Mill Road. It's not an out-and-back: rather, a half-moon of a hiking that starts and ends on the same road, about 3 miles apart.

We'll meet at the Red Mill Road Access to the MST near the fishing access, then drive 3 miles down Red Mill to start near Ellerbee Creek. This is a relatively flat and diverse run of the MST, passing through meadows, along rail lines, through maturing forest, and within sight of Falls Lake every now and then. In the nomenclature of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, it's known as Day Hike Section S.

Note that stretches of this trail can become tight with flora: if you're skittish about ticks, consider wearing long pants. And that won't be a sacrifice considering the temperature when we start will be in the mid-60s, likely only rising into the upper 70s by the finish. A preview of fall that you won't want to miss.

Bring at least a liter of water and a snack or two.