Visitor's Center to Folk Art Center

This is an easy to moderate hike, and we have a pace of about 30 to 3.2 mph. We take the Visitor's Center Loop to the Mountains to Sea Trail and turn around at the Folk Art Center. This hike is slightly over 5 miles. We should return between 11 and 11:10. There's is only one climb and it's on the way back, up some steps and a hill near Gashes Creek.

Mountains-to-Sea-Trail hikes are designed for fitness and community among people who are already reasonably fit. It's not an endurance hike by any means, but it is designed so we can get our hearts beating a bit while still being able to have a conversation and meet new people.

When you arrive, we'll circle up and introduce ourselves briefly. There will be a person who is a sweep. This person is the person who walks last and makes sure no one gets lost. Nor is that person left behind. We remain within earshot of each other.

We leave the parking spot at 9:10 at the latest. If someone needs a nature break, we wait for you, but it's not a hike where we stop and take photos or frequent breaks. We basically keep hiking until the 1/2 way mark, then turn around after a short (approximately 5 minute) break. Then we keep that same pace on the way back. If we get on a trail right at 9:10, we are normally finished around 11:00 to 11:10

These are out and back hikes, meaning that we hike in and turn around half way to return back.