THE HIKE........

Remmeber that actual trail conditions change day to day

Check the forum for the most update trail conditions and to post trip reports.

Pine Cliff Section (Pine Cliff to Hwy 306) 5.6 miles

This is the northern terminus of the trail and in my opinion the section with the best views and most hiked.

Heading south.....

  • Look for the large sign indicating the start of the trail along the tree line (to the right of the shelter).
  • The trail goes off into the woods then swings back to the shore of the Neuse River where it meanders along the woods back to the shore line and back to the woods.
  • Depending of the time of day you can see the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach Ferry crossing the river along with sail boats and power boats.
  • You can hike along the sandy shores of the Neuse but be on the look out for where the trail leaves the shores and heads into the woods.
  • The is the only section with some "hills" but nothing major.
  • Copperhead Landing Shelter is 3.5 miles from the start of the trail at Pine Cliff and is a great place to take a break.
  • If you are just hiking this section I recommend staging a car at the Pine Cliff or Hwy 306 end and then drive another car to your starting point. Other wise it is a long (about 2.5 mile) hike back to the car.

Click on image for larger view

Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section Pine Cliffs Section

Toad Wallow Section (Hwy 306 to Hwy 101) 2.5 miles

  • I named it after the name "Toad Wallow" carved into a couple of the board walks along this section. Sounds better than "Cottonmouth Spa"; also carved in one of the board walks.
  • A small parking area is available off of Hwy 306.
  • This section makes a good out and back hike.
  • Although this section of the trail is short at 2.5 miles; it can also be the wettest (depending on the rain) and has the most board walks (if I counted correctly, 12 as of Feb 2010) and the longest boardwalk at about .25 mile. It is a fairly dry hike thanks to the boardwalks.
  • You will cross one wide firebreak and pick up the trail across the fire break to your right. Look for the board walk.
  • You can also hike on across Hwy 101 to the Dogwood shelter (0.75 miles), take a break and then hike back to Hwy 306. This would add 1.5 miles to the hike.

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The Pines (Mill Creek Rd to Hwy 101) 10.5 miles

  • Longest section of trail at 10.5 miles
  • You will travel thru Pine Savannah, hard wood forest, bogs and along a dirt road.
  • 2 of the 3 shelters are along this section. Black Jack Lodge and Dogwood Camp
  • Recommend staging a vehicle at your destination and starting point. I stage one at the Toad Wallow Section on Hwy 306 and then drive to Oyster point to start the hike.

Heading North from Mill Creek Rd....

  • The Black Jack Lodge is about .75 miles north from Mill Creek Road and located about 75 feet off of trail to the left. The shelter is visible from the trail.
  • After you leave Black Jack lodge prepare for the wettest, muddiest, overgrown section of the hike. While there are board walks along this section, there are not enough so........
  • You will get wet
  • You will get muddy
  • It will last for several miles.
  • Some of the bog/wet areas are about 2 feet deep in places.
  • Recommend wearing old tennis shoes or sport/water sandals for this section
  • While in other places along the trail you can walk around the bogy areas, along this section you can not as the side growth is often way too thick.
  • Spring 2011 UPDATE..this section of the trail from Mill Creek Rd north to the first dirt road crossing has (about 2+ miles)has been "upgraded". Most of the former wet/boggy patches have been filled in with crushed rock/marl. I have not had a chance to hike this streach after a heavy rainfall but it is a major improvemnet over the way the tail was before.
  • There are a couple of stealth camp sites off the tail along this section just off the trail. They are not marked so you will have to look for them.
  • You will come to a dirt road. Cross the road and pick up the trail again. This section of the trail has not been improved so expect te get muddy.
  • You will end up on a second dirt road.
  • You have hiked a little more that half the section.
  • Turn Right and hike noth along the dirt road for about 2 miles.
  • Be on the look out for White Tail deer along the road.
  • Look for the dirt road that goes off to the Left and follow this road. If you do not make the turn you will end up at Hwy 101
  • After a few hundred yards on the road the trail will turn Right off the dirt road back into the woods and you will see a sign saying 2.7 miles to Dogwood Camp.
  • You will travel thru Pine forest, hard wood forest, bog and cross several board walks.
  • Be on look out for a small pond along trail.
  • Dogwood Camp shelter is 0.75 miles south of Hwy 101 and just about impossible to see from the trail. Look for the sign stating you are .75 miles from Hwy 101, turn around and take the side trail a few hundred feet to the shelter.
  • Cross Hwy 101 and pick up the trail for the Toad Wallow Section

Click on image for larger view

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Oyster Point (Oyster Point to Mill Creek Rd) 1.7 miles

This is the southern terminus of the trail and shortest section.

Heading north....

  • Note...There was major trail work done on this section in Fall of 2010 and there are several new boardwalks and most of the muddy areas were filled in with gravel and the brush cut back making this section a different hike from what it use to be.
  • Start the trail next to the parking lot.
  • You will head south towards the water and then turn left towards the north as you weave in and out of the forest and along the salt marsh.
  • Take some time to enjoy the views of the salt marsh.
  • While there are some bogy/wet areas, they are not bad.
  • At one point you will end up on Oyster Point Rd. Turn Right and follow the road for a few hundred feet and the trail will duck back into the woods off to your right.
  • This section of the trail ends at Mill Creek Rd and you cross over to start the Pines Section of the trail.
  • If you look at the offical brochure, the picture with the board walk is from the Mill Creek Road start/end of the Oyster Creek Section of the trail

Oyster Creek Section images

Oyster Point Parking Oyster Point Start Oyster Point Oyster Point Trail at Mill Creek Rd Oyster Point Oyster Point