Image by Becka Walling courtesy of /www.ncmst.org

GATLINBURG, TN -- You have an opportunity to experience hiking along an old wagon road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A 2-hour hike on a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) will be led by Danny Bernstein, a Great Smoky Mountains Association Board Member and author. Bernstein will also talk about her adventures hiking the entire length of the MST from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks.

Anyone interested in participating in the hike should meet on Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mingus Mill parking area located on US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) about 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC and 0.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The 4.4 mile round-trip hike is rated easy to moderate but does have some steep uphill sections and an elevation gain of 800 feet. As the trail follows the route of an old wagon road it passes through areas that were farmed in the days before the creation of the park. The hike also includes a visit to the Mingus Creek Cemetery.

At 1 p.m. Bernstein will give a talk on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center sharing her adventures hiking the entire 1,000 miles along the MST. As she discusses the highlights and challenges of hiking the MST she will share pictures, maps, and stories that will captivate the audience including the unexpected and unusual sights she encountered along the journey.

Hiking participants should wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring drinking water. Because weather in the Smoky Mountains can be unpredictable a rain jacket is also recommended.

Published April 26, 2013