BURGAW – Pender County is celebrating the birthday of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) with three family-friendly hikes in Burgaw, Currie, and Surf City.
“We are pleased to host three birthday hikes this year,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director. “Each hike is diverse and fun for all ages.”
The hike in Burgaw, which will be led by Cody Suggs, Burgaw Parks and Recreation director, will begin at the Historic Train Depot and traverse the Osgood Trail. The hike is approximately 1-mile. The trail is paved. The hike begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7.
In Currie at the Moores Creek National Battlefield, hike the historic site of North Carolina first Patriots’ victory. Cross the Moores Creek Bridge and view the only monument dedicated to the women of the Revolutionary War. The majority of the approximate 1-mile trail is paved. Start at the visitor’s center at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The Surf City hike is a sunset hike across the Surf City Bridge. Meet at 7 p.m. at Soundside Park and hike to reach the peak at sunset for a beautiful view of a sunset over the waterway. The 1.5-mile hike will be led by Mike Dickson and Kimberly Briggs.
“All of the hikes are free to the public,” said Proctor. “Registration is important because some of these hikes will serve birthday cake to commemorate the MST’s 42nd birthday.”
Register online at www.mountainstoseatrail.org/birthdayhike.
There will be 33 group hikes across the state.
The Mountains to Sea Trail was first proposed in 1977 by Howard Lee who was then the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The 1,179-mile trail begins at Clingman’s Dome and concludes in Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The trail enters Pender County at the Bladen County line outside of Kelly and continues through Moores Creek National Battlefield, historic downtown Burgaw, the Holly Shelter Gameland, through Surf City, and up the beach to the Onslow County line.
For more information, visit mountainstoseatrail.org or call the Pender County tourism office at 910-259-1278 .
