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August 2012 <br /> Who will use the trail ? Will it be for hikers only, or will it be open for biking and horseback riding? <br /> The MST is intended primarily for backcountry hiking, but the landowner or land management agency <br /> responsible for a particular section of trail will decide on the types of uses that are allowed . The vast <br /> majority of the MST will be natural surface trail with only a three -foot-wide tread and to 6-8 feet of <br /> clearance through forested areas . In some places, the MST will pass through urban areas ( including <br /> Hillsborough ) where the trail is a paved greenway used by walkers, runners, cyclists, strollers and people <br /> in wheelchairs . <br /> How will people access the trail ? <br /> There will be legal, managed access points along the trail , which will provide parking and trail <br /> information . Thus far there are formal access points in Eno River State Park and at River Park <br /> ( downtown Hillsborough ), Gold Park (West Hillsborough ) , and Occoneechee Mountain State Natural <br /> Area . Another access point will be developed at Seven Mile Creek Preserve ( adjacent to historic <br /> Moorefields ) . Additional locations in southwestern Orange County will be identified and secured as the <br /> actual trail route ( the MST "trail alignment" ) is determined through that area . <br /> How can I learn more about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Orange County and across the state? <br /> • Orange County Dept . of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br /> Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager <br /> rshaw@co . orange . nc . us or 919- 245 -2514 <br /> http : //orangecountync . gov/deapr/ nat cul resources/mst . asp <br /> • N . C . Division of Parks and Recreation — State Trails Program <br /> Darrell McBane, State Trails Program Manager <br /> darrell . mcbane@ncdenr.gov or 919-707 -9315 <br /> http : //www . ncparks . gov/About/trails mst . php <br /> • Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail <br /> Kate Dixon, Executive Director <br /> kdixon@ncrost . org or 919 -698 -9024 <br /> http : //www . ncrost . org <br /> How can I find the trail ? <br /> For information on the Mountains-To -Sea State Trail, please see the NC Division of Parks and Recreation <br /> website at http ://www . ncparks . gov/About/trails mst . php <br /> The Friends of the Mountains-to -Sea Trail website ( http : //www . ncrost . org/) has general descriptions of <br /> trail sections with mileage and information about available guidebooks . <br /> When will the entire Mountains-to-Sea Trail be completed ? <br /> The Mountains-to -Sea Trail remains a work in progress . With the help of more volunteers, the pace of <br /> progress has picked up in recent years . More than 24 miles were completed in 2009 . Land along some <br /> sections of the trail corridor remains privately owned , and acquisition or easements will be needed to <br /> extend the trail . The goal is a 1, 000- mile trail from Clingmans Dome to Jockey' s Ridge . <br /> 3 <br />