Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 8

The western half of this segment roughly parallels the Dan River from Hanging Rock State Park through the towns of Danbury and Walnut Cove to Belews Lake, built by Duke Energy on a tributary of the Dan. The eastern half falls within the watershed of the Haw River, and the route runs through the towns of Oak Ridge and Summerfield. It joins Greensboro's Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway and uses it twice to cross over Lake Brandt. From there the MST follows trails in the Greensboro Watershed Lakes complex, passing through second-growth Piedmont oak-hickory-beech forest still showing signs of its previous agricultural use. It finishes at the eastern end of Lake Townsend. The trail portions of Segment 8 are generally well marked with the MST blaze, a 3" white circle. In addition, the section of trail within Hanging Rock State Park, also called Indian Creek Trail, is marked with orange squares. There are no blazes or other markings on the road portions of this segment. For more information, including camping, lodging, parking, shuttles, and resupply information, as well as detailed, turn-by-turn directions, download a trail guide from the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.