Let Me Introduce You to the Neusiok Trail

Jackie Simmons
Specialist for students with hearing loss
Carteret County Schools, NC
TTEC 2015

Since I live so far away from the Appalachian Trail, our hikes will be done in large part for our Trail to Every Classroom education on The Neusiok Trail. It is here we will educate our students on Leave No Trace principles and hiking safety. Because of our coastal climate, this hike can really only be done in late fall and winter because of mosquitoes…late October to maybe early May. It will be the trail where we prepare for our Appalachian Trail hike at the end of our program. So if you ever are in eastern NC, you should come and enjoy this beautiful hike! It can be accessed from Havelock or Newport, NC.

NEUSIOK TRAIL

The Neusiok Trail winds more than 20 miles from a sandy beach on the Neuse River to a salt marsh on the Newport River.

In between, the trail crosses cypress swamps, hardwood ridges, longleaf-pine savannah and pocosin—shrubby bogs common to the Carolina coast. Look for signs of those who walked this way before—from native Indians to early settlers, woodsmen and moonshiners. The trail is diverse in plant life and is supported by a series of boardwalks. Wear your best hiking boots! Your feet will probably get wet on one of the sections

You can camp anywhere or use the three shelters on the trail! The Neusiok is also a part of the 900 mile Mountains to Sea Trail here in North Carolina. Featured in Backpacker Magazine, it really is a lovely place to hike!