Mountains To Sea Running Trail (Asheville): The MST parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway on the edge of Asheville, offering trail runners easy access to extensive forest runs. From the Folk Art Center, head north for a steady climb up to the Haw Creek Overlook, or head south for an easier out and back over rolling terrain with mostly flat terrain (for the WNC mountains at least) all the way to the French Broad River and the N.C. Arboretum. Longer runs are possible by heading into the Arboretum and linking up with the Bent Creek Forest trails for an epic day.
Directions from Asheville: Take I-240 E to Exit 7/Tunnel Rd./US 70. Take Tunnel Rd./US 70 E (left off the exit) for about 3 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take a right off Tunnel Rd./US 70 E to get on to the Parkway. At the stop sign turn right onto the Parkway. The Folk Art Center is about 1/4 mile on your left. Park there and look for the white, Mountains to Sea trail blaze. Additional options for starting points can be found along the Blue Ridge Parkway as the Mountains to Sea Trail parallels the Parkway pretty closely through the Asheville corridor.
