The MST stretches 1,200 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge in the Outer Banks. The trail traces the state's natural diversity through ancient mountains, waterfalls, wine country, small Piedmont farms, coastal swamps, colonial towns, changing textile villages like Elkin, and barrier islands. Elkin's Main Street lies directly along the route. Completing the MST takes 3 months and approximately 2,112,000 footsteps.