Sauratown Trail

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Sauratown Trail
Torys Falls.jpg
Tory's Falls is located near the Sauratown Trail's eastern terminus. It is only accessible to hikers.
Length22.2 mi (35.7 km) main route [1]
33.1 mi (53.3 km) with spurs
Location North Carolina, United States
Designation Mountains-to-Sea Trail [1]
Trailheads Surry Line, Pilot Mountain State Park
Old-Winston/Coon Road
Brim's Grove
Sauratown Trails Center
Tory's Den, Hanging Rock State Park
UseHiking, Horseback riding
Elevation change 600 ft (180 m)
Highest pointTory's Den Trail-head
(Ruben Mountain, if including spurs.)
Lowest pointSouth Double Creek
DifficultyModerate
SeasonYear-round, except hunting season [1]
MonthsJanuary through October
Sights Sauratown Mountains
Rural farms
Streams
Small waterfalls
Hazards Tick-borne diseases
Mosquitos
Yellowjackets
Biting flies
Venomous snakes
Surface natural & gravel
Website http://www.sauratowntrails.org/

Sauratown Trail is a hiking and bridle trail in Stokes and Surry counties, North Carolina, which crosses the Sauratown Mountains and interconnects Pilot Mountain State Park and Hanging Rock State Park. [2] [3] [4] [5] It is the only bridle trail which goes between two NC State Parks. The trail is located primarily on leased, privately owned lands, [1] [3] and it is the longest publicly open trail on private lands in the state. The trail consists of a main trail of 22.2 miles (35.7 km) and two spur loops each about 6 miles (9.7 km) around. [1] Altogether, the Sauratown Trail and its spurs total over 30 miles (48 km) of trail. The trail was dedicated by the Sauratown Trail Committee in October 1979. [3] Since 2002, most of the main trail has been designated a part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. [1] [4] [5]

Contents

The Sauratown Trails Association was founded in 1988 [6] to succeed the Sauratown Trail Committee, and it created the current trail's route and its spurs. The volunteer group is primarily responsible for the trail's maintenance and continued existence. [6]

Spur Trails

Former Spurs

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sauratown Trail (Map) (4th ed.). Wayne Horton. April 9, 2009. Main inset.
  2. Biggs, Jr., Walter C.; Parnell, James F. (1993) [1989]. "Piedmont". State Parks of North Carolina (2nd ed.). Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. pp. 176–187. ISBN   0-89587-071-1. Sauratown Trail extends from the western boundary of Hanging Rock State Park, passes Sauratown Mountain, and connects with Grassy Ridge Trail at the eastern boundary of Pilot Mountain State Park.
  3. 1 2 3 Biggs, Jr., Walter C.; Parnell, James F. (1993) [1989]. "Piedmont". State Parks of North Carolina (2nd ed.). Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair. pp. 142–152. ISBN   0-89587-071-1. Sauratown Trail in Stokes and Surry counties was dedicated in October 1979. It is open to both hikers and equestrians.
  4. 1 2 Lynch, Ida Phillips; Pendergraft, Bill (2007). "Piedmont". North Carolina State Parks: A Niche Guide. Design by Leesa Brinkley Graphic Design. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Niche Publishing. pp. 58–59. ISBN   978-0-9794591-0-8.
  5. 1 2 Lynch, Ida Phillips; Pendergraft, Bill (2007). "Piedmont". North Carolina State Parks: A Niche Guide. Design by Leesa Brinkley Graphic Design. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Niche Publishing. pp. 40–41. ISBN   978-0-9794591-0-8.
  6. 1 2 Sauratown Trail (Map) (4th ed.). Wayne Horton. April 9, 2009. Sauratown Trails Association inset.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Sauratown Trail (Map) (4th ed.). Wayne Horton. April 9, 2009. The Sauratown Trail Loops inset.
  8. "Announcements". sauratowntrails.org. Tobaccoville, NC: Sauratown Trails Association. 2009-11-19. Trail Updates. Retrieved August 10, 2011. The Wondest Tucker Loop trail is permanently closed to all hikers and horseback riders. Regrettably, it appears this loop closure is permanent due to Landowner wishes.