Pine Cliff Recreation Area
January 14, 2025. I decided to begin this figure-8 hike in the center, giving me a north loop and a south loop, for a total of 16.2 miles.
It’s just after dawn….
…and it’s cold! But I was prepared. It’s not hard to tolerate cold temperatures if you stay dry. Once you get a good hiking rhythm going, you warm right up.
Early morning winter shadows are loooooooong.
After two miles of road-walking, I began the eleven miles of trail.
I primarily rely on a printed copy of the trail guide, but at any potentially confusing intersection I also double-checked with the FarOut app.
It was reassuring to have that as a back-up, but actually the printed directions were very clear. I never had any navigation issues.
The Neuse River is quite wide here, as it approaches Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
There’s a very pretty picnic spot, with a rail where you can tie up your horse while you eat your sandwich.
The MST leads you on the less-traveled, scenic trail, but it was still well-marked.
Wouldn’t this be a delightful stop in summer! But today it was cold and windy, so I didn’t linger.
The network of boardwalks was incredible. Some of them extended for a quarter mile!
Much appreciation to the Carteret County Wildlife Club that installed and maintains these pathways.
After completing the north loop of my figure-8, I took a shoes-off break in my car, changed into a pair of fresh socks, and off-loaded extra winter gear before starting in on the shorter, southern loop.
More walkways! This time of year, the path is dry enough for travel, but I suspect without a boardwalk it’s impassable in the summer or after a lot of rain.
Yay! for winter, because there were NO MOSQUITOES!
Additional benefit of an elevated boardwalk: I did not step on any snake enjoying the spa.
The MST continues on across 101, but I took a right turn to take roads back to the car.
The two miles along McCotter Boulevard gave me the opportunity for afternoon devotions from “The Valley of Vision.” But I also like this hiking verse I found in the psalms:
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.Psalm 18:36
My.Bird.Walks. 