The Mountains to Sea Trail at Goshen Creek is a rolling, out-and-back stream-side jaunt that at points becomes quite a workout and hill climb. It’s another of those in-town wonders that transports you quickly into a wilderness excursion not far from the car. And of course you could walk all the way to the coast if you wanted to. Photography by JC Garcia
What to Expect at Goshen Creek
Out and Back Trail. 3 miles.
Difficulty. Easy to Moderate but with some technical parts that require careful footwork around rocks and a few hill climbs.
Special Considerations. It’s not too strenuous for your children, but there are some danger spots so keep the young ones close at hand.
Special Considerations. It’s not too strenuous for your children, but there are some danger spots so keep the young ones close at hand.
A couple of online guides HIKING PROJECT | ALL TRAILS | ROOTS RATED
The Mountains to Sea Trail at Goshen Creek begins and ends at a non-descript pull off along Bamboo Road in Boone. You’ll know you’re near when you see the two great stone pile-ons holding up the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge above. This brief and rolling out and back stream-side stroll, which at points becomes quite a workout and hill climb, is another of those in-town wonders that transports you quickly into a wilderness excursion that’s lunchtime attainable but also worthy of more time and attention when you’re ready.
After you park at the pull-off and climb the fence along Bamboo Road, this is where the cows sometimes saunter downhill under the great stone bridge going to enjoy the shade and take a drink from Goshen Creek. My wife says I’m stupid but I laugh.
“Cows don’t kill people.” But we looked it up later, and they actually do.
Especially if cornered, which is what this white cow was when I went to talk to it. It turned toward me, its back to a fence, and I stepped forward. It lowered and shook its head ‘no.’
Later on Google we discovered that farmers get killed by cows more than swimmers are killed by sharks. The cows lower their heads, shake their heads “no,” and bump the chest. A thousand pound chest bump.
So don’t talk too closely to the cows. After all you’ve come here to hike so just park your car, climb the fence at the obvious spot (it’s actually a ladder), and walk the space under the bridge to the fence on the other side. Climb it (also a ladder). This is the Mountains-to-Sea trail and this particular section along Goshen Creek is rocky and rooty—but pleasantly so—and it’s one of the friendliest hikes in Watauga County.
It meanders gently uphill shaded by a forest of hardwoods and rhododendron, carved roughly parallel to Goshen Creek. Your kids could do it if you’re careful, and there’s even spots along the way where you can wade and enjoy painfully frigid pools of fresh creek water in the shade.
