5.5 Miles of Trail Opened by Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail & Partners

We are thrilled to announce that, in partnership with Sampson County Parks and Recreation and the Plant Conservation Board, we opened 5.5 miles of natural surface hiking trail in Sampson County at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 21.  Located on the Pondberry Bay Plant Conservation Preserve, these miles are the first public trails in all of Sampson County.

The opening is a culmination of years of hard work between partners and community members, opening a trail for locals, visitors and long-distance hikers in one of the largest counties in North Carolina without public trails. Initially, the route is a 5.5-mile loop, also known as a “lollipop” trail, because of its distinctive out and back shape, with a loop at the far end. Eventually, it will connect through the area as part of the permanent route of the MST into Roseboro. As the trail winds its way through the Preserve, it traverses longleaf pine forests in all stages from seedlings to mature trees, along with a few areas of bottomland hardwood forests. The Pondberry Bay Trail is open during daylight hours from Friday at sunrise through Sunday at sunset. The public is urged to stay on the trail at all times to avoid rare plants and sensitive natural areas.

Mayor of Roseboro, Alice Butler welcomed 40 partners to the event, sharing that, “This is a wonderful day over ten years in the making, and shows the importance of perseverance and partnerships.” Butler and her husband Greg are also Trail Angels for the area, hosting and helping thru-hikers as they make their way through the 1175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail. She finished, “We are proud for our county.”

The trail will be maintained by Friends of the MST volunteers with additional management from the Sampson County Department of Parks and Recreation. Dana Hall, Director of Sampson County Parks and Recreation, shared, “It was so special to see volunteers coming from all over to help get this trail opened – they care about our county, just like we do, and we all love being outdoors. We understand the importance that being outdoors has in our lives, and this trail gives our kids and grandkids a place to be outside.”

“This trail, and more soon to follow in Sampson County, has been funded by the Complete the Trails Program,” said Friends of the MST’s Executive Director, Brent Laurenz. “Without that critical investment from the state, progress like we’ve made here today would not be possible.”

Funding for trail development was also provided by Sampson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Executive Director Sheila Barefoot shared, “This completion represents years of vision, collaboration, and commitment to showcasing the natural beauty and outdoor opportunities that make Sampson County so special.” Barefoot continued, “It strengthens our tourism infrastructure, creates new outdoor recreation options, and enhances the quality of life for everyone who calls Sampson County home.”

Friends of the MST’s Trail Planner and Landscape Architect, Ben Jones who began his work on this trail 7 ½ years ago inspired the crowd, “As important as this new trail is for the larger state and regional community, it is by far most important for the people who live here. We want it to be a place that you can call your own, a place to love, to develop a relationship with and memories of, a place symbolic of who you are – where you come from – what is beautiful about this place you call home. A place to protect, to nurture, and to have pride in. We all deserve to have a place to be in nature like this because it allows us to strip away the stresses of modern life and get in touch with what makes us all human. We all need a place where we can go for inspiration, or peace if we are feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. We are all now responsible for this trail, and it is ours to stand up for as much as it is ours to enjoy.”

After the ribbon cutting, we walked onto the Pondberry Bay Trail, signaling that the first public hiking trails in Sampson County were officially open. We plan to add more trail on the ground in 2026, including building another block of brick trail in downtown Roseboro and another mile of natural surface trail on the west side of Roseboro.

NOTE: The Pondberry Bay Trail is open during daylight hours from Friday at sunrise through Sunday at sunset. The public is urged to stay on the trail at all times to avoid rare plants and sensitive natural areas. A kiosk with map and information is in place at the parking lot on Straw Den Lane off White Woods Road. Click here to access information about the Pondberry Bay Trail.