Hikers soon will be able to enjoy a new stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Johnston County.
Visitors are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10:30 a.m. Plan to arrive by 10:15 a.m., to give ample time to park a short distance away from the trailhead. Dress appropriately for the conditions: sturdy shoes and insect repellant are recommended. Light refreshments will be available before the ceremony.
Secretary Reid Wilson of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will be the featured speaker, along with representatives from the Office of Archives & History, State Historic Sites, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the other partners who made this extension possible.
Following the ribbon cutting, visitors may explore the new trail and interact with guides stationed along a spur trail that follows a span of original Union Army earthworks built in 1865.
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail provides public access to significant natural and historical landscapes as we celebrate the Year of the Trail in North Carolina.
Parking will be available at the Cole Plantation Auto Tour Stop at 4322 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, which is a short walk from the trailhead. A shuttle also will also take visitors to the trailhead. There are no restroom facilities at this location. If needed, please stop at the Visitor Center at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, before coming to the ceremony.
Registration is not required but is helpful. Registration is available here: https://mountainstoseatrail.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/mountainstoseatrail/event.jsp?event=162&
About Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, was the largest battle ever fought in North Carolina and one of the last major battles in the Civil War. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site interprets the battle and the Harper House, a farmhouse used as a field hospital where surgeons treated nearly 600 men wounded in the battle. The site is located at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, N.C., which is three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville.
For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield or call (910) 594-0789.
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.