North Slope Best Ride

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Total Length: 4.9 mi
• Trail Tread Condition: Some Obstacles
• Climb: Hilly
• Total Elevation Gain: 600 ft
• Trails/Roads Used: North Slope
• Ride Configuration: Singletrack loop with access via a paved road
• Starting point: Davidson River Campground, Art Loeb Trailhead Parking Area
• How to Get There: From Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east to the exit for the Asheville Airport (exit 9). Turn right onto NC 280; follow this 4-lane highway for 16 miles toward Brevard. At the intersection with US highways 276 and 64, turn right onto US 276 west (follow signs for Pisgah National Forest). Enter Pisgah NF; turn left at the campground, about a mile past the National Forest entrance. Park in the Art Loeb Trailhead parking area, on the left just before you cross the bridge.

Heading into the Davidson River Campground, you'll follow the paved main road through the campsites to the parking area for the amphitheater (on the left). The North Slope trail starts in the back of this parking area, and you can use it to bypass the campground roads on a scenic trace. The graveled trail crosses a couple of wooden footbridges before passing through the amphitheater and heading into the woods. It then travels through the open woods behind the campground, at the base of North Slope Ridge itself, on old roadbeds. Finishing the bypass section, it connects with a wet, rocky old roadbed as it begins following the deep, clear Davidson River, still traveling along the base of the ridge. This river is a trout fisherman's paradise, and often you'll see them wading in the water and fishing. The trail veers left and starts ascending the ridge "sidehill" (equestrian term which refers to a trail that travels across the slope), to begin a steep, fairly technical climb up the ridge with log steps and waterbars in the trail. It then turns and climbs into a cove, crosses the stream that carved out the cove, and begins following it uphill on the right. The Art Loeb trail intersection marks the top of the climb, and the trail crosses the stream and becomes narrow singletrack, winding along the contours of the steep sided, scenic North Slope Ridge. It sticks to an old roadbed for a ways, and there are some great banked turns as you dip into small coves and cruise around small spur ridges. It is practically one long rhododendron tunnel the whole way. Soon heading downhill, the trail becomes more technical and crosses over some very neat bridges spanning deep ravines. The trail will shoot you back off the ridge into the amphitheater after an exhilarating ride.

Ready for more? The Sycamore Cove ride starts across the street! Reset your odometer and continue on to the Sycamore Cove ride.