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Short descriptions of
each ride are given on this page, so you can decide which ones you are interested in. Rides are organized by their relative difficulty level (easiest to hardest).
Choose
a ride for more detailed information, including:
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ride length
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elevation change
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trailhead location
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a ride map
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images from the ride
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landmark mileages, and
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a detailed description and trail directions
Important!
Before taking any of these rides, see this notice on ride difficulties,
ride distances, and liability disclaimer. Also, click here to see
climb and technical rating explanations.
Easy Rides | More Difficult Rides
| More Difficult Plus Rides | Most
Difficult Rides
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Easy Rides
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Trailhead:
Bent Creek
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Conceived with the just beginning or first-time
mountain biker in mind, this short, easy loop at Bent Creek combines a gradual
gravel road climb with a nice, smooth yet very fun singletrack downhill,
complete with a rocky creek crossing. This is a wonderful introduction
to mountain biking. It's also great in addition to any other rides
at Bent Creek.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Bent Creek
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This ride has been
removed. The section of singletrack used as the
sampler on this ride is being converted permanently
into a gravel road. Another ride of similar difficulty
will be created soon!
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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More Difficult Rides
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Davidson River Campground Rides
The following two rides start at the Davidson River
Campground, so they're perfect if you're staying there. They can be
easily combined to make one longer ride.
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Trailhead:
Davidson River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Seasonal use
only!
Consists of a fairly steep climb from the river, some log steps,
a nice sidehill
section, scenic & technical downhill sections, neat bridges,
and a fast downhill to finish it off. A must if you are
staying at the the Davidson River campground.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Davidson River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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One of the
classic rides in Pisgah. It's not too difficult because it is short, but it does
have some significant climbs and technical sections. Several creek crossings,
views, tight singletrack, and a
fairly steep, fast downhill round out the ride.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map |
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Trailhead:
Dupont State Forest
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Located in the Dupont State Forest, this is
a very unique ride. Large sections are entirely slickrock, which is rare
in North Carolina. Good climbs, technical sections, a creek crossing,
jumps, very fast singletrack, and spectacular views make this
quite a ride. Highly recommended
for even the most advanced riders! Can easily be combined with other
trails to make the ride longer and/or more difficult.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Davidson River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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An
all-around moderate trail: not too steep,
pretty rocky, somewhat rooty, and moderately technical. The only thing not
moderate is how fun it is: that's extreme! Includes scenic streams with
many cascades, stream crossings, beautiful open forest, wintertime views,
rideable log bridges, rhododendron tunnels, and even a fast gravel road
section. To top it all off , you can stay on your bike right up
to the 160-foot Daniel Ridge Falls near the end of the ride.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Bent Creek
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This ride has been
removed. Several of the trails it used are being
converted into roads for a logging project. The ride
will be re-configured and re-posted with a similar
amount of climbing and technical difficulty once the
logging project is finished.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Mills River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This
is a shorter
loop located fairly close to Asheville. Its highlights include a difficult
climb, ridge riding, a very steep and technical
singletrack downhill, and gravel road cruising. It also includes
the awesome Fletcher Creek singletrack trail, which
is a fast downhill through lush forests and open fields.
Also be sure to check out the Hendersonville Reservoir and
Dam for scenery.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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"More Difficult Plus" Rides
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Trailhead:
Davidson River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Seasonal use
only!
Travels beside a scenic creek with rushing waterfalls and
calm, meandering sections, and through beautiful forests.
You'll ride through the open, grassy Picklesimer Fields
themselves. The route includes long/moderate and short/steep uphills,
a screaming fast
singletrack/gravel road downhill, a long gravel road climb and downhill,
views, jumps, creek crossings, mud, and fast, rolling, beautiful singletrack.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Black Balsam
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This
is a high
elevation ride, all above 5000'. Up here there is spectacular scenery, and
the trail is very rocky and technical
but fairly flat. The trail travels through cool, moist northern hardwood
and spruce-fir forests. Escape the heat on a summer day up
here! You'll also find creek crossings, waterfalls, and a steep uphill
section on a paved road. The ride travels along a portion
of the Blue Ridge Parkway, bringing you past the spectacular Devil's Courthouse mountain and tunnel.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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The next three rides are in a section of the Pisgah NF that is quite
remote and rarely visited by bikes. It's too bad, because a mountain bike
is the perfect way to explore the incredible scenery found there! The
loops can be ridden separately or combined into one grand tour of the
whole area (see below under Most Difficult rides). All 3 loops are highly recommended!
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Trailhead:
Coleman Boundary
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Travels
through a very scenic, lush forest with huge trees.
This ride has a steep gravel road climb, gravel road
cruising, many streams, cascades and
waterfalls including Walker Falls, a very steep, technical singletrack
downhill, and a cave. A remote, rugged area surrounds the
ride.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Coleman Boundary
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Travels
through scenic forests and rugged mountains. You'll
encounter gravel road cruising
and climbs, an out and back ride and hike to the spectacular Douglas Falls and
a virgin
forest with enormous trees, numerous other small waterfalls and cascades,
a long, grassy road, and a fairly steep, technical
singletrack downhill with creek crossings. Located in a remote area.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Most Difficult Rides
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Trailhead:
Coleman Boundary
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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The best way to explore the area, this long, spectacular
ride combines the Staire Creek and Douglas Falls rides above into one
great "figure 8" loop. Includes all highlights listed in the previous two
rides!
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Tsali
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This
long loop ride is entirely singletrack with incredible
views along the shores of Fontana Lake. Travels very fast,
hardpacked trails, with gradual climbs and descents. There
are only a few steep, relatively technical sections. However, there
are many jumps and
banked curves. This is a very popular riding area.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Trailhead:
Mills River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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This
is a long loop ride in a remote, scenic area,
with a gradual singletrack uphill. Has a high elevation
change and one very steep uphill into a high elevation
environment. Then there's a 2.5 mile, 1600 vertical
foot, fairly technical, uninterrupted downhill with steep, rocky switchbacks
and a rock garden. Finish with scenic gravel road cruising
and climbing.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map |
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Trailhead:
Davidson River
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Climbs:
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Technical:
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Also known
as "Clawhammer," this hard-core ride contains a 7 1/2 mile, 2000 vertical
foot climb. Uses a rocky, muddy, and rooty creekside trail with at least 6 deep creek
crossings, and passes the scenic Twin Falls side hike.
There's a long, somewhat steep climb to Buckhorn Gap
followed by incredible views, a very remote and rugged ridgeline trail (beyond
technical), a rock cave, rock outcroppings, and
boulders. Crosses Clawhammer and Black
Mountains' summits, then there's a very fast, rocky, 1900 vertical foot, 4-mile
downhill.
More About This
Ride:
Details | Map
| Photos |
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Climb and Tread Rating Explanations
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Climbs
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Tread
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(Level)
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Trail is mostly level.
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(Few Obstacles)
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Trail surface has relatively few
obstacles, such as a gravel road surface.
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(Climbs Gently)
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There is one main climb and downhill with
only small elevation gains from end to end, and it's not
steep overall.
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(Some Obstacles)
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Trail surfaces has some obstacles, such as
small roots, rocks, steps, or easy stream crossings.
Generally will not require pushing for technically
advanced riders.
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(Climbs Moderately)
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There is one main climb and downhill with
moderate elevation gains from end to end, and the climb is
not very steep overall.
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(Moderately Rough)
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Trail surface has some rough areas, with
possibly loose rocks, drop-offs, log bridges, mud, and
stream crossings. May require some pushing.
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(Climbs Steeply)
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There is one main climb and downhill with
high elevation gains from end to end, and the climb may be
steep overall.
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(Very
Rough)
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Trail surface may have large drop-offs,
loose rocks, ruts and roots, and you may encounter
difficult stream crossings or wadings. Pushing is almost
certain except for those with supreme technical ability.
Note: tread conditions can change with
trail maintenance, construction, or relocation, or season,
weather, erosion, overgrowth, or other unforseen factors.
Please let me know if you believe one of these factors has
affected a ride's difficulty rating.
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(Some Hills)
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There are several smaller, easy to
moderate climbs.
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(Hilly)
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There are several significant climbs, with
portions that may be steep.
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Distances given in ride descriptions are measured in miles, and may vary
slightly with different bicycle odometers. They are for general guidance
only.
All ride difficulties are "in my
opinion", however I have attempted to give an honest judgment based on an average rider.
Anything rated beyond "Easy" is going to require
significant climbing, descending, or technical skill, and some area biking
experience is recommended. Beginners
should not attempt the "More Difficult Plus" or harder rides. Pace
yourself and be careful, and, of course, remember to
have fun!
All maps and
directions are as accurate as possible as of the time created. However,
information contained within maps and descriptions herein should be used
to supplement your own skills in map reading, backcountry travel and route
finding. Ride at your own risk. WNCOutdoors, its owners, advertisers, and
affiliates can not be held responsible for any discomfort, injury, death,
legal action, damage to property or any other negative consequences
incurred while riding. But
that euphoria that comes after those fantastic rides: that's on us!
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