The Best More Difficult Mountain Bike Rides in Western North Carolina

Fletcher CreekEastern Slickrock

Length:
8.4 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (1200ft)
Climbs Steeply
Tread:
Very Rough

This tributary of Mills River has many popular trails in its watershed. This ride features a difficult climb, ridge riding, a very steep and technical downhill, technical singletrack, 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.

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Length:
6.4 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (850ft)
Hilly
Tread:
Some Obstacles

Loop ride features slickrock riding, significant climbs, technical sections, jumps, and fast trails. A blast. Highly Recommended!

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Daniel RidgePicklesimer Fields

Length:
4 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (800ft)
Climbs Moderately
Tread:
Moderately Rough

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.

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Length:
11 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (1600ft)
Climbs Steeply
Tread:
Moderately Rough

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.

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Flat Laurel CreekStaire Creek (Big Ivy North Tour)

Length:
7.0 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (1000ft)
Climbs Moderately
Tread:
Very Rough

High-elevation ride on rough trails and smooth pavement.

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Length:
7.3 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (1500ft)
Climbs Moderately
Tread:
Moderately Rough

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.

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Douglas Falls (Big Ivy South Tour)

Length:
8.9 mi
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Climb: (900ft)
Climbs Moderately
Tread:
Moderately Rough

Leisurely gravel road cruising through lush forests with cascading streams brings you to the Douglas Falls trail, a 1/2 mile hike to a 60-foot, free-falling waterfall. Return on a less-traveled gravel road and pick up a little-used, steep, technical downhill for a fun finish.

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