The Best Most Difficult Mountain Bike Rides in Western North Carolina

Length: 16.2 mi	Difficulty: Most Difficult
Climb: (2500ft)	Tread:

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.

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Length: 18 mi	Difficulty: Most Difficult
Climb: (900ft)	Tread:

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Length: 14 mi	Difficulty: Most Difficult
Climb: (2400ft)	Tread:

This is a long loop ride in a remote, scenic forest and mountain area, with a gradual but technical, fun singletrack climb, and a very steep uphill section. Has a high elevation change, high elevation environment, steep, rocky switchbacks, a 2.5 mile, 1600 vertical foot, very technical uninterrupted downhill, and scenic gravel road cruising and climbing.

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Length: 12.5 mi	Difficulty: Most Difficult
Climb: (2000ft)	Tread:

Also known as "Clawhammer," this hard-core ride contains a 7 1/2 mile, 2000 vertical foot climb. Starts on a technical creekside trail with at least 6 deep creek crossings, and includes the scenic Twin Falls side hike, a moderately technical climb to Buckhorn Gap, 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, technical, 1900 vertical foot, 4-mile downhill.

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