Best Rides in the Davidson River Area
North Slope
4.9mi, Moderate
- Climbing: Hilly
- Tread Condition: Hilly
Seasonal use only (October 15 - April 15)! Starts in the Davidson River Campground. 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. Can easily be combined with the Sycamore Cove Best Ride across the street. A must if you are staying at the the Davidson River campground.
Daniel Ridge
4mi, More Difficult
- Climbing: Climbs Moderately
- Tread Condition: Climbs Moderately
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.
Picklesimer Fields
11mi, More Difficult
- Climbing: Climbs Steeply
- Tread Condition: Climbs Steeply
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.
Black Mountain
12.5mi, Most Difficult
- Climbing: Climbs Steeply
- Tread Condition: Climbs Steeply
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.
