Davidson River Area Trails
This is your guide to individual trails in the Davidson River area.
Avery Creek
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 327
Very steep, rocky, and technical at north end. Passes through a thinly forested, logged area. Standard creekside trail at south end. Nice creek, large waterfall, hemlock and rhododendron groves. Several log bridges.
Bennett Gap
Blaze Color: Red
USGS/USFS Number: 138
Seasonal use only. Excellent ridgetop views of Looking Glass Rock, Cedar Rock, and the Davidson River valley. Technical sections near the intersection with Perry Cove Tr. with nearly sheer drop-offs on the downhill side. Fast if riding downhill.
Black Mountain
Blaze Color: White
USGS/USFS Number: 127
Incredible views, lots of rock outcroppings and boulders, waterbars, switchbacks, narrow. Most of it is a hard core rugged trail, the rest is very technical. Very long trail. Great descents. Needle sharp ridgeline riding. This ridge divides the Davidson and Mills Rivers' watersheds. Passes over Black and Clawhammer Mountains' summits. Part of the Black Mountain ride. I've seen the length of this trail listed anywhere from 9 to 16 miles, but my GPS says more like 7 1/2. The 9.8mi value shown here is the official Forest Service number.
Buckhorn Gap
Blaze Color: Orange
USGS/USFS Number: 103
Many creek crossings on the lower end and then it's a stiff, moderately technical, rocky climb to the gap. Some eroded places and waterbars. Merges with and follows a gravel road near the top. Not ridden N. of Buckhorn Gap down to S. Mills R. See also the Black Mountain Best Ride.
Buckwheat Knob
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 122
Ridgeline trail which passes some enormous trees. Very steep and technical on south end with switchbacks, waterbars, rocks and roots. North of Buckwheat Knob, the trail is narrow, somewhat less steep, and moderately technical.
Butter Gap
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 123
Seasonal Use Only. Beautiful scenery, fun trail. Starts in Picklesimer Fields...flat, grassy area with crystal clean streamside riding, then a fast, gradual climb, and then a stiff, technical climb up to Butter Gap. Also makes a great downhill from the gap. Passes a waterfall. Part of Picklesimer Fields Best Ride.
Caney Bottom Extension
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 340
Short but sweet downhill.
Cat Gap Loop
Blaze Color: Orange
USGS/USFS Number: 120
Seasonal trail. Open to bikes from Fish Hatchery to Butter Gap trail October 15 - April 15 only. Fairly technical in spots. More level and fast, with jumps and waterbars, in others. Scenic stream valley. Passes one neat waterfall near a great campsite (listen for it down below--it's hidden from view from the trail). Provides access to the interesting Picklesimer Fields. Part of Picklesimer Fields ride.
Cemetery Loop
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 341
Follows an old road past an old cemetery on a little plateau near the Davidson River. Lots of white pines & hemlocks, & mountain laurel groves. Some doubletrack & some singletrack; pleasant, short loop.
Coontree Loop
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 144
Only the east half of the loop is open to bikes. Moderately steep and rocky; fun downhill or serious climb. Steepest near the top; a few creek crossings/wet areas. Pleasant woods in a nondescript cove.
Cove Creek
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 340
This trail used to be called Caney Bottom. The entire loop trail up Cove Creek and down Caney Bottom Creek was called that, plus the extension out to the forest service road. Now, the trail that follows Caney Bottom Creek is called Caney Bottom and is off-limits to bikes. This is going to cause some confusion over time since so many mountain bikers are used to riding "Caney Bottom", but now it's COVE CREEK! It's the same trail with its fast, decent downhill singletrack with technical sections and some great banked curves; also a creek crossing or two. Several log bridges force you to dismount and carry right in the middle of the good downhill, though. Most people make a loop out of this trail by climbing the gravel roads to the top and coming down Cove Creek trail. Keep right at Caney Bottom! It's off-limits!
Daniel Ridge Loop
Blaze Color: Red
USGS/USFS Number: 105
A terrific trail. Moderately steep, rocky, and technical, cascades, great downhills, log bridges, open woods, wildlife openings, high flats, beautiful Daniel Ridge Falls. Recommend riding clockwise.
Davidson River
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 650
Near the fish hatchery, this is a fun but gradual downhill W to E with jump after jump and the river is far down in the gorge below. Also bypasses a terrible, dusty, hot, sunny climb on FR 475 in either direction. Several landslides in September of 2004 sent parts of this trail sliding 100' into the river below.
Long Branch
Blaze Color: Orange
USGS/USFS Number: 116
Hilly and fast in places, with nice scenery, roots and rocks, stacked parallel logs for erosion control, narrow log bridges, several creek crossings, rhododendron tunnels, and waterbars A very fun trail. Part of the Picklesimer Fields ride.
North Slope
USGS/USFS Number: 359
Seasonal Use Only. Short, steep climb from Davidson River up to intersection with North Slope connector. Has waterbars, several neat bridges over gulches, rooty sections, rhododendron tunnels, and banked curves. A fun downhill from North Slope Connector back to Davidson River campground. Scenic, steep mountainside. Makes up the North Slope Ride.
Pink Beds Loop
Blaze Color: Orange
USGS/USFS Number: 118
Seasonal Use Only. Note: only north half of loop is open to bikes. Rhododendron & Mtn. Laurel tunnels. Trail travels through some open fields on old, narrow roadbed. Undulates up and down near beginning at picnic area; then drops thru a fun downhill in woods carpeted with ferns to the intersection with extension to the gaging station on the river.
Sycamore Cove
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 143
Substantial climbs with technical, short but very rooty sections. A fun downhill with several creek crossings - on one the trail becomes the creek for a few dozen feet. Wintertime views of Brevard.
