Dupont State Forest Trail Information
This is your guide to individual trails in Dupont State Forest.
Airstrip
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #1
The upper end of this trail is along the old airstrip itself with a nice view - unfortunately this can be awful on a hot, sunny day. Lower end of the trail is brand-new; winds down the dry slope below the airstrip on a moderate grade with some great twists and turns. Ends in the area near Bridal Veil Falls - if you're heading to the falls, be sure to include this fun trail in your route.
Barn
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #2
Travels from the horse barn near Bridal Veil Falls, past the scenic pastures, and uphill past a small creek to join with the Shelter Rock trail near the bottom of the Airstrip trail. Quickest way to get from the airstrip (and Fawn Lake parking area) to Bridal Veil Falls. Short but fun singletrack/doubletrack.
Big Rock
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #3
Trail is rocky and moderately rough at the lower end; offers a fairly gnarly descent or technical climb. Passes over the granite dome, and offers some great slickrock. There are some great views toward Pisgah from the middle. Winds thru pine/oak woods at the uppermost end near junction with Cedar Rock trail. Part of the Cedar Rock/Burnt Mountain (Eastern Slickrock) Best Ride. Highly recommended.
Boundary
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #4
Forest loam surface. Connects Guion and Hickory Mt. trails.
Bridal Veil Falls Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #6
Gravel road used by vehicles occasionally. Passes the horse stables and terminates at the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
Buck Forest Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #8
Gated, wide, maintained gravel road occasionally used by park and private vehicles (by permit) on the western end down to the Grassy Creek bridge. Rest is fast, packed doubletrack on an old unmaintained road bed.
Buck Ridge Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #9
Ridgeline doubletrack. Ends at DSF boundary, pick up on Micajah trail to avoid trespassing on private property.
Burnt Mountain
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #11
Southeast end is mostly on an old road bed, high above the Little River at first, undulating and fast. Then switches back and climbs up near the nondescript summit of Burnt Mountain, flowing on and off the old road bed. Steeper descent on northwest end with excellent jumps, fast sections, and some technical drops. Part of the Eastern Slickrock Best Ride.
Cedar Rock
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #16
Don't miss this one! This trail offers some of the best - and only - slickrock riding in the East. Combined with Big Rock, this covers most of the slickrock in Dupont. Long sections of solid, rough granite are interspersed with patches of trees, dirt, sand, and moss. The trail is shaped like a half-loop; you can ride it in either direction using the Little River trail to close the loop. You'll find rocky, technical downhills both ways. Moderate climb if ridden east-to-south; more of a killer climb if ridden south-to-east. Open areas are awfully hot in summer heat; bring plenty of water. Forested areas consist of thin pine trees and there are some great views. Some lower sections in the woods have been rock-armored to help prevent erosion. This trail is part of the Eastern Slickrock Best Ride.
Conservation Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #18
This is a wide, graded, maintained gravel road, which is gated but occasionally used by park vehicles, and private vehicles for visiting the waterfalls (by permit). Passes the old airstrip.
Corn Mill Shoals
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #19
Mostly hardpacked, rolling doubletrack, but there are some areas with rocks and bigger gravel, as well as some sand and highly eroded sections. It's becoming singletrack in places. Starting at the Corn Mill Shoals parking area, the trail undulates up and down to reach the ford at the shoals. Be careful here - it might be tempting to ride across, but the rock is EXTREMELY slick (seriously - wet ice grips like sandpaper compared to the slime on these rocks). Beyond the ford, the path swings onto a re-routed section of newly constructed trail, with switchbacks, TTF's (Technical Trail Features), views, and some fast, hardpacked sections (especially fun if heading downhill).
Covered Bridge
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #20
Connects the High Falls trail to the covered bridge on Buck Forest Road. Gravel road surface. Extremely popular trail so take it slowly.
Fawn Lake Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #22
Gravel road occasionally used by vehicles. Scenic; loops around Fawn Lake.
Galax
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #26
Moderately steep climb on purpose built singletrack trail with several switchbacks. Winds up from the Hooker Falls parking area to the picnic area at Triple Falls. Named for large amounts of galax which grows on the ground in the woods here. DO NOT CUT SWITCHBACKS!
Grassy Creek Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #27
Short, travels down to the falls. Bike access ends right before you get to the falls so park and walk this convoluted section with lots of roots and rocks.
High Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #34
The short portion open to bikes - from the Triple Falls/Buck Forest Road intersection down to the picnic shelter above High Falls - is a gated gravel road occasionally used by park and private vehicles to access the falls (by permit). For mountain bikers, an excellent warm-up, first-time or kids ride would be from the main High Falls parking area (formerly Buck Forest parking area), down Buck Forest road, and then down to the picnic shelter at High Falls. Access to the base of the falls is hiking only.
Hooker Falls Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #38
Old roadbed follows Little River to Hooker Falls. Mostly flat; drops a bit right at the falls to reach the base.
Joanna Mountain
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #42
Dead-ends on the backside of Joanna Mountain. Would make a great trail if it traveled to the overlooks on the front of the mountain, but you'll have to bushwhack to get there for now.
Joanna Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #43
Upgraded gravel road occasionally used by forest service vehicles.
Lake Dense
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #44
Short old road/doubletrack travels downhill onto the dam which holds back Lake Dense. Highly recommended destination; there are picnic shelters, fishing docks, and plenty of places to hang out, swim, and enjoy the lake. Beyond the dam, doubletrack leads slightly uphill through a pine forest to tiny Lake Alford which is spring fed and crystal-clear.
Lake Imaging Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #45
Passes Lake Imaging and winds up at Grassy Creek Falls & Buck Forest Road; popular area for horseback riders.
Lake Julia Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #46
Gravel road occaionally used by forest service vehicles.
Laurel Ridge
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #48
Nice trail has been re-routed along much of its length. Travels sidehill below the summit of a steep ridge. Fun sections with TTF's. Mixed hardwood forest.
Little River
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #51
Follows an old roadbed. Mostly hardpacked with some sand and rocks, and one creek crossing (Tom Creek) where you can ford or take a sketchy log bridge. Not much in the way of elevation change. Follows the river in places. Ends at the State Forest boundary above Bridal Veil Falls. The portion beyond the boundary to Bridal Veil Falls is on private property; this trail is mainly used to access the northeastern end of the Cedar Rock trail.
Nooks
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #57
A little-used trail which dead-ends in the Nooks, a spit of land formed by the Little River's meanderings.
Triple Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #82
Wintergreen Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #91
