Western North Carolina is perfect for mountain biking! You are literally surrounded by mountains, so, of course, there are mountain bike trails! There are so many different mountain biking courses to choose from, which range in difficulty from beginner to expert riders. It is great to have lots of choices when it comes to biking; however, the list is long and may be overwhelming. To get you started on your Western North Carolina mountain biking experience, start with these top five destinations.
1. Bent Creek
The Bent Creek trails are located in the northern tip of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest and are close to Asheville, NC. There are trails for every level of mountain biking skills here. Trails are also family and group outing friendly.
- all levels of biking trails, from easy to advanced
- climbs and technical features for advanced riders
- family and group friendly
- most trails have been maintained and re-graded
- campground and lake close to trails
- Visit MtnBikeWNC for more info and driving directions
2. Black Mountain Trail
This trail is also located within the Pisgah National Forest. It is for advanced riders only and is labelled as a very challenging trail.
- 9 mile trail
- for advanced riders only
- very steep climbs
- single track
- technical riding
- Go to MtbProject for more information and directions.
3. DuPont Recreational Forest
Mountain bikers love DuPont! This is a great place to enjoy the scenery as you ride. The recreational forest is located between the towns of Hendersonville and Brevard, NC. The trails range from beginner to advanced skills, so this is a great place to start your mountain biking journey.
- easy to advanced trails
- 100s of miles of trails
- forest roads and single tracks
- slick rock and granite domes
- shared trails with horse riders and hikers, and there are share the trails courtesy rules (see website below for those simple rules)
- For more information and directions, visit DuPont Forest.
4. Fire on the Mountain
This is a newer trail system. It is located in Cherokee, NC and has multi-use trails for mountain biking, running, and hiking. The trails are big enough to accommodate all uses without congestion.
- all levels of biking trails
- newer trail system
- 5 miles of trails
- has berms and quick elevations
- Go to the Visit Cherokee website for directions and more information.
5. Tsali area Nantahala National Forest
The name of this area is pronounced as “Sah – lee”, and it is a favorite in the Nantahala National Forest. Tsali is a series of four loop trails that are daring and will test your mountain biking skills! These trails are also very popular with horseback riders, so there are designated days for mountain bikers and horse riders. (Be sure to check out the website below to see that schedule!)
- recreation area
- 4 loop trails, each with 7 to 13 miles of riding
- single track
- challenging trails
- small trail fee for all day use of trails
- For more information and a trail schedule for use, please visit the Forest Service website.
No matter what your level of mountain biking experience, there is a trail to ride for you in Western North Carolina. The scenery is stunning and the trails are thrilling! So grab your bike and gear and hit the trails!