Dragon's Back (North Mountain Trail )
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
12.53 mi
2,914 ft
A true black diamond backcountry challenge awaits on the exposed bedrock spine of North Mountain.
"The rocky ridgeline of North Mountain has earned the distinction of being labeled 'Dragon's Back' and the trails on North Mountain are outstanding for mountain biking," writes The name "Dragon's Back" arises from the spine of rock that follows the ridge top, and which the trail traverses. Exposed bedrock, rock gardens, and rolling baby head rocks make the North Mountain Trail a true backcountry black diamond challenge.
While there are several ways to access the ridge top, the best is to form a loop with two of the trails running up and down the mountainside. Those trails in and of themselves form fantastic old school singletrack descents... but whichever trail you choose to climb will pose a steep challenge, with some likely hike-a-bike sections.
While this trail isn't located that far from the town of Roanoke, when you begin pedaling out into the far reaches of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, you'll quickly be plunged into the wilds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even driving to the trailhead that this ride is mapped from will require fording rocky mountain streams in your vehicle—meaning you may choose to access this route from a more convenient location if you're driving a low clearance vehicle.
The moral of the story: like with most mountain bike rides, be prepared for anything. But even more so when riding the Dragon's Back. Be prepared for chunky gnar, bike mechanical issues, and possibly being stranded in the middle of absolutely nowhere if something goes wrong.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
"The rocky ridgeline of North Mountain has earned the distinction of being labeled 'Dragon's Back' and the trails on North Mountain are outstanding for mountain biking," writes The name "Dragon's Back" arises from the spine of rock that follows the ridge top, and which the trail traverses. Exposed bedrock, rock gardens, and rolling baby head rocks make the North Mountain Trail a true backcountry black diamond challenge.
While there are several ways to access the ridge top, the best is to form a loop with two of the trails running up and down the mountainside. Those trails in and of themselves form fantastic old school singletrack descents... but whichever trail you choose to climb will pose a steep challenge, with some likely hike-a-bike sections.
While this trail isn't located that far from the town of Roanoke, when you begin pedaling out into the far reaches of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, you'll quickly be plunged into the wilds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even driving to the trailhead that this ride is mapped from will require fording rocky mountain streams in your vehicle—meaning you may choose to access this route from a more convenient location if you're driving a low clearance vehicle.
The moral of the story: like with most mountain bike rides, be prepared for anything. But even more so when riding the Dragon's Back. Be prepared for chunky gnar, bike mechanical issues, and possibly being stranded in the middle of absolutely nowhere if something goes wrong.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Rd-Grouse to Deer | 1.65 mi | 131 ft | 0.0% |
| Deer Trail Climb | 1.32 mi | 1,178 ft | 16.8% |
| Deer to Grouse | 1.32 mi | 102 ft | 0.1% |
| Grouse to Turkey | 2.78 mi | -200 ft | -0.2% |
| Turkey Descent | 1.60 mi | -1,273 ft | -15.0% |