The Best Mountain Biking Trails in North Carolina

The Bent Creek Trail System is hands-down the most popular mountain bike trail system near the burgeoning mountain metropolis of Asheville, North Carolina. Its popularity is rightly earned: the trails here are of superb quality, and the network offers a little something for everyone....

Located in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest, this is *the* must-do gravel loop if you're looking for an adventure. It can be done as a day trip or turned into an overnight bikepacking trip if that's more your style....

Bent Creek is home to some of the most coveted trail running, mountain biking, and gravel riding in all of the Southeast. This loop is a local favorite and links up some of the best gravel roads for an excellent loop just minutes from Asheville....

Though this is a simple out-and-back gravel grind, this route is nothing short of epic. Starting at the Big Ivy Trailhead, this ride is 100% gravel, full of roadside waterfalls, and ends at the trailhead for Douglas Falls....

This route is one of the best long gravel tours you'll find in the Grandfather District. It's more or less uphill for the first half, then hits its high point along the Blue Ridge Parkway just below Grandfather Mountain....

The Two Gorges Gravel Loop is considered by many to be the most epic bikepacking and gravel loop in the region. Possible as both a day or overnight trip, this 75-mile route is no easy feat, but offers "incredible scenery, plenty of camping opportunities, and a speedy 20-mile descent," according to local athlete Logan Watts....

A quick look at the elevation profile for this loop, and you'll quickly understand why this route has been rated as *severe*. Unless you prefer hiking your bike to riding it, low gearing is a **must** to ride this loop....

Hot Springs, North Carolina is an outdoorsman's paradise, offering plenty of world-class kayaking, rugged mountain biking, part of the Appalachian Trail, and of course - endless miles of gravel road! This loop is one of the best around, showcasing the beauty of the French Broad River before rewarding mountaintop views from Rich Mountain Fire Tower at nearly 3,700'! Even better, there are only a few miles of pavement—the rest is well-maintained gravel....

To Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, the views from Max Patch are some of the best you can find anywhere on the 2,200-mile trail. Starting at an exit on I-40, this gravel bike ride loops around the summit and is great as a day trip or overnight bikepacking trip....

The American Tobacco Trail is a 22.6-mile rail-trail that runs through three counties in North Carolina: Durham, Chatham, and Wake. The trail follows the former railroad corridor of the American Tobacco Company, which was built in the 1970s and abandoned in the 1980s....

If you're looking for a gravel ride around Brevard or Pisgah Forest, look no further. A local favorite, this route begins at [The Hub & Pisgah Tavern](https://www.thehubpisgah.com/), though there are plenty of options for parking along US-276, Avery Creek Road, or even at the Fish Hatchery....

This route is a local spin on the traditional [Avery Creek/Headwaters Loop](https://fatmap.com/routeid/764103/avery-creekheadwaters-gravel-loop/@35.2930866,-82.8063056,21400.6993010,-90,0.5795625,916.6639695,normal). As mapped, you begin with a couple of miles of road, then remain on gravel or doubletrack up until Bracken Preserve....

This remote gravel ride offers epic views and then passes multiple waterfalls in Courthouse Valley. While it *is* doable on a gravel bike, parts of this loop are quite chunky and may be difficult to negotiate on narrower tires....

Locals refer to this as "Neverending Road," though its official number designation is FS-5097. It's a great option for a long, quiet out-and-back gravel grind or as an overnight bikepacking trip....

Tsali is one of the original mountain bike destinations of yore, dating back to time immemorial. The singletrack is smooth and flowy, and the views of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are jaw-dropping, making this a perennial favorite! Since the trails here have changed very little over the years, in some mountain bikers' opinions Tsali has lost the luster it once had....

The Bent Creek Trail System is hands-down the most popular mountain bike trail system near the burgeoning mountain metropolis of Asheville, North Carolina. Its popularity is rightly earned: the trails here are of superb quality, and the network offers a little something for everyone....

Ridgeline is a historic trail in Dupont State Forest, but in recent years it has been completely rerouted and re-built into a beginner-friendly flow trail descent. While the berms are relatively low and none of the jumps are intimidating this flow trail has quickly become not only one of the most popular trails in the greater Brevard, NC area, but one of the most talked about flow trails in the country! The flow trail descent is perfect beginner-friendly flow style, with superb speed management—not too fast, not too slow....

While the previous version of Cantrell Creek was a local favorite, the Forest Service approved a full reroute/rebuild in 2019 to protect a native brook trout and hellbender habitat. The result: a machine built flow trail with berms, jumps, deep in the heart of Pisgah....

Tsali is one of the original mountain bike destinations of yore, dating back to time immemorial. The singletrack is smooth and flowy, and the views of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are jaw-dropping, making this a perennial favorite! Since the trails here have changed very little over the years, in some mountain bikers' opinions Tsali has lost the luster it once had....

Kitsuma is one of the top classic rides in Pisgah National Forest. Located just a few minutes off of Interstate 40, it's easily accessible for both locals and those traveling in from the eastern half of the state....