The Best Mountain Biking Trails in Brevard

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....

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....

Dupont State Forest is a massive 10,400-acre forest just outside of Brevard, North Carolina that has become one of the most popular and highly-acclaimed trail systems in the United States. With a seemingly endless array of trails and dirt roads in this area, the options are endless—and this epic route is one of the best ways to survey the entire forest....

While Brevard, North Carolina receives high acclaim as arguably the best mountain bike destination in the Eastern United States, there's really only one trail that's rideable from downtown Brevard. That trail is Bracken Preserve....

While the Pisgah National Forest is known for its gnar, the Fletcher Creek/Trace Ridge area is very approachable for intermediate riders. Some sections are even excellent for beginners. According to Timm Muth in an article on Singletracks....

Dupont State Forest is a massive 10,400-acre forest just outside of Brevard, North Carolina that has become one of the most popular and highly-acclaimed trail systems in the United States. Dupont is probably best-known for two things: its gorgeous waterfalls and the iconic slickrock balds with views of the entire region, which this route visits....

When mountain bikers try to explain the style of riding found in the Pisgah National Forest, Black Mountain is the first trail they'll point to as a marquee ride that showcases everything that is good and challenging about riding in the Pisgah....

Mountain biking in the Pisgah National Forest will challenge you in every way imaginable. Brutally-steep climbs lead to even steeper descents, with massive drops and endless rock gardens. In fact, some of the Pisgah's trails promise bodily injury and possible death if you make an error....

"This is the Squirrel Gap / Turkey Pen epic that everybody talks about," writes Pisgah-Area SORBA. This route provides "tons of serious backwoods slogging on Pisgah’s most remote trails." You'd better be prepared and fully equipped because there are "no bailouts....

The Laurel Mountain Trail runs through a remote section of the Pisgah National Forest that is far enough off the beaten path that seemingly few mountain bikers make the effort to ride it....

Portions of the Bennett Gap trail are downright insane. Most notably, the ultra-rocky, ultra-steep Devil's Staircase is barely hikeable... and yet some local riders can clean it on a regular basis....

Farlow Gap has garnered worldwide renown as the most technical mountain bike trail in the Pisgah National Forest. Since Pisgah is home to some of the gnarliest riding anywhere, that's quite the claim to fame! Farlow begins with a tight, steep bit of singletrack funneling into a big drop off of a boulder....