5 Best Trails for Mountain Biking in North Carolina

Only western North Carolina is mountainous, but there are hundreds of excellent mountain biking trails throughout the state. That said, almost all of the "must-ride" North Carolina trails (which we’ve included below) can be found in the Pisgah National Forest. The others we’ve recommended are in DuPont. While not technically part of Pisgah, the Dupont trails are what many call "Pisgah-lite" — there are some great flow trails, exposed granite, and beautiful waterfalls to explore.

Best Mountain Biking for Beginners in North Carolina

DuPont: Ridgeline Trail 

Beginner North Carolina mountain bikers generally prefer easier routes that don’t include as much climbing or technical terrain, and there’s plenty of easy riding in DuPont State Forest. In over 10,000 acres of forest, there are nearly 100 miles of mountain biking trails, and most of the 100 named trails are between 0.5 and 1-mile in length — perfect for beginners! If you're looking to bring the kids, DuPont has a "Kid's Loop" along with a kid-sized obstacle park near the Guion Farm trailhead.

While aimless exploring on a mountain bike is always fun, we recommend you start with one of our favorite DuPont beginner trails. The 6-mile out-and-back Ridgeline trail has some of the best fast flow in all of North Carolina. It’s hard to get lost on this ride, and it’s full of beginner-friendly climbs and smooth, rolling descents with perfectly-placed berms and corners. Note that the trail’s difficulty is directly related to speed — beginners should know how to brake to keep their speed under control! 

Best Intermediate Mountain Bike Trails in North Carolina

Pisgah: Black Mountain to Sycamore Cove 

Many local riders would call the Black Mountain mountain biking trail a North Carolina must-ride. The Black Mountain trail is definitely a favorite descent, and the trailhead is extraordinarily easy to find. Ride on a mountainside singletrack lined with fern and rhododendron while navigating rocks and roots. 

DuPont: Burnt Mountain to Cedar Rock to Big Rock

The Burnt Mountain to Big Rock mountain bike ride is one of our favorites in western North Carolina; it's a must-do. Soak up 6 miles of trail variety and mountain views with a warmup forest climb and a thrilling downhill. The first part of the descent is mostly fast and flowy with some rollers, whereas the bottom section will require more technical riding. Be aware that the transition from smooth to rocky is rather abrupt. The descent's technical, rocky sections will keep you on your toes; there are a few trickier sections and drops that you may prefer to walk (unless you're an extremely skilled rider). Park at the Corn Mill Shoals trailhead and follow the trail clockwise to loop Burnt Mountain, then traverse Little River, climb Cedar Rock, and follow Big Rock downhill.

Pisgah: Mullinax to Squirrel Gap Loop

Squirrel Gap tends to require more pedaling than other Pisgah MTB trails.  It’s also one of the rare mountain biking trails that’s just as much fun to ride in either direction! This is a 13-mile intermediate mountain biking loop through a variety of terrain, from narrow singletrack to wider, machine-graded trail. This route has been described as "a new-school flow trail," and it’s full of hand-built singletrack — some of the best we've ever found! You’ll find narrow “old school” singletrack, steady climbs, technical roots and rocks, and some high-speed downhill. 

We usually ride this loop from the Turkey Pen parking lot by climbing Mullinax to Squirrel Gap, which leads to the top of Cantrell. Start by riding down to the South Mills River trail, then cross the swinging bridge and start climbing up to the Squirrel Gap intersection. At the top, you’ll already be on Cantrell and it’s time to enjoy the fast and flowing downhill on one of the most classic Pisgah rides. 

Top Expert Mountain Bike Trails in North Carolina

Pisgah: Farlow Gap

Farlow Gap is one of the most difficult trails in western NC — this mountain biking ride isn't for you unless you’re already a strong, experienced rider! The difficult uphill climb takes you over 5 miles of gravel and doubletrack. You’ll find abundant sections of rocks, roots, streams, and narrow ridges to navigate while riding through lots of vegetation. The rocky, steep, technical downhill will put your skill and stamina to the test, so go into this ride ready to pay attention.

Pisgah: Bennett Gap

Mountain biking Bennett Gap is a North Carolina treat for advanced riders. While it’ll definitely put a smile on your face, be prepared for one of the fastest, toughest trails in all of Pisgah with plenty of rocks. You’ll climb just half an hour up a gravel road to some incredible mountain views through the forest.  The downhill section includes fast, tricky, technical riding downhill with even faster, “tree-buzzing” runs near the bottom. 

Pisgah: Avery Creek

Pisgah’s Avery Creek route combines technical mountain bike climbing on Buckhorn with a fast, chunky downhill adventure on Avery Creek. You’ll descend for over 3 miles on classic technical, North Carolina rutted-out singletrack. Some of the sections are smooth and flowy, but you’ll want to stay alert to handle stream crossings and washed-out trail sections as you descend further. 

Find an MTB Guide in North Carolina

Ready to ride some of the best mountain North Carolina biking trails, but want a little more guidance and TLC? Instead of guessing at your skill level or maybe getting lost, you can contact our team at The Bike Farm to take a professional guide with you! We’ll provide expert advice, guided trail rides, and even mountain biking skill lessons to make sure you’re ready for the ride ahead.