North Carolina Trail Guides

Alum Cave Trail — Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC

📍 Great Smoky Mountains NP, Sevier County

Moderate 📏 4.4 miles Out & Back

Alum Cave Trail is a 4.4-mile out & back trail near Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of …

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Andrews Bald Trail — Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC

📍 Great Smoky Mountains NP, Swain County

Moderate 📏 3.6 miles Out & Back

Andrews Bald Trail is a 3.6-mile out & back trail near Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina, widely regarded as one …

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Appalachian Trail – Roan Highlands — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Avery County

📏 7.6 miles Out & Back

Appalachian Trail – Roan Highlands is a 7.6-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one…

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Art Loeb Trail – Pilot Cove Segment — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Transylvania County

📏 6.8 miles Out & Back

Art Loeb Trail – Pilot Cove Segment is a 6.8-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as on…

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Black Balsam Knob Loop — Waynesville, North Carolina

📍 Blue Ridge Parkway, Waynesville, NC

Moderate 📏 3.2 miles Loop

Black Balsam Knob Loop is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 3.2 miles of challenging …

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Black Balsam Knob Trail

📍 Haywood County

Moderate 📏 3.5 Loop

Explore Black Balsam Knob Trail in Haywood County, North Carolina. A moderate 3.5-mile loop trail with 700ft of elevatio…

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Black Balsam Knob Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Haywood County

Moderate 📏 3.5 miles Loop

Black Balsam Knob Trail is a 3.5-mile loop trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most rewa…

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Black Mountain Crest Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Yancey County

📏 11.2 miles Out & Back

Black Mountain Crest Trail is a 11.2-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the…

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Blue Ridge Parkway: Rough Ridge Loop — Blowing Rock, NC

📍 Blowing Rock, NC

Moderate 📏 2.6 miles Loop

Blue Ridge Parkway: Rough Ridge Loop is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 2.6 miles o…

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Catawba Falls: Old Fort's Hidden Treasure in Pisgah National Forest

Easy 📏 2.4 miles

Catawba Falls near Old Fort is a 100-foot multi-tiered waterfall on the Catawba River, accessible via a newly rebuilt tr…

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Charlies Bunion via AT — Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC

📍 Great Smoky Mountains NP, Swain County

📏 8.1 miles Out & Back

Charlies Bunion via AT is a 8.1-mile out & back trail near Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina, widely regarded as …

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Chimney Rock: Exclamation Point Trail — Chimney Rock, NC

📍 Chimney Rock, NC

Hard 📏 3.5 miles Out-and-back

Chimney Rock: Exclamation Point Trail is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 3.5 miles …

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Clingmans Dome Trail — Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN

📍 Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC

Moderate 📏 1.8 miles Out-and-back

Clingmans Dome Trail is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 1.8 miles of challenging te…

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Cold Mountain Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Haywood County

📏 9.6 miles Out & Back

Cold Mountain Trail is a 9.6-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most re…

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Crabtree Falls Loop — Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

📍 Blue Ridge Parkway, Mitchell County

Moderate 📏 2.5 miles Loop

Crabtree Falls Loop is a 2.5-mile loop trail near Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most…

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Crabtree Falls: A Blue Ridge Parkway Loop Worth Every Step

Moderate 📏 2.5 miles

Crabtree Falls plunges 70 feet in a spectacular free-fall off Crabtree Creek near Milepost 339 of the Blue Ridge Parkway…

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Crowders Mountain Loop — Crowders Mountain State Park, NC

📍 Crowders Mountain State Park, Gaston Co.

📏 5.2 miles Loop

Crowders Mountain Loop is a 5.2-mile loop trail near Crowders Mountain State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as on…

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Deep Creek Loop

📍 Bryson City

Moderate 📏 4.4 Loop

Explore Deep Creek Loop in Bryson City, North Carolina. A moderate 4.4-mile loop trail with 700ft of elevation gain.…

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Devil's Courthouse Trail

📍 Haywood County

Moderate 📏 1.0 Out-and-Back

Explore Devil's Courthouse Trail in Haywood County, North Carolina. A moderate 1.0-mile out-and-back trail with 350ft of…

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Elk Knob State Park Summit Trail

📍 Watauga County

Moderate 📏 5.4 Loop

Explore Elk Knob State Park Summit Trail in Watauga County, North Carolina. A moderate 5.4-mile loop trail with 1100ft o…

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Eno River Trail — Eno River State Park, NC

📍 Eno River State Park, Durham County

Moderate 📏 5.5 miles Loop

Eno River Trail is a 5.5-mile loop trail near Eno River State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most r…

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Glen Falls: Three Tiers of Cascading Beauty in the Nantahala

Moderate 📏 2.2 miles

Glen Falls in Nantahala National Forest descends in three dramatic tiers near Highlands, NC. The steep trail rewards hik…

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Gorges State Park – Grassy Ridge — Gorges State Park, NC

📍 Gorges State Park, Transylvania

📏 5.8 miles Out & Back

Gorges State Park – Grassy Ridge is a 5.8-mile out & back trail near Gorges State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded …

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Grandfather Mountain Loop — Grandfather Mountain, NC

📍 Grandfather Mountain, Avery County

📏 3.2 miles Loop

Grandfather Mountain Loop is a 3.2-mile loop trail near Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of …

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Graveyard Fields Falls: Two Waterfalls Above 5,000 Feet on the Parkway

Easy 📏 3.2 miles

The Graveyard Fields loop near Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 418.8 visits two waterfalls — Lower Falls and Upper Falls on …

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Graveyard Fields Loop — Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

📍 Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County

Moderate 📏 3.4 miles Loop

Graveyard Fields Loop is a 3.4-mile loop trail near Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the mo…

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Hanging Rock Loop — Hanging Rock State Park, NC

📍 Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County

Moderate 📏 4.0 miles Loop

Hanging Rock Loop is a 4.0-mile loop trail near Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the m…

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High Falls at DuPont: The Tallest Waterfall in the Forest

Moderate 📏 4.0 miles

At 120 feet, High Falls is the tallest waterfall in DuPont State Recreational Forest and one of the most impressive in w…

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Kings Pinnacle Trail — Crowders Mountain State Park, NC

📍 Crowders Mountain State Park, Gaston Co.

📏 7.4 miles Out & Back

Kings Pinnacle Trail is a 7.4-mile out & back trail near Crowders Mountain State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded a…

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Linville Falls Trail — Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

📍 Blue Ridge Parkway, Avery County

Moderate 📏 2.0 miles Out & Back

Linville Falls Trail is a 2.0-mile out & back trail near Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of t…

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Linville Falls: The Most Dramatic Waterfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Easy 📏 1.6 miles

Linville Falls plunges into the deepest river gorge in the eastern United States. Multiple overlook trails provide views…

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Linville Gorge – Babel Tower Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Burke County

📏 3.0 miles Out & Back

Linville Gorge – Babel Tower Trail is a 3.0-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one…

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Linville Gorge Wilderness: Shortoff Mountain — Nebo, NC

📍 Nebo, NC

Hard 📏 7.0 miles Out-and-back

Linville Gorge Wilderness: Shortoff Mountain is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 7.0…

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Looking Glass Falls: The Most Beautiful Roadside Waterfall in NC

Easy 📏 0.2 miles

At 60 feet wide and nearly 30 feet tall, Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest is one of the most photographed w…

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Looking Glass Rock Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Transylvania County

📏 6.4 miles Out & Back

Looking Glass Rock Trail is a 6.4-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the mo…

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Lover's Leap Loop Hot Springs

📍 Hot Springs

Moderate 📏 4.2 Loop

Explore Lover's Leap Loop Hot Springs in Hot Springs, North Carolina. A moderate 4.2-mile loop trail with 1200ft of elev…

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Max Patch Loop

📍 Haywood County

Easy 📏 1.4 Loop

Explore Max Patch Loop in Haywood County, North Carolina. A easy 1.4-mile loop trail with 284ft of elevation gain.…

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Max Patch Loop — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Madison County

Easy 📏 1.4 miles Loop

Max Patch Loop is a 1.4-mile loop trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most rewarding hik…

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Moore's Wall Loop — Hanging Rock State Park, NC

📍 Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County

📏 5.0 miles Loop

Moore's Wall Loop is a 5.0-mile loop trail near Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the m…

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Mount Mitchell Summit Trail

📍 Yancey County

Easy 📏 1.4 Loop

Explore Mount Mitchell Summit Trail in Yancey County, North Carolina. A easy 1.4-mile loop trail with 600ft of elevation…

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Mount Mitchell Summit Trail — Burnsville, North Carolina

📍 Burnsville, NC

Hard 📏 5.6 miles Out-and-back

Mount Mitchell Summit Trail is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 5.6 miles of challen…

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Mount Mitchell Summit Trail — Mount Mitchell State Park, NC

📍 Mount Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co.

📏 1.0 miles Out & Back

Mount Mitchell Summit Trail is a 1.0-mile out & back trail near Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina, widely regard…

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Nantahala NF: Standing Indian Loop — Franklin, NC

📍 Franklin, NC

Hard 📏 9.2 miles Loop

Nantahala NF: Standing Indian Loop is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 9.2 miles of …

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Pilot Mountain Loop — Pilot Mountain State Park, NC

📍 Pilot Mountain State Park, Surry County

Moderate 📏 2.8 miles Loop

Pilot Mountain Loop is a 2.8-mile loop trail near Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of t…

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Pisgah NF: Art Loeb Trail — Brevard, North Carolina

📍 Brevard, NC

Expert 📏 8.0 miles Out-and-back

Pisgah NF: Art Loeb Trail is one of North Carolina's most rewarding hiking destinations, offering 8.0 miles of challengi…

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Rainbow Falls: Gorges State Park's Most Rewarding Adventure

Hard 📏 5.2 miles

Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park drops 150 feet in a thunderous free-fall into the Toxaway River gorge. The 5.2-mile r…

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Ramsey Cascades Trail — Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC

📍 Great Smoky Mountains NP, Sevier County

📏 8.0 miles Out & Back

Ramsey Cascades Trail is a 8.0-mile out & back trail near Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina, widely regarded as o…

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Rough Ridge Loop

📍 Caldwell County

Moderate 📏 1.5 Loop

Explore Rough Ridge Loop in Caldwell County, North Carolina. A moderate 1.5-mile loop trail with 400ft of elevation gain…

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Rough Ridge Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Caldwell/Avery County

Moderate 📏 2.4 miles Out & Back

Rough Ridge Trail is a 2.4-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most rewa…

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Shining Rock Wilderness Loop

📍 Haywood County

Hard 📏 7.5 Loop

Explore Shining Rock Wilderness Loop in Haywood County, North Carolina. A hard 7.5-mile loop trail with 1800ft of elevat…

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Shining Rock Wilderness Trail — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Haywood County

📏 8.2 miles Out & Back

Shining Rock Wilderness Trail is a 8.2-mile out & back trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of t…

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Skinny Dip Falls: A High-Country Swimming Hole on the Blue Ridge

Easy 📏 0.5 miles

Skinny Dip Falls near the Blue Ridge Parkway is a short scramble to a natural waterslide and swimming hole at nearly 5,0…

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South Mountains State Park: High Shoals Falls Loop — Morganton, NC

📍 Morganton, NC

Moderate 📏 2.7 miles Loop

Few trails in North Carolina rival the drama of South Mountains State Park: High Shoals Falls Loop — a 2.7-mile route th…

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Stone Mountain Loop — Stone Mountain State Park, NC

📍 Stone Mountain State Park, Wilkes County

📏 4.5 miles Loop

Stone Mountain Loop is a 4.5-mile loop trail near Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of t…

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Table Rock Trail Linville Gorge

📍 Burke County

Hard 📏 4.0 Out-and-Back

Explore Table Rock Trail Linville Gorge in Burke County, North Carolina. A hard 4.0-mile out-and-back trail with 2100ft …

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Triple Falls: DuPont State Forest's Crown Jewel Loop

Easy 📏 3.5 miles

The Triple Falls loop in DuPont State Recreational Forest visits three stunning waterfalls — Hooker Falls, Triple Falls,…

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William B. Umstead Lake Trail — William B. Umstead SP, NC

📍 William B. Umstead SP, Wake County

📏 5.8 miles Loop

William B. Umstead Lake Trail is a 5.8-mile loop trail near William B. Umstead SP, North Carolina, widely regarded as on…

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American Tobacco Trail — American Tobacco Trail, NC

📍 American Tobacco Trail, Durham/Chatham

Easy 📏 22.0 miles Out & Back

American Tobacco Trail is a 22.0-mile out & back trail near American Tobacco Trail, North Carolina, widely regarded as o…

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Bent Creek Experimental Forest — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Buncombe County

📏 16.0 miles Loop

Bent Creek Experimental Forest is a 16.0-mile loop trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the m…

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Catawba River Greenway – NC Section — Catawba County, NC

📍 Catawba County

Easy 📏 11.5 miles Out & Back

Catawba River Greenway – NC Section is a 11.5-mile out & back trail near Catawba County, North Carolina, widely regarded…

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Deschutes River Trail Analogue – Umstead Bike — Umstead SP, NC

📍 Umstead SP, Wake County

📏 6.4 miles Loop

Deschutes River Trail Analogue – Umstead Bike is a 6.4-mile loop trail near Umstead SP, North Carolina, widely regarded …

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DuPont State Forest – Lake Imaging Loop — DuPont SF, NC

📍 DuPont SF, Transylvania Co.

Moderate 📏 6.4 miles Loop

DuPont State Forest – Lake Imaging Loop is a 6.4-mile loop trail near DuPont SF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one …

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DuPont State Forest – Triple Falls Loop — DuPont SF, NC

📍 DuPont SF, Transylvania Co.

Moderate 📏 11.0 miles Loop

DuPont State Forest – Triple Falls Loop is a 11.0-mile loop trail near DuPont SF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one…

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DuPont State Forest MTB — Cedar Mountain, North Carolina

📍 Cedar Mountain, NC

Hard 📏 16.0 miles Loop

DuPont State Forest MTB is one of North Carolina's premier mountain biking destinations, serving up 16.0 miles of purpos…

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Kitsuma / Ridgeline Loop — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, McDowell County

📏 9.6 miles Loop

Kitsuma / Ridgeline Loop is a 9.6-mile loop trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most rew…

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Lake Brandt Greenway — Greensboro Watershed, NC

📍 Greensboro Watershed, Guilford County

📏 7.5 miles Loop

Lake Brandt Greenway is a 7.5-mile loop trail near Greensboro Watershed, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the m…

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Lake Norman State Park MTB — Lake Norman State Park, NC

📍 Lake Norman State Park, Iredell County

Moderate 📏 7.8 miles Loop

Lake Norman State Park MTB is a 7.8-mile loop trail near Lake Norman State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as one …

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Little River Regional Park MTB — Durham County, NC

📍 Durham County

Moderate 📏 10.5 miles Loop

Little River Regional Park MTB is a 10.5-mile loop trail near Durham County, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of t…

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Medoc Mountain State Park MTB — Medoc Mountain SP, NC

📍 Medoc Mountain SP, Halifax County

Moderate 📏 7.2 miles Loop

Medoc Mountain State Park MTB is a 7.2-mile loop trail near Medoc Mountain SP, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of…

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Mountains-to-Sea Trail – MST Bike Segment — Dupont/Brevard area, NC

📍 Dupont/Brevard area

📏 12.0 miles Out & Back

Mountains-to-Sea Trail – MST Bike Segment is a 12.0-mile out & back trail near Dupont/Brevard area, North Carolina, wide…

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New River State Park Ride — New River State Park, NC

📍 New River State Park, Ashe County

📏 9.6 miles Out & Back

New River State Park Ride is a 9.6-mile out & back trail near New River State Park, North Carolina, widely regarded as o…

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Pisgah National Forest MTB: North Carolina's Rowdy Singletrack Playground

📍 Brevard, NC

Hard 📏 25 miles (sample loop) Loop

Pisgah is where mountain biking gets serious. Rocky, rooty, steep, technical — and absolutely beautiful. This pocket of …

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Pisgah Trail System – Thrift Cove — Pisgah NF, NC

📍 Pisgah NF, Transylvania County

📏 14.2 miles Loop

Pisgah Trail System – Thrift Cove is a 14.2-mile loop trail near Pisgah NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of th…

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Rocky Face MTB Trails — Yadkin Valley, NC

📍 Yadkin Valley, Forsyth County

Moderate 📏 8.5 miles Loop

Rocky Face MTB Trails is a 8.5-mile loop trail near Yadkin Valley, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most re…

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Sherman Branch MTB — Catawba County, NC

📍 Catawba County

Moderate 📏 9.0 miles Loop

Sherman Branch MTB is a 9.0-mile loop trail near Catawba County, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of the most rewa…

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South Mountains State Park MTB — South Mountains SP, NC

📍 South Mountains SP, Burke County

📏 17.0 miles Loop

South Mountains State Park MTB is a 17.0-mile loop trail near South Mountains SP, North Carolina, widely regarded as one…

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Tobacco Trail – New Hope Creek Section — Durham County, NC

📍 Durham County

📏 10.0 miles Out & Back

Tobacco Trail – New Hope Creek Section is a 10.0-mile out & back trail near Durham County, North Carolina, widely regard…

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Tsali Recreation Area – Left Loop — Nantahala NF, NC

📍 Nantahala NF, Swain County

Moderate 📏 7.5 miles Loop

Tsali Recreation Area – Left Loop is a 7.5-mile loop trail near Nantahala NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of …

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Tsali Recreation Area – Right Loop — Nantahala NF, NC

📍 Nantahala NF, Swain County

Moderate 📏 8.0 miles Loop

Tsali Recreation Area – Right Loop is a 8.0-mile loop trail near Nantahala NF, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of…

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Uwharrie Trail – National Forest Ride — Uwharrie NF, NC

📍 Uwharrie NF, Montgomery Co.

Moderate 📏 8.0 miles Out & Back

Uwharrie Trail – National Forest Ride is a 8.0-mile out & back trail near Uwharrie NF, North Carolina, widely regarded a…

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Warrior Creek Trail — W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, NC

📍 W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes County

📏 15.0 miles Loop

Warrior Creek Trail is a 15.0-mile loop trail near W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, North Carolina, widely regarded as one of th…

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