Best Rides in WNC

Choose a ride from the list below!

1. Boyd Branch Loop

2. Single Track Sampler

3. Flat Laurel Creek

4. Bent Creek-The Top

5. Picklesimer Fields

6. Fletcher Creek

7. Tsali's Left and Right Loops

8. Laurel Mountain

9. Black Mountain

Best Rides in WNC

Laurel Mountain

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View the topographic map of this ride

• Most Difficult (about a 2400' climb total)

• Length: 14 miles

• Trails/ Roads: Laurel Mountain, Laurel Mountain Connector, Pilot Rock, FR 1206

• Loop, singletrack and gravel road

• Start: parking area just past Yellow Gap on FR 1206. How to get there: from Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east. Take Asheville Airport exit, go south (right) on NC 280. Just past intersection with NC 191, make a right at the stoplight onto North Mills River Road and follow signs to the North Mills River Campground. The road turns gravel here, and the trailhead parking area is 3.5 miles past the campground, just over the gap. Park here.

Ride out of the parking pulloff uphill onto the Laurel Mountain trail.  This 2000' climb begins as a gradual, narrow one along the steep slopes of Black Mountain, an extension of Laurel Mountain's main ridge. There are some very technical spots.  At mile 2.6 is Rich Gap, and there's a huge log across the trail. A faint trail goes right; keep going straight to start gradually up Laurel Mountain itself. The trail passes through several gaps, and gets a little steeper after each one.Watch for bees, they seem to like the sunny, warm forests on the south side of Laurel Mountain. At mile 3.8 the trail passes by a neat rock cave. At mile 5.4 is Good Enough Gap, and there is a connector trail to the left that leads down to the Pilot Cove/Slate Rock trail. Keep right to begin an incredibly steep uphill section that will make even the best of us get off and push. After achieving the ridge, the trail will go downhill some, into the beautiful, grassy, open Turkey Spring Gap. Another short climb through grass and galax will take you to the unsigned intersection with Laurel Mountain Connector trail (mile 6.5). Make a left here. This is a short but technical climb, the end of which marks the highest point on the ride and the intersection with the Pilot Rock trail, elevation about 4880', at mile 6.9.  Check your brakes and make a left here to begin a two and a half mile, 1600' vertical drop downhill.  It is very rocky and steep, with many sharp switchbacks. Boasting incredible views, the trail passes right over huge rock outcroppings and above cliffs on its violently bumpy journey down to the valley far below. Further on, there is one section of trail that is extremely difficult and technical, with huge boulders everywhere. Past this the trail gets less rocky and there are many waterbars. Near the bottom, at about mile 9 1/2, you'll intersect an old logging road, go straight across.  After crossing the upper reaches of Bradley Creek on a small log bridge you will intersect FR 1206, mile 9.6.  Make a left here. This gravel road is very scenic, fast, and fun as it drops along Bradley Creek. Watch for vehicles. It then  follows a tributary, Yellow Gap Creek, upstream for a moderate climb. There have been landslides in this area, making some impressive scars in the mountainside.  This climb will then bring you back to the starting point, mile 14.0.