Singletrack Atlas No. 02  ·  Summer 2026  ·  Newland, North Carolina

Dirt, root, and
rhododendron tunnel.

mountain-biking.b3rt.dev is the empire's working atlas for singletrack in the North Carolina High Country and the broader Blue Ridge. Trail systems, EPICs, the 828 corridor, the Asheville networks, the shops, the racing tradition, the volunteers, the bench.

14 trail systems 3 IMBA EPICs 5 shops 4 stage races

01

Fourteen trail systems, one ridge

Loops first, technical systems middle, epics last. Tread is volunteer-maintained.

Avery County · Pisgah National Forest

Kelsey Ridge

Miles~7 loop Elevation3,800–4,200 ft StyleXC SurfacePacked dirt · root EffortModerate

The local's warm-up. A forested bench-cut loop on Grandfather Mountain's shoulder. Hardpack over clay-rich soil dries fast; ridable most of the year. Roots real, line choices matter — not a green trail. Multi-use: hikers, runners, equestrians.

The upper loop crosses a wet drainage that holds water for 48 hours after rain.
Watauga County · Pisgah National Forest

Rocky Knob

Miles~10 stacked loop Elevation3,400–4,000 ft StyleXC · technical SurfaceBench-cut · rock garden EffortHard

The Boone benchmark. A stacked-loop system on a single ridge above Boone. Cut by volunteers in the 1990s and rebuilt by SORBA in the 2010s. Three named gardens (Upper Bench, Mid-Staircase, Lower Chute) deliver legitimate technical descending.

Bench-cut tread holds water on inside corners. Expect mud for 36 hours after rain.
Graham / Swain Counties · Nantahala National Forest

Tsali Recreation Area

Miles~22 (4 loops) Elevation1,900–2,200 ft StyleXC · flow SurfaceHardpack · lakeshore EffortEasy–moderate

The most-ridden system in the southern Blue Ridge. Four loops on a Fontana Lake peninsula, swept by lake views and smooth hardpack. Horses Tue/Thu; bikes Wed/Sat/Sun. Cut by USFS in the 1980s; maintained by a volunteer crew ever since.

The Mouse loop (inner) is closed on Wednesdays — horse day.
Henderson County · Pisgah National Forest

Jackrabbit · Mills River watershed

Miles~15 stacked Elevation2,200–3,200 ft StyleXC · technical SurfaceRoot · rock · creek EffortHard

The southern Pisgah workhorse. Climbs from Mills River through a hardwood cove and connects to the South Mills loop, Laurel Creek, and the ridge. Old-school USFS singletrack: roots, rocks, creek crossings.

South Mills crosses Bradley Creek on a footbridge that washes out in tropical storms.
Burke County · South Mountains State Park

Brown Mountain

Miles~10 loop Elevation1,400–2,400 ft StyleXC · remote SurfaceHardpack · rock garden EffortModerate

The South Mountains' flagship loop. A forested ridge traverse with one technical rock-garden descent and a long ridge-line return. Inside a state park with hard gate hours. A fraction of Pisgah traffic.

The South Mountains gate closes at sunset and the rangers are firm.
Transylvania County · Pisgah National Forest

Heartbreak Ridge · upper Pisgah descent

Miles~6 descent Elevation5,000–2,400 ft StyleAM · technical descent SurfaceBench-cut · rock · root EffortHard

The most famous descent in the southern Appalachians. Drops 2,600 vertical feet from the Pisgah Inn ridge to the Davidson River campground, traversing every soil type and rock formation the Forest has to offer. Re-routed and rebuilt by SORBA-Pisgah volunteers.

Heartbreak is one-way downhill in shuttle season; expect 30 riders an hour.
Transylvania County · Pisgah National Forest

The Jailhouse · Brevard side of Pisgah

Miles~12 stacked Elevation2,200–3,400 ft StyleXC · technical SurfaceRoot · slickrock EffortHard

The Brevard side of Pisgah. Technical stacked loop with three named descents (Jailhouse, Horse Cove, Black Mountain). Classic Pisgah tread: root, rock, slickrock patches on the upper slopes. Black Mountain connector climbs to the ridge and runs into Bennett gap.

Upper Jailhouse slickrock is slick when wet.
Transylvania County · Pisgah National Forest

Fire Mountain · eastern Pisgah descent

Miles~8 descent Elevation4,400–2,200 ft StyleAM · technical SurfaceRock · root · slickrock EffortHard

The eastern Pisgah descent, a one-way shuttle from the forest road above Avery Creek to the Turkey Pen trailhead. Combines the upper rock-garden sections of Avery Creek with the lower root-stair sections. Rated double-black; full-suspension with 150mm or more.

Lower sections cross private land at Turkey Pen trailhead; stay on the marked trail.
McDowell County · Pisgah National Forest

The Kitsuma Trail

Miles~7 one-way Elevation2,800–4,200 ft StyleAM · point-to-point SurfaceBench-cut · rock EffortHard

The oldest purpose-built downhill trail in the eastern US. Drops from the ridge above Old Fort to the Catawba River valley with three named rock-garden sections. One-way downhill; shuttle is the standard play. Cut by USFS in the 1970s, rebuilt by SORBA-McDowell in the 2010s.

The trailhead lot fills early on summer weekends; arrive by 9 a.m.
Burke County · Pisgah National Forest

The Middle Fork · Linville gorge side

Miles~12 stacked Elevation2,200–4,200 ft StyleAM · wilderness SurfaceRoot · rock · creek EffortVery hard

The most remote ride in the High Country. Runs up the Linville River's middle drainage with five named creek crossings and a sustained climb that punishes the legs. Multi-use on paper; almost no hikers or equestrians.

Creek crossings impassable in tropical storms; the Middle Fork closes 48–72 hours after major rain.
Transylvania / Haywood Counties · Pisgah National Forest

The Pisgah trail system · the whole ridge

Miles~150 stacked Elevation2,200–6,400 ft StyleXC · AM · wilderness SurfaceRoot · rock · slickrock EffortAll

The High Country's defining singletrack network, roughly 150 miles of stacked trail from the Davidson River campground to the ridge trail. Through old-growth cove hardwoods, northern hardwood, and the open heath balds on the ridge top. A multi-day ride is the regional benchmark.

The ridge trail crosses the Parkway; road exits may be cut off in winter storms.
Henderson / Transylvania Counties · State Forest

Dupont State Forest · the slickrock playground

Miles~85 stacked Elevation2,400–3,600 ft StyleXC · AM · flow SurfaceSlickrock · hardpack EffortEasy–hard

The High Country's family-friendly system and the only place in the eastern US with legitimate slickrock. 85 miles of stacked singletrack on a state forest. Smooth hardpack on forest roads, root and rock on singletrack, slickrock on Reasonover and Lake loops.

Slickrock is slick when wet; rock holds a film for hours after rain.
02

Regional IMBA EPICs

IMBA's EPIC is permanent. The High Country holds three.

What an EPIC means. EPICs must be at least 80% singletrack, sustainable under mountain bike use, and deliver a ride that justifies the drive. Permanent and named on the IMBA roll forever. The High Country holds three of fewer than fifty nationwide.

Pisgah Stage Race courseTransylvania County · 5 stages
The defining EPIC. A five-stage point-to-point from Davidson River campground to the ridge above Pisgah Inn, 130 miles with 20,000 ft of climbing. May; 300 riders; lottery entry. Run every year since 2010.
Tsali loop complexGraham / Swain Counties · 22 miles
The most-ridden EPIC, the only one functioning as a daily ride system. Four loops on the Fontana Lake peninsula. Mouse, Thompson, Kimsey, and West loops in sequence, combined into a 22-mile day.
Pisgah-Linville traverseTransylvania to Burke · 80 miles
The longest EPIC in the eastern US. Point-to-point from Davidson River to the Linville gorge trailhead. Unsupported; riders carry everything for three to four days.
Did you know

Heartbreak was one of the first eastern US trails to earn the IMBA EPIC.

03

The 828 Trail · the regional backbone

A long-distance corridor under development connecting the High Country's systems into one rideable network.

The concept: connect the existing systems into a single long-distance corridor with feeder spurs into the towns and trailheads. Built by a coalition of SORBA chapters and regional IMBA representatives, with the goal of a continuous rideable route from the VA-NC line to the SC-NC line.

Status: ~60% on existing singletrack or USFS roads; 40% in planning or construction. Continuous from the Pisgah-Linville traverse east to Frying Pan expected by 2028.

Northern segmentAvery / Watauga
Kelsey Ridge to Rocky Knob via the Meat Camp Creek corridor and the Boone Fork trail. Mostly existing singletrack with one USFS road connector.
Central segmentWatauga / Burke
Rocky Knob to the South Mountains via the ridge trail and the Brown Mountain system. Mix of singletrack and forest road.
Southern segmentBurke / Transylvania
South Mountains to the Pisgah systems via the Linville corridor and the eastern Pisgah ridge. The most ambitious segment.
Feeder spursAll counties
Connector trails from the 828 corridor into the towns and trailheads. Boone, Newland, Old Fort, and Brevard spurs all in active planning.
Did you know

The 828 name won a 2018 community vote.

04

Asheville area networks

Asheville's stacked systems: Bent Creek, Pisgah south, Dupont east. The regional hub.

Bent Creek Experimental ForestBuncombe County · 30 miles
The Asheville workhorse. Stacked singletrack inside a USFS experimental forest. Green to blue; heavily trafficked. The place to bring a beginner.
Pisgah systems (from Asheville)Transylvania / Haywood · 150 miles
A 45-minute drive south of Asheville; the technical side of regional riding. Most regional racing tradition runs through these systems.
Dupont State Forest (from Asheville)Henderson · 85 miles
A 35-minute drive south of Asheville; the slickrock side of regional riding. The most-trafficked trails in the southern Blue Ridge.
Rich Mountain · the northern Pisgah gatewayMadison County · 12 miles
The northern Pisgah gateway, run from the Walnut Creek trailhead. Old-school USFS singletrack. The least-trafficked of the Asheville-area networks.
05

Bike shops · the local bench

Five shops anchor the network.

ShopTownSpecialtyBench workUse it for
Motion MakersAshevilleHigh-end road, mountain, gravelFull service, suspension rebuildsThe flagship Asheville shop.
The HubAsheville · Pisgah ForestMountain · custom buildsFull custom, frame-building referralsThe Pisgah community's home shop.
Liberty BicyclesAshevilleRoad · mountain · commuterFull service, fit specialistsThe Asheville all-rounder.
Foothills BicycleBooneMountain · Watauga County focusFull service, bench workThe High Country's main shop.
Old Town OutfittersOld FortMountain · Kitsuma gatewayFull service, shuttle hubThe eastern Pisgah gateway shop.

All five carry tubes, tires, chains, brake pads, and the consumables you forgot. Walk-ins during business hours; bench turnaround same-day for basic service, 2–3 days for suspension.

Did you know

The Hub in Pisgah Forest was the first US shop to offer tubeless as a standard new-bike service.

06

The racing tradition

Four stage races and one ultra. Pisgah is the regional championship.

Pisgah Stage RaceTransylvania County · May · 5 stages
The defining stage race in the southern Appalachians. A five-stage point-to-point race covering the Pisgah systems: Davidson River campground, Bennett gap, Heartbreak Ridge, Fire Mountain, and the ridge above the Pisgah Inn. Runs in May; field capped at 300; lottery entry. Run every year since 2010; one of the most demanding stage races in the US.
Shenandoah 100Shenandoah Valley, VA · September · 100 miles
The eastern ultra benchmark. A 100-mile point-to-point through Shenandoah National Park, climbing 14,000 ft over the ridgeline and finishing in Front Royal. September; field capped at 800; lottery. The eastern cousin of Leadville 100.
Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike EpicCentral PA · May · 7 stages
A seven-stage point-to-point through the central Pennsylvania state forests, 250 miles with 35,000 ft of climbing. May; field capped at 200; lottery. The toughest stage race in the eastern US.
Highland UberAsheville area · October · 60 miles
The Asheville-area ultra. A 60-mile loop starting and finishing in Bent Creek, covering Bent Creek, Pisgah, and Dupont in a single push. October; field capped at 400; first-come. The regional ultra benchmark.
Did you know

The Pisgah Stage Race course was the basis for the first IMBA EPIC in the eastern US.

07

Trail building · SORBA · the volunteers

Volunteer-built and volunteer-maintained. SORBA and its regional chapters organize the work.

Built in three waves. The first was the USFS singletrack of the 1970s and 1980s: Kitsuma, the original Tsali loops, the early Pisgah systems.

The second was the SORBA-built boom of the 1990s and 2000s: new singletrack on the existing corridors with optimized tread, switchbacked climbs, engineered descents. Jailhouse, Reasonover at Dupont, Bennett gap, and modern Rocky Knob date from this era.

The third is the current rebuilding effort. SORBA-Pisgah, SORBA-McDowell, SORBA-Watauga, and regional IMBA are working with the USFS to rebuild heavily-ridden sections, harden wet spots, and reroute eroded climbs.

SORBA-PisgahTransylvania / Haywood
The Pisgah chapter. The largest SORBA chapter in the region. Organizes workdays every weekend and runs the trail adoption program.
SORBA-McDowellMcDowell County
The Old Fort chapter. The primary maintainer of the Kitsuma trail and the eastern Pisgah systems. Runs the shuttle program that supports the trail.
SORBA-WataugaWatauga County
The Boone chapter. The primary maintainer of the Rocky Knob system and the Boone-area trails. Runs the local racing series and the annual trail day.
SORBA-FoothillsHenderson / Buncombe
The Hendersonville / Asheville chapter. The primary maintainer of the Dupont State Forest trail system. Organized the original Dupont build.
Did you know

SORBA-Pisgah volunteers have logged over 50,000 hours of trail work in the past decade.

08

The repair bench

Tough on bikes. Three jobs to know.

Replacing cables

The most common trail-side fix. Bikes run either external cables or internal routing. External cables are field-replaceable; internal needs a frame-specific kit. Carry a spare shifter and brake cable. Pisgah dust accelerates wear; replace cables every six months.

Packing bearings

Annual service, not a trail fix. Hub, bottom bracket, and headset bearings all need grease on a schedule. Dusty Pisgah calls for annual service; clean Dupont can run two years.

Tubeless setup

The High Country standard. Tubeless tires run without an inner tube, sealed to the rim with rim tape and sealant. Lower pressure for grip, fewer flats, sealant self-heals small punctures. The Pisgah rock gardens pinstripe any tire; sealant handles most strikes.

Trail kit checklist

Always carry
Multi-tool with chain breaker, spare tube, tire levers, CO2 or mini-pump, patch kit, spare derailleur hanger, zip ties, electrical tape, master link, spare cash for the shuttle van.
Trail-side repair
Spare shifter cable, spare brake cable, housing, allen set, screwdriver, chain lube, brake cleaner, rag.
Suspension service
Fork oil and shock oil for the annual lower-leg service. Schedule: every 50 hours for lower legs, every 200 for the damper.
Wheel building
Spare spokes for the common wheel sizes (28, 32 spokes for standard XC and AM). Trail-side fix: remove the broken spoke and ride out carefully.
Did you know

The Hub in Pisgah Forest pioneered the paid "tubeless conversion" in 2004.