1.8 km away
Avery Creek -> Headwaters Gravel Loop
A go-to gravel ride near Brevard and a great intro to Pisgah National Forest.
Easy Mountain Biking
- Distance
- 37 km
- Ascent
- 670 m
- Descent
- 670 m
The Black Mountain Trail defines mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest—gnarly, steep, and tons of fun!
Mountain Biking Severe
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.
The loop shown here is classic Pisgah: grind up a long dirt road/doubletrack for a long time (possibly hours). Pick up a gnarly singletrack trail in the middle of nowhere that, of course, doesn't go straight down, but goes up and down along its length, with some brutal hike-a-bikes mixed in.
But then comes the reward: an epic, brutally-gnarly descent filled with root drops that can easily surpass 3 feet, trenched-out singletrack eroded into the ancient mountains, and more rocks and roots of all kinds than you can possibly process while bombing downhill at 30mph.
Parts of lower Black Mountain have been maintained in recent years to combat the ongoing erosion, making the trail more sustainable and simultaneously, less technical. Reducing the technicality only increases the flow, so while some diehard locals decry the recent maintenance, newcomers to the trail will only realize just how freaking fun this descent is.
Sources: http://www.pisgahareasorba.org/2010/04/the-big-m-intermediate/
Severe
Widely variable, narrow trail tread with steeper grades and unavoidable obstacles of 15in/38cm tall or less. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. Ideal for advanced-level riders.
1.8 km away
A go-to gravel ride near Brevard and a great intro to Pisgah National Forest.
Easy Mountain Biking
1.8 km away
A longer, more challenging alternative to the traditional Avery Creek/Headwaters Loop.
Easy Mountain Biking
2.9 km away
Bennett Gap is renowned as one of the most technical—and most fun—descents in the Pisgah National Forest.
Extreme Mountain Biking
4.3 km away
A fast, chundery descent without the death-defying character of most Pisgah trails.
Severe Mountain Biking
5.7 km away
Flowy but steep singletrack rideable from downtown Brevard.
Difficult Mountain Biking
8.7 km away
A new-school flow trail loaded with berms and jumps.
Moderate Mountain Biking
8.7 km away
An epic loop featuring some of Pisgah's most remote trails.
Severe Mountain Biking
9.7 km away
Widely regarded as the most technical, challenging trail in Pisgah National Forest.
Extreme Mountain Biking
9 routes · Mountain Biking
3 routes · Mountain Biking
8 routes · Mountain Biking
24 routes · Mountain Biking