FATMAP by Strava

Black Mountain Loop

Brevard

The Black Mountain Trail defines mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest—gnarly, steep, and tons of fun!

Mountain Biking Severe

Distance
20 km
Ascent
791 m
Descent
791 m
Duration
2-3 hrs
Low Point
656 m
High Point
1.3 km
Gradient
Black Mountain Loop Map

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.

Description

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/

Difficulty

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.

Medium Exposure

2 out of 4

The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between February and November

Features

  • Flow
  • Technical
  • Hike a bike
  • Road sections
  • Drops
  • Roots
  • Rock Gardens

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area