You will pass the dam and spillway and continue toward Lake Powhatan. The Bent Creek area is shown in large scale - good for the dense trail network in the area. If you need a water bottle refill, a fountain is available at the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area campground. Several creek crossings and plenty of beginner to intermediate and some crazy nice downhill sections. Bent Creek's watershed contains a collection of trails for all kinds of hikes, for those suitable to beginners and families to those more amenable to advanced hiking groups. Use the Deerfield Connector to get to Small Creek Trail, where you'll finally take a left. US Forest Service Maps. You can go through the Arboretum and hang left, or take Bent Creek Ranch Rd. Hope this helps someone. The West Crystal Line / Mountain Road Loop was the first outing that we were able to complete as a family. Then head down Ingles (which you probably climbed) for a decent just as fun as GL but is often over looked. What a blast! From the trailhead, head up the road about 300 feet to the smaller parking lot on the right. Company   It’s important to tread lightly here, as the primary focus of Bent Creek is forestry research and study, not recreation; continued recreational trail access is contingent upon our stewardship. Good mix of trails. I recommend Motion Makers. From the bottom of Green’s Lick trail, you have options: Option A: If you’re short on time but want more climbing and another high-speed descent (who wouldn’t? I've only ridden here a couple times, because usually when I make the trek to NC, it's to ride in Brevard. These trails are well-maintained and well-signed, however, and it’s hard to get too lost as long as you have a map. RED ROCK ENTRANCE: It costs $15 per carload to enter this loop, and reservations are required after 8AM, so we have to be in before then. Lots of reddish clay and rolling downhills. Bent Creek is a good intro to Pisgah. Hang a left onto this loop and follow around clockwise to the Pine Tree Loop #336, which you'll take to the right. If it's been raining a lot best to stay off otherwise drains well and lots of fun. However, it can be challenging to link all the trails into a good route and the maps don't help. Bent Creek is the go-to trail system for the greater Asheville area, and with the deeply-ingrained mountain bike culture in the Asheville/Brevard area, and Western North Carolina in general, Bent Creek sees a ton of traffic. Follow the Explorer Loop trail until it dead-ends at Cold Knob Road (FS 479H), then take a left and climb the gravel. Make sure to do Greens Lick down then take a LEFT to climb back to 5 points. Best Bike Trails | Likewise, please do not ride these trails when they are soft from precipitation or freeze-thaw, as Pisgah Area SORBA already has enough trail work to keep its volunteers busy in the Pisgah National Forest itself! I prefer to get to the top climbing Ingles field Gap for a more gradual ascent. Was mostly just gravel road, Lots of rocks on a steep downhill. It’s a great place for newer riders to build skills and fitness before venturing onto more difficult terrain. If you take gravel back to your car from here, the full ride will be 14-15 miles (depending on parking area). 1110 Bent Creek Loop , Fort Myers, FL 33916-1354 is currently not for sale. The Bent Creek trail map can be slightly intimidating, with its dense snarl of at least 24 named trails intersecting dozens of forest roads. Green's Lick is not to be missed if you ride here. ), hang a left onto Sidehill (TR 145), then climb Little Hickory Top (TR 136) back up to Five Points. It’s also frequented by hikers and trail runners, so please remain aware of your surroundings and be prepared to yield to both climbing riders and other trail users, especially near the Lake Powhatan campround. Nestled between the North Carolina Arboretum and the Pisgah, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Bent Creek Experimental Forest hosts a fun and convenient network of trails on the southern flank of Asheville. You may also park at either Ledford or Hard Times and take the Deer Lake Lodge connector over to the same spot. Parking was thick on a Saturday around 8:30am , but was very worth while coming out here today. Hang a left onto this loop and follow around clockwise to the Pine Tree Loop #336, which you'll take to the right. Use the Deerfield Connector to get to Small Creek Trail, where you'll finally take a left. The Hard Times trailhead is the most popular and often fills up completely. 4 Bent Creek Loop B Harvell, Edmund Randolph Harvell and one other resident. If you're looking for a climbing challenge and/or some killer high-speed descending, the place to go is definitely towards the ridge. Plenty of Gravel roads though, A: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm8_050251.pdf. Best MTB Gear | The rock is a shale type sharp rock. Pretty easy to find your way around. The 1,076 sq. The San Ramon Cross Valley Trail is a great beginner trail for walking, running or riding bikes. It's located a mere 20 minutes from downtown Asheville, and is more beginner-friendly than the nearby Pisgah trails. Established in 1925, it is the oldest experimental forest in the Eastern United States. Stop off at the bike shop, they have an excellent map of the forest. Green’s Lick/Ingles Field Gap Loop Location : Bent Creek, NC, in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, 12 … But that's just me. Only the first short segment has any difficulty. I generally don't like Bent Creek for beginners because it's so busy and it's easy to have user conflicts. In this vlog I’ve arrived in Asheville, North Carolina and explore the Mountain Biking in Kitsuma, Fletcher Creek and Bent Creek all while eating some amazing food at Biscuit Head and Farm Burger. This home was built in 1999 and last sold on 2/12/2015 for $67,000. Green’s Lick Loop (intermediate, 11-15 miles, +2000 feet of climbing):  Park at Rice Pinnacle trailhead and start at the bottom of Wolf Branch (TR 666). So bring a map! If you’re riding with kids or need to cut your ride short, you can skip this climb and upper parts of the Explorer Loop by going left on Alt Explorer (337A); otherwise, continue up the road until you see 337 and climb to the very top of the Explorer Loop. Meet a group of 3 locals and we went to the top of a mountain (very advanced), and literally FLEW down! AWESOME first ride here today! Aside from that, I rode 75% of the trails like a bat out of hell. This loop uses a combination of trails and pathways to create the loop. It was built in 1995. Really, how many offshoots of FSR 479 can there be?? Some short climbs but no shame in walking when you old and fat like me. Bent Creek is located in the northern tip of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. -82.623174, Live like an Asheville local whenever, wherever, Outdoor destinations + local stories & exclusive outdoor events. For a list of all the trails in that area, see the Bent Creek trails list page. On a trip from NY to FL and hit this on the way. Obviously many others feel differently. 1159 Bent Creek Loop , Fort Myers, FL 33916-1361 is currently not for sale. It's a really nice group and the pace is real easy. Plotted with the plotaroute.com route planner. Green's Lick is the widely-renowned descent, and if you're riding here, you have to ride it! Support Us | If your in Asheville area, don't miss this. If you take it at speed (hard not to) be prepared for a thrilling, yet bone rattling experience.. Rocky sections with moderate sized jumps and high berms. 28806 With about 30 miles of mountain bike trail (and many more miles of gravel forest road) a mere 20 minutes from downtown Asheville, it’s a great in-town alternative for cyclists not wishing to travel far. There are several different trailheads and ways to access the trail, and many weekends all of the trailheads are all filled to overflowing. Widgets, Explore   MTB Podcast | Bent Creek Experimental Forest is, without question, the most popular destination for Asheville mountain biking. From here, turn left onto Homestead #333.After 0.6 miles, turn left onto the Deerfield Loop #335.Take Deerfield Loop #335 for close to a mile then turn left onto Pine Tree Loop #336. Awesome trail in the Asheville area. These segments include Deerfield Loop, Explorer Loop, Homestead, Lower Sidehill Trail, Pinetree Loop, and others. There are no surprises past this point and I max my top gear every time. A good mix of beginner & expert trails. 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