Taking the High Road | Blue Ridge Mountain Biking
The breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina provide a scenic backdrop for mountain biking.|
Both seasoned road warriors and leisure riders can enjoy countless trails at nearby destinations. If you plan on taking a spin this summer, consider these hot spots for a cool ride.
Tsali Recreation Trail System
The world-famous Tsali Recreation Trail is a 42-mile matrix of multi-use trails rated as one of the top ten mountain biking destinations in the United States.
Beech Mountain Resort
Nine exciting downhill trails are served by a chairlift at Beech Mountain Resort. Trails vary from easy to extremely difficult.
The Emerald Outback
The Emerald Outback at Beech Mountain is one of the premier biking destinations in the southeast. The 8-mile trail park hosted the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships in 2013 and 2014. The tracks range from 4,700 to 5,400 feet in elevation, which make the Outback one of the highest mountain biking trail systems on the East Coast.
Santeelah Lake Trail
The Santeetlah Lake Trail is a 15-mile run that follows a number of open and gated roads along the shoreline of Lake Santeetlah offering majestic mountain lake views.
Virginia Creeper Trail
Stretching 34 miles from Abingdon, Virginia through the town of Damascus, Virginia and along the Whitetop Laurel River, Virginia Creeper Trail's highest point is at Whitetop Station near the North Carolina state line.
Photo credit: Andy Armstrong
