mountain-biking

 

 

The Piedmont Triad region is host to a fast-growing array of biking trails and areas that cater to all skill levels and abilities. Whether you want to spend the weekend exploring the vast expanse of the Uwharrie National forests, or just sneak off during your lunch break for a quick ride on some slightly more urban trails, there are plenty of options to get out and ride your bike in the area!

Kernersville Bike Park

Rich Fork Preserve (High Point)A hidden gem, tucked right in the middle of the city, Rich Fork Preserve has 2.2 miles of well marked, well maintained multi use trails packed with berms, rollers, moderately steep climbs and descents, and creek crossings. The trails are easy to access with ample parking, and great for a quick getaway into the woods. Also, there is a new phase of development coming soon, so keep an eye out for new trails here!

Farris Memorial Park (Mayodan) A great little trail system in Rockingham County, Farris Park offers a beginner friendly 1 mile inner loop as well as a more challenging 2 mile outer loop. The trails feature lots of switchbacks, stream crossings and rock gardens, all while meandering through old growth hardwood and mixed pine forests. Mayodan Parks and Recreation also offers bike rentals for a nominal fee with youth sized bikes available, making Farris Park a great place to try out mountain biking!

Kernersville Bike Park A 27 acre park located just minutes from downtown, Kernersville Bike Park offers a 3.9 mile bidirectional loop full of unique features. The main trail is great for beginner to intermediate riders, with more advanced options for experienced riders. Some of the advanced features include drops, wooden roller coaster features, and a downhill berm section. The park features a large parking lot with primitive bathrooms and a changing station. 

Country Park (Greensboro) Country Park offers several miles of cross country riding with the Copperhead and Lakeside trails, a freeride zone for more adventurous riders, and a 1.5 mile paved loop for those who like to keep their tires planted firmly on the ground. Copperhead is a more intermediate trail featuring lots of rocks, roots, climbs and descents with an optional jump line. If you want even more jumps, the freeride zone is packed full of advanced features to really test your skills with big jumps and tight berms. And if all of that is too wet but you still have the itch to get a ride in, the paved trail is a great option!

Moore’s Springs Trails (Hanging Rock) Located within Hanging Rock State Park in the northern part of the Piedmont, Moore’s Springs offers 20 miles of top tier trails with something for every skill level from the Hognose trail for beginners, all the way up to the aptly named Rattler trail for the more seasoned riders. The park is split by Moore’s Spring road, with the southern portion featuring old school hand-built singletrack, with modern machine built trails all the way up to the banks of the Dan river making up the northern section. All trails loop back to a great parking and picnic area and there are plenty more amenities including camping nearby in the main area of the state park

Owl’s Roost (Greensboro) One of the premier trails in Greensboro, Owl’s Roost offers 3.7 miles of technical riding along the scenic shores of Lake Brandt and Horsepen Creek with lots of dips, turns, and hills. It was voted best urban bike trail in the country by Bicycling Magazine all the way back in 2003 and is still in prime form 20 years later. The trail is part of Bur-Mill Park in northwest Greensboro which offers several more mellow trails and other amenities if that’s more your speed.

Uwharrie National Forest Being the only national forest area in the Piedmont, it’s no surprise that Uwharrie offers miles of trails to enjoy. The Wood Run trails offer 22 miles of mountain bike specific trails with plenty of steeps, rocks and roots, creek crossings to keep you entertained, and plenty of space for long rides. If that’s not enough, there’s plenty more multi use trails throughout the national park area. Uwharrie also offers cabin rentals, campgrounds, as well as free dispersed campsites all over the park, so it’s a great destination to stay a while and enjoy all the park has to offer!

Salem Lake (Winston Salem) If a more leisurely ride is what you’re after, the Salem Lake loop is an excellent option! The 7 mile loop offers lots of scenic views of the lake, with plenty of great spots to stop and rest along the way. The trail is wide enough for uninterrupted bidirectional traffic, and is lined with gravel to allow for riding in damp conditions. The wide well maintained trail could also be a great option for adaptive cycling equipment. Parking is available at each end of the lake, with a paved lot at the Salem Lake marina, and a small gravel lot accessible from Linville road.

Many of our mountain bike trails are meticulously maintained by volunteers for the love of the sport so it is imperative that we treat all our trails with respect. Check for trail closures before riding, never ride on wet or damaged trails, and as always, leave no trace! If you would like to volunteer to help maintain trails in the area, please contact the Piedmont Fat Tire Society.

Sam is a Regional Planner for the Piedmont Triad Regional Council and the Web Developer for NC Triad Outdoors. He is a former collegiate cyclist and frequents the mountain bike trails around the Triad. He also loves fishing on Oak Hollow Lake, hiking in the Sauratown Mountains, and riding dirt bikes on the Uwharrie OHV trails.