Henderson County North Carolina Bike Trails

Black Mountain Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 9.8 miles Rating: Strenuous
Most of the trail is overlapped by the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which is marked by a white dot. Numerous trails intersect Black Mountain; check your map for loop opportunities. The first mile of this trail is fairly easy, but after leaving Thrift Cove, it climbs up and over Little Hickory Knob, an 800-foot elevation gain in less than a mile. From here, the trail becomes more moderate as you drop down to Pressley Gap then up the shoulder of Black Mountain. Shortly after crossing the gravel road at Buckhorn Gap, you will come to Buckhorn Gap shelter, where there is a spring. From here, the trail climbs Soapstone Ridge, which offers nice views in the winter. The trail ends at Club Gap.
Directions: Black Mountain Trail begins at the end of the parking lot next to the Pisgah District Work Center on U.S. Highway 276. The work center is 0.1 mile south of the ranger station.

Bradley Creek
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 5.0 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
This trail winds through fields and streams in Pisgah National Forest.
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

Fletcher Creek
Length: 2.4 miles Rating: Easy
Trails in this area combined with gated forest roads provide multiple loop-riding opportunities. Routes are marked with signs and different colored blazes. Trails are shared with mountain bikers, horses and hikers.
Directions: This trail begins from Trace Ridge Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, follow FR 5000 (Wash Creek Road) about 1.5 miles north from North Mills River Campground. Turn left across low concrete bridge and continue .5 mile to parking area. Parking is available for several horse trailers. Trailhead may be crowded on weekends.

Horse Cove Gap
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 1.2 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
A connector trail that joins long loops.
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

Laurel Creek
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 1.8 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
This trail follows Laurel Creek through a hardwood forest.
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

Middle Fork
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 1.8 miles Rating: Easy
This trail follows an old railroad grade through fields with lots of opportunity to view local wildlife. Trails in this area combined with gated forest roads provide multiple loop-riding opportunities. Routes are marked with signs and different colored blazes. Trails are shared with mountain bikers and hikers.
Directions:
This trail begins from Trace Ridge Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, follow FR 5000 (Wash Creek Road) about 1.5 miles north from North Mills River Campground. Turn left across low concrete bridge and continue .5 mile to parking area. Parking is available for several horse trailers. Trailhead may be crowded on weekends.

Mullinax Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 1.2 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. This old logging road connects to many trails.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

Pilot Cove-Slate Rock Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 4.3 miles Rating: Moderate
This trail begins by following Slate Rock Creek. This is an easy to moderate grade with several stream crossings. Slate Rock Creek is typical of mountain streams with small cascades and an abundance of mosses and ferns.
The trail leaves Slate Rock Creek after almost three miles and climbs up Slate Rock Ridge. Here, at the gap, the Pilot Cove Loop intersects to the left. Continue straight ahead and the trail will descend to Pilot Cove. You will pass through some open, grassy fields before crossing the creek. You will cross the creek again, then pass the other end of Pilot Cove Loop. Shortly thereafter you will return to FS Road 1206. A left turn onto the road will bring you back to the start, after 1.5 miles. Many hikers opt for a car switch.
Blaze: Blue
Directions: Follow U.S. Highway 276 north from the Pisgah Ranger Station for 11.5 miles then turn right onto FS Road 1206. Go about 7.5 miles to the concrete bridge that crosses Slate Rock Creek. The trail begins on the left next to the creek.

Riverside Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 4.0 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
This trail features an easy grade with some river crossings.
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

South Mills River Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 12.0 miles Rating: Strenuous
Though this trail is on a relatively easy grade, there are nine bridgeless river crossings, thus the "most difficult" rating. There are numerous intersections with other trails for loop opportunities.
From the end of FS Road 476, hike 4 miles to Wolf Ford, where there is a nice campsite. There is a suspension bridge for hikers, but from here to Cantrell Creek there are no bridges. You will notice signs of the old railroad for the length of the trail. Look for old trestles at stream and river crossings. Due to the trail location at the bottom of a steep valley, it remains cold in the winter, but is very refreshing in the summer. Between Cantrell Creek and the Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead there are suspension bridges for hikers to cross.
Directions: You may begin from either the Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead at the end of FS Road 297, off of Highway 280 near the Transylvania/ Henderson County line, or from the end of FS Road 476 in the Pink Beds area. (Horse trailers should not go beyond the loop campsite on the right on FS Road 476 because there is no turn around at the end.)

Spencer Branch
Length: 2.3 miles Rating: Moderate
Trails in this area combined with gated forest roads provide multiple loop-riding opportunities. Routes are marked with signs and different colored blazes. Trails are shared by mountain bikers Horses, and hikers.
Directions: This trail begins from Trace Ridge Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, follow FR 5000 (Wash Creek Road) about 1.5 miles north from North Mills River Campground. Turn left across low concrete bridge and continue .5 mile to parking area. Parking is available for several horse trailers. Trailhead may be crowded on weekends.

Squirrel Gap
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 7.5 miles Rating: Moderate/Strenuous
This is a very popular backcountry area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Directions: Most trails connect to the South Mills River Trail, which begins at the end of FR 476 and at Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead. From US 276, turn onto FR 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) near Pink Beds Picnic Area. Turn right onto FR 476 and go about .7 mile and park in roadside campsite on right.

Trace Ridge
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 3.1 miles Rating: Moderate
Trails in this area combined with gated forest roads provide multiple loop-riding opportunities. Routes are marked with signs and different colored blazes. Trail is shared by mountain bikers, horses, and hikers.
Directions: This trail begins from Trace Ridge Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, follow FR 5000 (Wash Creek Road) about 1.5 miles north from North Mills River Campground. Turn left across low concrete bridge and continue .5 mile to parking area. Parking is available for several horse trailers. Trailhead may be crowded on weekends.

Turkey Pen Gap Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 5.5 miles Rating: Strenuous
This is one of the most challenging trails on the Pisgah District, but is also one of the most pristine. Be prepared to cover a series of steep ascents and descents along the entire length of the trail. The trail follows the top of a ridge.
The trail begins at Turkey Pen Gap and climbs steeply up to the top of Sharpy Mountain. If you survive this climb, you will most likely finish in good shape. An intersection with Wagon Road Gap Trail provides a loop hike when combined with South Mills River Trail. This trail ends at the Black Mountain Trail. Plan to carry any water you will need, because most of the trail is on a dry ridge.
Blaze: Blue
Directions: From the ranger station take Highway 276 south to Highway 280. Travel east on 280 about four miles to the Transylvania/Henderson County line and turn left onto FS Road 297. Follow FS Road 297 to the end. Trail begins from the parking lot. (This trailhead has limited parking.)

Vineyard Gap Trail
Pisgah National Forest
Length: 3.3 miles Rating: Moderate
The trail climbs moderately to the ridge top of Forge Mountain. In the fall and winter, you'll enjoy some nice views.
Begin from the trailhead at a set of steps. Be sure to follow the paint blazes, because some unmaintained side trails intersect. From Forge Mountain the trail makes a sharp turn and drops steeply to the South Mills River, which must be forded. A short side trip downstream will bring you to an old home site, which still has the remains of the foundation. From the South Mills River crossing the trail is easy, though you must ford Bradley Creek three times. The last section of trail is also open to horses. The trail ends at Bradley Creek Trail, the site of an old iron forge. Some nice campsites are along both South Mills River and Bradley Creek.
Directions: Begin from Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead at the end of FS Road 297. To reach this trailhead, take Highway 280 to the Transylvania/Henderson County line and turn northwest onto FS Road 297. It is a 5-minute drive to the end.