Riding Western North Carolina
As Covid hit NYC in early March my wife and I lasted two weeks in our NYC apartment. Both of us were on conference calls all day, and it wasn’t working out. We had the benefit of family outside of Asheville, NC in a small town - Black Mountain. We’ve spent 8 years traveling to Black Mountain and it has been a great place for riding. Below are a few of my favorite routes and attempts to explore the area.
Weekday Flows
Point Lookout to Old Fort
The ride out from Black Mountain to the top of Point Lookout is roughly four miles. It’s then a four mile descent down into Old Fort. The ride is perfect for two solid intervals (one out of town and one back into town). The ride has incredible views and looks especially beautiful in the evenings - you can see how mountains got their “Smokey Mountains” name.
BeeTree Road
If I only have an hour to ride, I love this short route with minimal climbing. The ride out along Old 70 and Swannanoa River Road provides a great view of the Greybeard Range. Beetree Road is typically absent of cars, and the descent back down from the reservoir provides ample speed so you can grind it out in your biggest gears.
Riceville Out and Back
Similar to my Beetree Road route, Riceville also has a great short out and back. Bull Creek Road provides a view of the Blue Ridge Parkway and scenic farm country. This route also takes you out past Warren Wilson College.
Mid-Distance Weekenders
Old Fort Extended Loop
If I’m not looking for a big climbing day I only really have two options:
Head in towards Asheville to ride along the river (I’ll post a few of these in another Rides of WNC post)
Head down into Old Fort via Point Lookout
I definitely prefer to head towards Old Fort - less traffic and better views of the mountains. I ride through Old Fort and do a loop out in the country. The ride down to Old Fort has become even better with the new addition of the Kitsbow Ride House and Hillman Beer.
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
The ride up to the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center was my first big climb in the Carolinas. The only previous climbing experience I had was in the North Georgia Mountains at 6Gap. My first journey up to the visitor center was on my first road bike, a used Giant Defy. I’ve upgrade my equipment and I’m now in better shape which makes this ride even more fun. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a fairly even grade of 4-6% with only one small section cutting close to 8% just as you get on the road in Swannanoa. Typically when I start this ride in b/w 7-8am the Blue Ridge Parkway is free and clear of cars. You can often see bears along your climb early in the morning. The only major drawback of this climb can be the cloud cover / fog. If you summit around 11 the fog has typically burned off leaving incredible views. The ride back from the visitor center is nearly all down hill and not technical.
Town Mountain Road Loop
Town Mountain Road is the closest access point to the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville. As a result it is an incredibly popular cycling route. It is a steep road filled with beautiful homes with even better views. I prefer to ride onto the Blue Ridge Parkway in Swannanoa and then down Town Mountain Road into Asheville.
Leg Shattering Days
Mount Mitchell Loop
My namesake route. I do this loop, or at least an out and back, nearly every visit to Black Mountain. That’s amounted to roughly once a year for the past 4 years. Since I’ve been in Black Mountain a few months I’ve done it three times this year, not quite enough to be the Strava Local Legend. The views along the Blue Ridge Parkway are incredible - the last climb up to the summit off the Blue Ridge Parkway is quite grueling. If you’re Phil Gaimon you make it look easy when you take the KOM at half my fastest time. I have ridden this loop going both directions. I prefer the route west (through Asheville) because the climbs are steeper on the Marion / 80 side. Also - on the return you can get yourself over 50 mph while on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the descent down 80 can’t be beat.
Burnsville Loop
I did this ride once, not sure I’ll do it again. I put this together to achieve three goals:
Ride around the entire range of mountains that make up the Asheville Watershed.
Get a lot of distance without a ton of elevation, but that’s hard to do unless you ride along the river (I need to try riding to Marshall or Hot Springs)
Ride the descent on 80 from the Blue Ridge Parkway into Marion (just my luck that I rode over 80 miles only for it to start raining as I started the descent)
The one thing I didn’t realize until after I did the ride… the peak at mile 54 is over a 20% grade.
To Be Continued
There are a lot more rides to write about. I’ll be following up with more rides (maybe some hikes too)!
Road routes to Marshall and Hot Springs, Highway 9 and Bat Cave Road
Gravel road routes around Bent Creek, Curtis Creek, Jarrett Creek, and the South Toe River
Hiking WNC
NYC based rider working in Product. Predominantly road, but starting to dabble into Gravel and CX. Beer connoisseur and cat daddy.
Instagram: @mitchell_napolitano
