The Real Pisgah

• This route is technically rideable most of the year, although mid-January through March you’re at risk for slippery freeze-thaw mud and potentially snow. Check the weather forecast in advance.
• Summers can get quite hot and muggy. Drink lots of water.
• Bring rain gear. This area is classified as a rainforest and there’s always a chance for some weather.
• There are black bears in the forest, so it’s always advisable to hang your food properly while camping, particularly in areas that see other campers regularly.
• The proper bike for this ride is a full-suspension trail bike, hardtail, or a rigid 29+, although it can get pretty rough with the latter. It’s definitely not doable on a gravel bike.
• There is minimal cell phone service along this route, except in a couple of high spots, such as Clawhammer Mountain, Slate Rock, and Pilot Rock. If you are riding by yourself, or even with others, it’s advisable to bring a SPOT or emergency beacon.

• There are plenty of campsites along the route. I noted several key backcountry sites, but there are many more not shown on the map.
• Hammock camping is 100% possible along this route as there are plenty of trees.
• Brevard has several different hotel options if you wish to stage your trip beforehand. Out of town visitors might also be interested in Asheville, which is about 30 minutes away and has a lots of lodging and entertainment options, as well as an airport.
• You can likely park and leave your car for a couple of days at the Hub bike shop, noted on the route. Inquire there before doing so. The Black Mountain Trailhead is another option for parking.

• There is plenty of filterable spring water along the route. Bring a reliable filter.
• There are only a couple of places where you’ll need to consider bringing water if you wish to camp up high. They are noted on the map.
• No resupply exists on route until you get back to Brevard. There are several restaurants uptown.
• You can also eat at a food truck. There is usually one parked at the Hub or Ecusta Brewing. And Oskar Blues has its own semi-permanent “Chub Wagon.”

Three-day Itinerary

Even though it’s only 100 miles long, even a three-day itinerary can be challenging. If you don’t have adequate fitness, consider doing this route in four or even five days. Here’s the three-day version I planned:

Day 1 (27 Miles / 5,000′ climbing)

After pedaling down the Ecusta Trail and skipping over to Avery Creek Road, you’ll tackle the long gravel climb on Clawhammer Road before a grueling medley of spinning and hiking up Clawhammer Mountain on the Black Mountain Trail. Take a little while to enjoy the view at the top before finishing the hike on the spine and dropping down to Turkey Pen Gap, a long backcountry singletrack trail with a couple of requisite hike-a-bikes. Once you make it to the Turkey Pen parking area, you’ll descend South Mills and cross a few hanging bridges before riding some of my favorite singletrack in the area—a tough climb up Horse Cove into Squirrel Gap. Once you drop off of Squirrel on the Laurel Creek Trail, there’s a super nice campsite before you get to Bradley Creek, a great place to forest bathe on night one.

Day 2 (37 Miles / 5,000′ climbing)

Day two starts off with some brushy singletrack down Laurel Creek before the route’s only significant water crossing. It can be knee-high at times, but it’s mostly low with the ability to scramble across on rocks. After climbing one of the more remote two-tracks in the forest, Bradley Creek Road, you’ll begin the long climb up the beautiful Laurel Mountain Trail. A tough hike-a-bike at the end leads you up to Pilot Rock were you’ll begin one of the fastest descents in Pisgah. Take precaution on its many rock gardens. You’ll split off at the bottom and traverse over toward Slate Cove before a short and stout hike-a-bike onto the Pilot Cove loop that will lead you to one of the best views in the forest, the massive Slate Rock overlook. Another heart-thumping descent from Slate Rock brings you to a long stretch of gravel on FSR 1206 before you jump on pavement for a couple miles and then back on gravel via FSR 475B and 225. From there, you’ll descend the well-worn Cove Creek Trail before another gravel climb and onto the “Long Buttered Farlow” loop that makes the figure-eight. There are a few campsite options on Butter Gap (one is marked on the map) that make a good spot for the night with plenty of water access.

Day 3 (36 Miles / 4,500′ climbing)

Finishing the climb up Butter on the morning of day three will bring you up to Gloucester Gap, where you’ll begin the long climb up to Farlow Gap for the most challenging singletrack trail in the Ranger District. Farlow is notoriously steep and technical at the top with several very big drops and moves. Walk it if you don’t feel comfortable. Once you make it through Farlow, be sure to check out the waterfalls at the bottom before jumping onto Horse Cove Road at the Fish Hatchery. From there, you’ll climb for a long while before descending Bracken Mountain Trail right into downtown Brevard. Have a beer or dinner somewhere to celebrate and then limp back to your car via the Brevard Bike Path.