Dark Mountain Trail:
North Carolina
Trail Map
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Description:
The Dark Mountain Trail is a network of mountain biking trails at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir that is drawing rave reviews from local riders and positive notice nationally. "Kerr Scott Lake is positioning itself to become a destination mountain biking area," raves the International Mountain Bicycling Association's (IMBA) autumn 2003 issue of Trail News.

The Dark Mountain area above W. Kerr Scott Dam now boasts approximately five miles of mountain biking trails.

The trail's toughest climb comes at the start, as the jeep road makes a steep ascent to the top of the ridge. Don't get discouraged; most of the singletrack trails atop the ridge aren't nearly this steep.

The payoff for the opening climb is an awesome view. Three wooden decks atop the ridge offer expansive, bird-like looks at the lake and the Brushy Mountains.

The trail network features loop after loop of singletrack trail rolling through a mature forest with tall poplars and pines. You'll roll through a rhodendron tunnel, dip past an old homestead, skirt the edge of a pony pasture and cruise past a finger of the lake on the trails.

The new trails are well drained. A visit just a few days after a big rain revealed miles of bone-dry singletrack. The few muddy spots to be found were on the jeep road, not the new singletrack trails. The trails were designed to be durable in wet weather, employing techniques taught by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

The new trails are also well groomed, with just a few rooty spots -- perfect for a fast spin through the woods. You'll find a few short, steep climbs and soaring descents along with a lot of fairly level riding along the ridgetop.

The trail network features several jumps, including a log pyramid ramp in an easy section of loop 8, the Pony Trail. If you're not into daredevil stunts, don't worry. The jumps are easily avoided by staying on the main trails.

The ride from the ridgetop ends with a tricky singletrack descent back to the lakeside. Riders wanting to avoid this downhill can descend using trail 1, the jeep road.

Navigation tip: To find your way around the maze of trails atop the ridge, check out the Dark Mountain Trail Map. You can get a copy at the W. Kerr Scott Visitor Center or at Cook's in West Park North in Wilkesboro.

There are no facilities atop the ridge so bring plenty to drink. The nearest flush toilets are located in W. Kerr Scott's Visitor Assistance Center opposite the dam.
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Parking & Trail Access:
The multi-use Dark Mountain Trail system begins at the edge of the large field with parking at the north end of W. Kerr Scott Dam, off Hwy 268 west, aproximately 3 miles west of U.S. 421 in Wilkesboro. The main trail, a doubletrack jeep road, runs up a forested ridge and across the top. A network of interlocking singletrack trails loops off the jeep road.
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Seasonal Restrictions:
Open year round, weather permitting. Gate hours are posted at the Dam. You must park outside the gate if you will be on the trail after hours.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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New Map
By Dwight Levi on May 27, 2004
"These trails keep getting better!

A link to an up-to-date map (pdf) of the trails at Dark Mountain is on the BMCC web site, http://brushymtncyclists.tripod.com/. ""Adobe Acrobat Reader"" is needed see and print this map. It is a free download at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Maps are also available at the W. Kerr Scott Dam visitors center.

Throw away your old maps! The new maps have a new number sequence that is more user friendly. Markings on the trail have been changes to match the new map. For example, the core trail is now marked ""C"" (previously ""1""). The Entrance Trail, the new favored route up to the ridge, is marked ""1"".

Other notes:

Ride #3 is a loop that most ride clockwise so they don't miss the Rhododendron Tunnels.

#4 can be used to bypass most of the Snake Loop,""5"", down to the Homestead at Fish Dam Creek in poor riding conditions or if the ride down to the Homestead and up the Snake just isn't in your preferred ride route.

There is a ""connector"" portion of the #8 trail if you want to skip the #9 Lake Loop. If you do you will miss a ""laugh out loud"" downhill and a strenuous ride back up to the ridge. (The downhill is worth the ride up.)

#10, a spur trail to the highest overlook, is ""out of sequence"". There are a number of ways to incorporate it into your ride.

Thanks again to the volunteers that have given their time to the trails at Dark Mountain.

Be safe. Enjoy the ride."
Awesome Trail System
By Matt on December 24, 2003
"This trail system is awesome. There are plenty of challenging climbs, log piles, a couple of North Shore style tree rides, nice downhill sections and some newly incorporate jumps on the Over Mountain Victory trail section. I highly recommend this trail to anyone. I would also recommend not riding anything over a 35lb bike on this trail due to the climbs."
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