Find the top rated mountain biking trails in North Carolina, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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First time riding. Short and easy. Gravel path on last bit a little narrow and challenging to avoid walker’s. Lovely. It would be nice to finish or widen last half.
This was our first ride on a rail trail and we loved it. Not crowded at all, smooth surface and beautiful scenery.
Mostly flat, pleasantly curvy short ride while staying a night at a River and Twine little house. Short and sweet. There is clearly work in progress to extend the trail.
This is my first review on TrailLink but we have ridden many trials. I had to leave this review because this trail is SOOOO special it deserves it. 6.8 miles each way and it has it all. Bridges, train trestles, some decent hills to get your heart pumping a little bit, beautifully paved, friendly people, shaded, etc. We enjoyed this trail so much we repeated again just to make sure we we saw all the surroundings. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO HIT THIS ONE!
I’ve lived here in ILM for almost 10 years now and have been keeping an eye on the progress of this trail since I moved here. I bike from downtown to work near Mayfaire on this trail very regularly and, while it certainly has gotten better from where it started this trail still needs significant work. The sections of the trail between South College (which you will have to cross at a light through traffic) and up to the bridge at Wrightsville are fine. You’re on a separate trail and have cross-walks as needed. However, when you’re riding around downtown and after you cross the bridge at Wrightsville, you’re on roads. This is mostly okay because they can be smaller roads, but you will be on some main roads with cars going by you pretty quickly. If you’re okay with that, go for it! It really is a fun ride. But if you’re newer to road cycling or are uncomfortable with cars going quickly by you, maybe skip this one for now. Like I said, the city is working to improve this trail. It’s just not quite there yet.
If you have good wheels, you could skate this very short scenic trail.
It's beautiful and partially shaded. I am pretty new to skating but I have outdoor wheels so it wasn't too rough.
This wonderful trail now begins at the Andrew Polk State Historic Site.
I rode the entire Neuse River Trail (and a bit of the Clayton River Walk) over Labor Day 2021. I started at the Wake Forest trailhead and ended a little past mile 30 in Clayton. I'm used to riding on rail trails that while flat and easy to ride offer very few turns or elevation changes. The Neuse River Trail offers many curves, multiple small elevation changes and just one road crossing (a very quiet country road) along its almost 30 mile length. These constant changes make the Neuse River Trail an exciting departure from my usual rail trail rides.
The trail itself is entirely paved and in immaculate condition. Possibly one of the best paved trails I've ever rode on. There are mile markers every quarter mile and the trail has very clear signage to take one of the many turn offs to a parking lot, a development or even another trail.
My only criticism is that there is only one or two obvious points to get water/bathrooms/something to eat (one being Anderson Point Park). I'm sure there are more options down one of the many turn off points but it was not obvious to me from the trail. Another point of concern is trail etiquette, I did not have any close calls but many cyclists would quickly pass me (I was averaging in the low to mid-teens) without calling out sometimes around some curves. This trail will require your constant attention due to its many curves, slopes and sometimes inconsiderate riders but I found it to be one of the best rides I've taken in a long while and highly recommend this trail.
I use the bike trails in West Asheville several times a week, as they are relatively flat and run along the river. But the connections between stretches of trail can be dangerous. For example, if I want to ride from the new RAD trail toward Carrier Park, I must do so along a stretch of Amboy with no trail, nor even a road shoulder. (The only other option is to go under the bridge through French Broad Park, which is often muddy.) And if I want to continue in the RAD to Craven Street parking, I must cross the road where the trail suddenly is one way instead of side-by-side two way. Except for the stretch through RAD, a cyclist must contend with dog walkers and toddlers on tricycles. Bottom line: wear a helmet!
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