vespasianus

We generally go to the Brevard area and do gravel rides all in the Pisgah/Dupont area. However, looking for a change, we thought we would go farther west and selected Bryson City. I know Tsali is close and we most likely will do that with our mountain bikes.

But, we are also bringing our gravel bikes - wife not a fan of traffic on roads. Anybody know of good gravel routes that are close to Bryson City? The bike shop web sites from the area have not listed many things...

vespasianus

So yes, outside of mountain biking Tsali and Fire mountain, which are fine, but a little too manicured for me, there is nothing. A dead zone. No road riding and no gravel.

Rogerogeroge

What********** Not exactly right at Bryson City, but there’s tons of stuff around.
Road - great road riding all around, but lots of hills. You’re close to Tail of the Dragon, 311 curves in 11 miles. Just go early in the day and preferably on a weekday. And you’re close to the Cherohala Skyway which goes over 5000 ft.
Gravel - lots of options off of the Skyway.
you may have to drive an hour for to get to what I described, but it’s really prime stuff.

vespasianus

Yeah, lots of good stuff - a lot of stuff from Tellico River gorge - but that is two+ hours from me. I was looking for some gravel/ back road routes close to Bryson City - 20+ minutes max driving. Not much. Went to three bike shops, Tsali Bikes in Bryson City, Motion Maker and the cycle center in the Nantahala outpost. All said just ride Tsali and Fire mountain or head back towards Asheville and ride those trails (Berm peak).

I have been here since Saturday and have not seen a single road/gravel rider anywhere. I actually drove on the tail of the dragon - not all of it and don't think I want to ride my bike on that!

If you have some good ride with GPS routes or anything around 30-40 minutes from Bryson City - I will happily take it.

I found this that is about an hour away on ride withGPS

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43515...ev5k8YxIIxjjtb

and this from Cherokee that could be good.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42969255

Any experience with those?

pdlamb

It may push your definition of "close" a little bit, but you might look at the Heintooga spur of the Blue Ridge Parkway NE of Cherokee. I think there are a couple loops you can ride, parking at the Oconaluftee visitor center, climb 5-8 miles (next to no traffic on an early weekday morning), and then down either Bunches Creek Rd. or Heintooga to Balsam Mountain Rd. and back into Cherokee. No personal experience with either (I stayed on the road!), so please report back with any findings!

vespasianus

Thanks. That is not too far. Going to try route around that!