Gravel routes near Bryson City, NC
#1
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Gravel routes near Bryson City, NC
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...
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...
#2
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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.
#3
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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.
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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.
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.
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?
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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!
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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!