Looking to soar through the Blue Ridge Mountains? Check out our top picks for the best road and mountain biking trails near Asheville, complete with stunning views and varying levels of difficulty. All photos are our own.
Tom and I are average bikers who prefer Rails to Trails and simple, packed dirt pathways. We occasionally push our limits with more challenging trails. This post might not be for you if you are a skilled/expert mountain biker.
Best Biking Trails In Asheville Proper
Enjoy both road and mountain biking trails under 10 minutes from Downtown Asheville. Many are perfect for skating, strolling, and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Afterward, see what other activities you can do around Asheville. Then, keep scrolling to see where to bike across Western North Carolina and into the Upstate.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Located in South Asheville near The NC Arboretum and one Blue Ridge Parkway entrance, Bent Creek Experimental Forest is a massive recreational area filled with camping grounds and endless trails, growing much busier on weekends with locals. Enjoy one of Asheville’s gorgeous lakes, Lake Powhatan.
As novice to intermediate bikers, we find the Hardtimes Connector and Deer Lake Lodge Trails easier. For a more challenging but beginner-friendly ride, the 3-mile Explorer Trail offers a loop with a connector back to the road if you tire. The Ledford Trail and Wolf Branch Trail are more moderate.
Local families teach their kids how to mountain bike around the Deerfield Loop Trail and the bikable parts of the Homestead Trail, both short and easy trails perfect for younger children.
The North Carolina Arboretum
For easier and family-friendly Asheville mountain biking trails, The NC Arboretum boasts 65 acres of cultivated gardens and grounds. We’ve been Arboretum members since moving here.
For beginner bike trails, start with Bent Creek Road and its branches, including Wolf Branch Road and Old Mill Trail. Part of the Arboretum’s Hard Times Trail connects to the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. It’s a beautiful, low-key area. Pack a picnic.
If you are interested in popular and fun guided biking tours around Downtown Asheville, this popular electric bike tour takes you through Asheville’s historic landmarks and architectural gems. If you appreciate craft beer, this eclectic bike brewery crawl might be perfect for you. We love North Asheville and the Grove Park Inn, making this sunset e-bike tour another memorable option.
French Broad River Greenway & RAD Riverwalk (plus the parks when they fully reopen)
For walking, roller skating, cycling, and mountain biking trails in Asheville, head to the French Broad River Greenway, which connects Carrier and French Broad River Parks (check with the parks and rec system to see what is still temporarily closed for Helene). Enjoy a newer addition to New Belgium Brewing for a beer and food truck break, too.
Recently renovated, the RAD Riverwalk promises a scenic 10-foot-wide, 2-mile greenway with designated/separate bike lanes as well as a paved trail that follows along the French Broad River and the warehouse area. Park along Riverside Drive or Lyman Street, spy street art, and connect to the French Broad River and Carrier Parks (once fully reopened). Some parts of the riverwalk still have detours for Helene.
Biltmore Estate
One of the reasons we are Biltmore annual passholders includes access to the estate’s gorgeous 22 miles of trails. These are the most convenient and closest bike trails in Asheville, great for solo bikers or after work.
Rent bikes on the estate at the Bike Barn or bring your own. Our favorites include combining the Deer Park and the Lagoon Trails to access the Walled Gardens; we love those famous Biltmore Blooms. Both provide different vantage points of Biltmore House. Others prefer the longer Farm Trail.
More Ways To Enjoy Biltmore: Since we visit the estate multiple times a month, we have plenty of Biltmore advice, including top Biltmore Estate things to do. After a bike ride or hike, we also enjoy Biltmore’s casual dining spots like The Creamery, Wine Bar, and Cedric’s Tavern.
Our Favorite Rails To Trails Pathways Near Asheville
For safer and easier routes, these are our favorite rails to trails pathways that we regularly mountain bike, especially to get in shape and warm up for the more difficult terrain.
Thermal Belt Rail Trail
One of the best biking trails near Asheville for length and a glimpse into NC living, head anywhere between Rutherfordton and Forest City to pick up the gorgeous and well-maintained Thermal Belt Rail Trail.
Bike past industries, cemeteries, churches, trains, and homes, including charming WNC mountain cities and towns. Most of these areas have bike racks for food and drink stops in town.
Estatoe Trail (Brevard Bike Path)
Imagine mountain biking in the Pisgah National Forest and stopping at delicious craft breweries with food like Ecusta and Oskar Blues. Perfect for older riders, the Estatoe Trail has both flat, paved sections as well as more challenging, in-the-mountains portions.
We prefer to start at the Brevard Sports Complex, home to baseball fields, a dog park, restrooms, playgrounds, a skatepark, and paved trails. From here, head either north toward the Pisgah National Forest – passing an intersection for the Art Loeb Trail – or south through parts of the City of Brevard. The city sections are highly trafficked and not always the most scenic or peaceful.
Swamp Rabbit Trail
If you have time, take a road trip or even consider a Greenville overnight. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is by far one of our favorite bike trails near Asheville. Along with sculptures, a plane replica, and plenty of public parks, stop in Traveler’s Rest for food and drinks.
Pass iconic Falls Park on the Reedy and even glide by the Greenville Zoo. The Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery is a must for lunch. Because the trail is an out-and-back, pick a portion and enjoy! If you prefer a guided tour of the trail, be sure to book this electric bike adventure.
Challenging Asheville Mountain Biking Trails Under 1 Hour Away
For outdoor enthusiasts looking to take on the Western North Carolina mountains, these harder mountain biking trails are for you. We’ve hiked and biked portions of each, but parts of a few are past our skill level (like Kitsuma).
Point Lookout & Kitsuma
While we’ve talked to adventurous Kitsuma trailblazers, we’ve only tackled the Point Lookout portion (combined, the two are a loop). As a singletrack out-and-back, 7-mile Point Lookout promises a wickedly tough ascent and wildly fun descent with its gorgeous, titular vista. I wanted to vomit going up; that incline was not for me.
Kitsuma is one of the most challenging Asheville mountain trails, with a 12-mile switchback climb and extremely technical descents.
Fonta Flora Trail: We love the Old Fort area for history, food, and drink. Along Point Lookout, find yourself on the Fonta Flora Trail, a growing pathway connecting Buncombe, McDowell, and Burke Counties. It’s another great biking trail.
Old Fort Gateway Trails
The Old Fort Gateway Trails are perfect for mountain bikers seeking varying difficulty levels, including the best intermediate trails around. I won’t lie, though; Tom and I tackled the easiest “beginner” trail, and it was still challenging with those sharp and scary switchbacks. The trails are well-maintained and fast. Find on-site facilities.
Daniel Ridge Loop & Falls
If you enjoy the Pisgah National Forest and Brevard, head to Daniel Ridge Falls & Loop, a challenging 4-mile hiking and biking trail that passes a cascading waterfall. Expect roots and rocks with sharp descents. Most attempt the trial counter-clockwise. Skilled riders also mountain bike the area’s Cove Creek Trail and Cove-Daniel Loop.
DuPont State Forest
If you love Western North Carolina’s gorgeous waterfalls, DuPont State Forest promises both terrific hiking and mountain biking trails near Asheville and Hendersonville.
Bridal Veil Falls is an easy 4.2-mile, flat gravel trail ride to one filming location for The Last of the Mohicans. Many skilled bikers enjoy Ridgeline Loop, Turkey Knob Road Trail, and Wintergreen Falls Trail. The MTB WNC has a well-labeled map of the DuPont Forest biking trails.
More Popular Bike Trails Near Asheville
For even more great Asheville mountain biking trails, try:
- Fire Mountain Trails Cherokee
- Trace Ridge Trail
- Laurel Mountain
- Lake James State Park
- North Mills River
- Tsali Recreation Area
- Ride Kanuga
- Beech Mountain Resort (End of May to mid-October only)
- The Adventure Center Of Asheville: Kolo Bike Park
We’d also love to know your favorites in the comments.
Where To Get A Quality Mountain Bike
Our casual bikes quickly required upgrades for the tougher Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville Bicycle Company sells a variety of road and mountain bikes based on budget, skill, and features, including popular brands like Kona and Liv with prices ranging from $500 to over $10,000. Find road biking, mountain biking, and skiing apparel and gear. They also service and repair bikes.
Are there bike trails in this area for road bike bikes? Trails made of very fine gravel or paved?
Hi Phil, We aren’t road bikers, but you might want to look into road biking along the French Broad River Greenway, the Blue Ridge Parkway (you’ll see bikers here all of the time), and Riverside Drive (they just paved a new bike lane that’s really nice). I’ve also heard Elk Mountain Scenic Highway is good, but I cannot personally speak to that one. I hope that helps get you started.
Thank you so much for this info. Hubby and I are ready to move south and Ashville is high on our list. I was so happy to see your section on easy bike trails. He cannot walk further than 5 minutes, so the hiking trails are out for us. We are seniors with mobility challenges. We do have recumbent bikes and love our time on the (handicap accessible) pathways. AVL seems to offer several selections.
We look forward to exploring and discovering the charms of Ashville.
Thanks, Susan! My husband and I are definitely not skilled mountain bikers, but we do enjoy getting out on the trails. I think you guys might enjoy Biltmore’s trails for accessibility, but you would need to be passholders/or have tickets to access the grounds; the trail that leaves from Antler Hill Village’s parking lot to the Lagoon is wider and pretty. We are hoping to seek out more Rails to Trails that are a tad farther away soon. We just found a trail in Lincolnton, NC. The new AVL Riverwalk in the River Arts District area is gorgeous & well done, too.