Introduction
I have many favorite outdoors hobbies, but most are calm and collected hobbies. Mountain biking is the exception. Those who know the hobby/sport see it as a thrill-seeking adventure while under your own power and control. This attracted me to mountain biking. It additionally has a relatively low barrier to entry. Most beginners can spend a reasonable chuck of change once and get many years of fun without much additional investment.
This is why I got into mountain biking. I got a Trek Marlin 5 (as a gift), a helmet and I was off to the races. But one issue plagues me and other beginners: where do I go? Mountain biking is best done on purpose-built trails to maximize enjoyment and safety of those involved. So, I wrote this guide to help my fellow mountain bikers in the Charlotte region and North Carolina in general get out there!
Why Mountain Bike in NC?
I assume you might be reading this because you want to go mountain biking around the Charlotte area somewhere. For those new to the area or just haven’t gotten the chance to explore it, I want to highlight a bit about mountain biking in the North Carolina piedmont. The Charlotte region is unique in factors that make it such a great place to go mountain biking.
First, Charlotte is a larger city. That gives it the infrastructure to allow mountain biking. Bike trails need to be built and maintained. For example, great organizations like Tarheel Trailblazers pool their efforts together to build and maintain many great trails. It’s always important to acknowledge the people behind the trails that make the hobby possible.
Going to geography, the region around the Queen City is a bit of a Goldilocks zone for North Carolina. It’s not entirely flat like the coastal plains, but not mountainous like western NC. So, you get the perfect amount of thrill without the ungodly hill climbs. The weather is also respectable. Hot summers keep the trails dry, while cool winters make the sport possible in the North Carolina winter. Sure, out west in California might be cooler, but we have it pretty alright here.
What to Know Before You Go
This section will be geared towards beginners or those new to the area. I’ll cover the basics of mountain biking and considerations for mountain biking in Charlotte and around North Carolina.
First, the basics of mountain biking. If you’ve never been mountain biking before, it is essentially just off-road biking, geared towards more thrill-seeking rides. This can be large downhill sections, technical twists and turns, drops and more. All on dirt or rock trails.
The bikes themselves are more robust, with wider handlebars. The tires are fatter and knobby to grip the trail. Suspension is also found on the front fork and sometimes the rear as well. All this combined helps the rider navigate dirt and rocky trails with ease.
If you are brand new, I recommend trying the sport first before you invest. The Whitewater Center just west of Charlotte offers mountain bikes for rent to use on their trail system. This is a cheap way to experience mountain biking and see if it’s for you. Once convinced, you can start with a simple, front fork suspension bike. My Trek Marlin 5 was and still is a great beginner bike. But brands like Cannondale, Giant and Specialized also offer great options. A budget around $800-$1000 should land you a bike and give you some room left over for a solid helmet as well. Regardless of where you buy, keep two things in mind: invest in a good helmet and avoid cheap bikes from places like Walmart or Academy Sports.
Once you are ready to ride, keep the following etiquette in mind:
- Never ride muddy trails – Riding in the mud destroys trails quickly!
- Always follow the flow of traffic – The trail map at the location should indicate which way to bike.
- Pay attention to difficulty – Each trail usually features a difficulty rating, so you know what you’re signing up for.
- Be mindful of mix use trails – Exercise caution when a trail is also open to hikers or walkers.
Now, onto considerations for mountain biking in North Carolina! First, the weather features hot and humid summers with mild winters. The summers usually dry up trails quickly after the rain. But you can always get caught in a rainstorm mid-afternoon. Winter is dry normally, so you can still get out there with some layers on. Springtime is when the trails tend to stay muddy for longer, slowing down riding.
Almost all trails are in the woods. Great for keeping cool, but this adds the extra layer of dodging trees. Wildlife is tame around here; poisonous snakes like Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnake are the main animals to watch out for.
Locations to go Mountain Biking
Here’s the meat and potatoes! I have ridden at these locations except where indicated. I tend to stay on easier trails given my Trek Marlin 5, but I will mention what I have heard about your difficult trails. While these are my top spots for mountain biking in the Charlotte area, there is a ton more out there to explore.
Fisher Farm Park
This relaxed park right outside of Davidson, NC has the perfect mix of simple and difficult trails. Beyond that, the park is full of grassy, rolling hills you can ride to your heart’s content!
The main loop trail at the parking lot features a simple loop for those looking for a relaxing ride. Trails like Old Blue and Wild Hare veer off the main loop if you’re looking for some adventure. Old Blue features some rock jumps!
On the other side of Fisher Farm Park, down Allison’s Farm Access Road, is another set of crazy trails. Twisted Sister and Into the Void both feature some thrill (just read the warning sign when you enter!).
I personally have stuck to the main loop for simple rides. Being near Davidson, this place is good for me to enjoy an afternoon. When I’m down, I’ll ride on the greenway and grassy areas to take it easy.
Mountain Creek Park
Mountain Creek Park is by far my favorite spot in the area. Living in Sherrills Ford for a bit, I used to go for quick evening rides after work here. Located by Lake Norman, Mountain Creek Park features over 20 miles of mountain biking trails for all experience levels.
The best part about this park is the hard-packed clay on the trails. I, for one, hate roots and rocks, so this clay provides a quick, free-flowing experience on a single suspension bike. Beyond that, the pine trees and beautiful scenes of nature make this place a local getaway from everyday life.
I normally ride the Mountain Creek Loop in the back of the park. With the additional trails I take to get in and back, this can become a 10–15-mile ride for me. Mountain Creek Park features a central trail hub toward the back of the property. If you follow the map and flow of traffic, it’s almost like an amusement park with each new trail taking you back for more!
Beyond mountain biking, you can check out more about this park here.
Find the full-sized trail map here. You will need it!
The White Water Center
The Whitewater Center is a given for the Charlotte area. This massive facility features a sizable amount to trails to ride on, from easy to difficult. The Whitewater Center is unique in the fact that it’s truly a multi-sport place. Get bored? Go rafting, kayaking or zip lining all in one day.
This is a pay-to-play facility. At the time of writing this, it is $12 to park a normal vehicle at the Whitewater Center. I believe the cost is justified given what you have access to at the facility. Dog Leg, Rail and Gravy trails are all a few fun ones I’ve ridden for a beginner-friendly experience. Dog Leg goes around a small lake on the Whitewater Center property. Most of your beginner/intermediate trails exist on the northern edge of the facility. Your difficult trails exist near the heart of the Whitewater Center by the Catawba River.
If you have friends without a bike, this is a great place to take them. They can rent a mountain bike for the day and enjoy some light trails like Dog Leg. Once you are finished, enjoy a beer and a bite to eat or do some rafting!
Find the full-sized trail map on the Whitewater Center website
Lake Norman State Park
All the way north of Charlotte, near Troutman and Mooresville, sits Lake Norman State Park. This North Carolina state park offers a large trail system. It’s quite popular in the area with enough riding to make a day out of it.
In my experience, Lake Norman State Park has more rocks than I prefer. But that’s trail dependent. Monbo Loop was rocky from my memory, but nothing terrible. Laurel Loop as well. I personally prefer Fox and Wildlife Loop closer to the entrance of the park. Fox Loop has a thrilling section that takes you up and down a creek bed like a half-pipe. It’s usually dry as well!
Lake Norman State Park’s trails change direction based on the year (even and odd years). The trails close often due to weather or maintenance. So, it’s best to check first before heading out.
Find the full-sized trail map here.
Airline Bike Park
This is the one location I have never been to. I wanted to include it to highlight a recent investment of effort and donations by Tarheel Trailblazers. It is the “…first purpose built, full service, modern mountain bike park in the City of Charlotte proper.” Thanks to the efforts of Tarheel Trailblazers, we can continue to have great places to ride in the Charlotte area. I am not affiliated with the organization, but I want to echo their efforts on my platform.
Onto Airline Bike Park. When writing this, the park is new and not even fully open yet. It is in a soft opening phase, only allowing mountain bike riding on the weekends. Additionally, trail direction changes daily. The three main trails, Airline, Spruce Goose and Flight School are part of the Gravity Terminal. This provides an option for everyone from beginner to advanced. You might also wonder why the aviation-themed names? Well, the park is right by Charlotte Douglas International Airport!
There are more initiatives by Tarheel Trailblazer to continue to invest in the park. Read more about it here.
Find the main Airline Bike Park information page here.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Park Road Park
Located near the South Park neighborhood of Charlotte, this greenway and park combo features a handful of intermediate trails to ride. Down Little Sugar Creek Greenway is an even bigger assortment of trails. They up the ante with a difficult rating.
I have only ridden these once. They weren’t as enjoyable for me, to be honest. But that was mostly due to me being new to the sport. It’s worth another shot for me before I give them an honest rating. If you want to go easy here, I would start with Playground, Softball and North Loop on Park Road Park property.
If you ever get tired of riding, Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a great place to cruise on your mountain bike. The Greenway extends all the way to South Carolina to the south and Uptown Charlotte to the north.
Find more details about the trails here.
Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie National Forest must be my favorite place in the area. It’s a massive amount of National Forest land, open to the public for most types of recreational activities. I have done camping, kayaking, hiking and a little off-roading here. While my mountain biking was sparser, I can give a little detail on where to ride.
One camping trip, I brought my mountain bike to ride the forest roads. Most of the forest roads consist of gravel/rocky terrain. Their condition can vary, but most two-wheel drive vehicles can handle them. They are perfect for riding your mountain bike! I’ve ridden down Moccasins Creek Road by Narrows Dam. This road takes you by Moccasins Creek Falls, down to a camping area on Falls Reservoir. My word of caution is that traffic can sometime have difficulty seeing you and will kick up a ton of dust.
For a proper trail system, Woodrun Road, Supertree Trail and Keyauwee Trail are the main locations in the park. This is located on the southern end of the National Forest. To read more about these trails, visit the source here.
Read my comprehensive guide to learn more about the Uwharrie National Forest beyond mountain biking!
Conclusion
While I like to call my guides comprehensive, this isn’t the full list of trails in the area. Charlotte and the North Carolina region are home to tons of other places to ride. So, always keep on the lookout for your next great spot.
I hope you enjoy the trails out there. It’s always just great to get on the mountain bike after a long week or just in general. So, get out there and enjoy the day!
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