Gravel Bike Guide Haywood County

Transcription

1 Gravel Bike Guide Haywood County Haywood County is an ideal place for bicycling on gravel roads, because 37% or 129,994 acres of Haywood County is federal property, including portions of the Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Much of the Pisgah National Forest is managed for recreation and timber. An elaborate network of gravel roads is maintained by the National Forest to allow access for timber harvesting and recreation. This provides a great benefit to anyone seeking bicycling opportunities away from busy paved roads. There are two primary areas within the national forest for gravel road cycling in Haywood County. These include the Harmon Den / 12 Mile Strip Area and the Sunburst area. Two nearby areas outside of Haywood County that are notable for gravel road riding are the Heintooga area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Mills River / Pink beds area of the Pisgah National Forest. Attached are brief overviews of each area including some rudimentary maps and suggested rides. Best Riding Season and Weather: Gravel road riding is possible anytime of the year. Winter rides provide amazing views and the best days are when it is cold and the roads are frozen. Beware of mud or soft roads in the Spring and warmer winter days. Fall is typically the driest time to ride and often the best season. The advantage of Summer riding is that many of gravel rides provide excellent shade and a cooler place for long ascents. Do I need a gravel specific bike? No! Any mountain bike, cycle-cross and many touring bikes are perfect for most gravel roads. Gravel specific bikes are certainly nice, but not a requirement. Ideally your tires will be 38C or 1.5 inch wide or wider. A 700c or 29er wheels are nice but many people ride 26 inch mountain bike wheels. Most gravel rides will include roads that usually have a steeper grade than the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most mountain bikes will have a wide enough gear range for anything you will find. 1

2 Ride Guide for Harmon Den / 12 Mile Strip Area The area of Haywood County with the highest concentration of gravel roads is in the Harmon Den and 12 mile strip area of the Appalachian District of the Pisgah National Forest. The two primary roads in the area are FS288 (12 mile road) and FS148 (Cold Springs Road). Both offer possible loops and out-and-back rides. They are easily accessible by exit 7 (Harmon Den) on Interstate 40. The 12-mile strip area is also adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which includes the excellent Mountain Sterling Road (old NC 284) that runs from Cove Creek Gap near Cataloochee Valley to Big Creek in Tennessee. This road was built in the 1930s and is well maintained by the GSMNP and USFS. General National Forest Website: Appalachian District: Good maps are difficult to find for this area. The best I have found is the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. The FS Maps and Google maps are not accurate. Attached is a photocopy of this area with two routes highlighted. 12 Mile Road to Mount Sterling Road Route Distance: 21.5 Miles (Round-trip) Elevation Change (estimate): 3,345 feet Park near the bottom of the ramp at exit 7 off of I-40 west. I recommend parking on the Harmon Den Side of I-40. This road receives more traffic and your vehicle should be safer given the higher likelihood of people passing by. Follow USFS Road 288 underneath I-40 and ford the Dry Pigeon River for miles to Mount Sterling Road (Former NC 284). Return by same route. 2

3 Highlights: At mile 4.6 (estimate) there is a small trail to the right of the road that goes down to an overlook. This offers a spectacular view of the Pigeon River Gorge and I-40. Warning: Be careful with cycling shoes on the rocks. There are no guardrails or safety measures in place to prevent you from falling. Alternate additions to this route: Option #1 From the junction with Mount Sterling Road turn left and ride uphill 2.6 miles uphill to Mount Sterling Gap. Option #2 From Mount Sterling Gap there is a steep gated USFS Road across the road from the trailhead to Mount Sterling Trail. This connects to USFS Road 287 which will take you back to USFS Road 288. Option #3 Leave a car at the bottom of Cove Creek Road off of Jonathon Creek Rd (Highway 276). From Mount Sterling Gap, ride downhill 4.3 miles to Cataloochee Creek. Continue on Mount Sterling Road for 5 miles (all uphill) to Cove Creek Gap. Follow Cove Creek Road downhill to your car. Depending on where you park, this creates a nice 28 mile one way ride. Max Patch via Harmon Den Route: Distance: 15 Miles (Round-trip) Elevation Change (estimate): 2,300 feet Park near the bottom of the ramp at exit 7 off of I-40 west. I recommend parking on the Harmon Den Side of I-40. This road receives more traffic and your vehicle should be safer given the higher likelihood of people passing by. Follow USFS Road 148 past Harmon Den Valley for 5.9 miles to Max Patch Road (1182). 3

4 Turn Left on Max Patch Road and climb uphill for 1.75 miles to the Max Patch Parking area. Just past the parking area is a nice pond and ideal place for a picnic lunch. Return by same route. Browns Gap Alternative Route This alternative creates a 15-mile route with almost 2500 feet of climbing. You also have the benefit of visiting scenic Cocke County TN and part of the route is a loop. Use same directions as above for parking and start Turn Left near the Harmon Den Parking area and restrooms on FS Road 148A. Ride up the steep climb to Brown Gap and the Appalachian Trail Crossing. Enter into Tennessee and use FS Roads 2250 and 2251 to connect to the Max Patch parking area. Return via Max Patch Road (1182) to FS 148 and descend back to your vehicle. Ride Guide for the Sunburst Area This is a secondary area of gravel road riding and offers less diversity then the Harmon Den / 12 Mile Strip area. This is located in the Pisgah District of the Pisgah National Forest adjacent to the Slick Rock and Shining Rock Wilderness Areas. Forest Service Road 97 is the primary gravel road to use in this area. It is well maintained and has numerous side roads that are not as well maintained and can often turn into Hike a bike routes unless you are on a mountain bike, a skilled technical rider or a glutton for punishment. The best map for this area is the National Geographic Trails Illustrated map for the Pisgah Ranger District (Number 780). 4

5 Forest Service Road 97 Route Distance: 10.6 Miles (Round-trip) Elevation Change (estimate): 2,500 feet FS Road 97 junctions with NC 215 just past Sunburst campground when you are traveling from Lake Logan. I recommend parking a short drive up FS Road 97 in the small gravel area just past the creek ford. Water and bathrooms are seasonally available at Sunburst Campground. Follow USFS Road 97 uphill along Slickrock creek. After 5.3 miles you will come to a gap and a gate that may be open depending on the season. The climb is gradual, but consistent with several switchbacks and a few short descents. Return by the same route. Alternate additions to this route: FS Road 97 continues for several miles past the gate located 5.3 miles from the start and can easily be extended into a 20+ mile out-and-back. There are several old FS Roads and abandoned private road that spur off of FS Road 97. Most of these are not being maintained and can be very difficult to ride on especially in the summer when they are overgrown with briers and stinging nettle. There is also the possibility of connecting to private roads that come out near Inman Chapel below Lake Logan. I have never tried this but believe a few local people have. 5