Biking and Hiking in Western N.C.
Visitors eager for N.C. outdoor recreation will find plenty of bike routes and hiking trails that range in difficulty from child-friendly to strenuous. The temperate climate makes hiking in Western North Carolina a year-round activity, and cyclists can enjoy the North Carolina paved bike trails most of the year, too. In the Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge foothills area, the elevation gain increases from about 800 feet above sea level in eastern Rutherford County to 4,000 feet at Sugarloaf Mountain at the boundary with Henderson County. That means great opportunities for North Carolina hiking and for biking in the Asheville, North Carolina area.
Road Bike Trails in N.C.
Some of the nicest North Carolina bicycle trails are in the Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills area. The Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, one of the bike clubs in North Carolina, has maps of recommended road bike routes on paved roads on its Web site at www.rutherfordoutdoor.org. Among the choice North Carolina paved bike trails is the rail-trail route, one of the state’s longest such hiking and biking routes, eight miles of a crushed-gravel path in eastern Rutherford County. A 24-mile stretch of the Southern Highlands Trail, a paved road in the state highway system, is marked with signs as it crosses the county and is another of the enjoyable road bike trails in N.C.
Bike Parks in North Carolina
South Mountains State Park, just over the Rutherford County line in Burke County, has a route that’s one of the longest mountain biking trails in North Carolina’s state park system and among the premier North Carolina bike rides. South Mountain’s 18-mile loop makes the park a great pick of the bike parks in North Carolina.
Other North Carolina Bicycle Trails
Rutherford County’s biggest annual biking events are the Tour de Pumpkin in October and the Gears & Gables ride in the summer. The events offer varied North Carolina paved bike trails. The Tour de Pumpkin’s road bike trails in N.C. are routes of 62 miles (100-k) and 31 miles (50-k). Gears & Gables, a 125-mile challenge, is among the North Carolina bike rides you’re likely to remember.
North Carolina Hiking
For a different kind of N.C. outdoor recreation, choose from the N.C. hiking trails in the Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills area. The Rutherford Outdoor Coalition offers free guided hikes, great hiking N.C. experiences, at South Mountains Game Lands, Hickory Nut Gorge and outside Rutherford County. For more information, visit the Web site at www.rutherfordoutdoor.org.
Rails to Trails in Rutherford County, North Carolina
Any North Carolina hiking forum would mention the eight-mile rail-trail in eastern Rutherford County, which runs from Main Street in Spindale north to the community of Gilkey and is suitable for children.
Hiking in Western North Carolina
A popular hiking spot is Chimney Rock State Park, where the family-friendly trails make it one of the N.C. best hiking state parks.
For other great North Carolina hiking options, the South Mountains Game Lands, a 20,000-acre state wilderness area in northeastern Rutherford County, offers moderate and strenuous trails. The adjoining South Mountains State Park, also on about 20,000 acres, contains more NC hiking trails. For another kind of hiking N.C. experience, go on a summertime hike of Bat Cave Preserve, guided by the Nature Conservancy. The preserve, near Rutherford County’s western border with Henderson County, is a fascinating way to experience N.C. outdoor recreation.
