Sycamore Cycles has a wide selection of guide books and trail maps of the Western North Carolina area for mountain biking and road bicycling. From the excellent guide books like "Off The Beaten Track" by Milestone Press to the National Geographic trail maps, you'll find the right guide for your biking adventure at Sycamore Cycles. They also carry the new waterproof and tear-resistant maps of the DuPont State Forest trail system, which are made possible by the Friends of DuPont Forest to support the forest and its well maintained mountain biking areas.

The western North Carolina area surrounding the cities of Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard has some fantastic bike riding areas. Two very popular local spots for mountain biking are Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest.


Dupont State Forest
Dupont State Forest is the latest addition to North Carolina's state forest system, but it already boasts more than 90 miles of trails. Trailside attractions include no less than four waterfalls all of which earned screen time in "The Last of the Mohicans". Dupont also proves that slickrock isn't endemic only to Utah, as two trails, the Cedar Rock and Big Rock singletracks, traverse huge exposed granite domes interspersed with gnarled scrub pine, creating spectacular riding conditions and unobstructed views.




Pisgah National Forest
The Davidson River trailhead is perhaps the most popular area within the entire Pisgah National Forest, for mountain bikers, hikers, equestrians, rock climbers, fishermen, naturalists, photographers, and tourists alike. This is the quint essential National Forest recreation area, with a wide range of attractions that will delight any type of visitor. Being so close to a good highway and to town, this area is perfect for someone who loves the outdoors but also likes being close to the amenities of the modern world. However, some of Pisgah's greatest backcountry and wilderness areas can be accessed from the area as well.




Tsali Recreation Area
Regarded as one of top 5 mountain biking areas in the US, Tsali Recreation Area is one of our favorite off-road riding destinations here in the Southeast. Tsali provides an outstanding variety of trail conditions to suit all but the super gonzo riders who want "technical and 'nuthin but technical." The trails are all, for the most part, what we considered to be rider friendly. That is to say, there is very little terrain that we have encountered at Tsali that cannot be navigated by an off-road biker. The area is maintained by the US Dept. of Forestry and it is well managed.




Bent Creek
Located in the northern tip of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, Bent Creek's watershed contains a collection of trails that is suitable to beginning and intermediate mountain bikers, families, and groups. However, ten named trails totaling almost 20 miles, and many more miles of gravel roads, means more advanced riders will have fun here as well.