Navigation

Lost Lake starts at its namesake trailhead. This ridge is more rugged than the other two ridges. Freeze-thaw cycle isn't awful, but does make this trail rather slick. A trail & parking area reconstruction project completed in July '17. It is typically maintained at a high level due to its popularity and use. More branches down and seems they are often in bad spots, i.e. landings. A steep, punchy switchback filled climb follows a set of spines from Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC to the parking lot of Old Fort Picnic area.

Third Divide makes up part of the classic Downieville downhill route.Great views over the valley. This trail ends at the intersection of Middle Earth. Flow trail is a bit tight at the top, but gets really fast as you transition to the lower Rush. Fun! You can find everyone out here having fun from people in body armor and downhill bikes to families testing their kids limits to xc racer types riding intervals. It can be accessed from the base at Old Fort Picnic Grounds or the base of the upper climb. The trails all run parallel to the Fountain Place paved road so they can be shuttled by car. Great trail, with amazing views, but may see a lot of traffic. This trail can be sandy during dry summer months and is best after rain, in the spring or fall.

New column

This is a classic Black Mountain trail and was featured in Freehub Magazine's Pisgah Photo Book: Issue 6. There is an optional drop 1/2 way down. The trails all run parallel to the Fountain Place paved road so they can be shuttled by car. Flow trail is a bit tight at the top, but gets really fast as you transition to the lower Rush. The climb up from Marlette Lake trail is pretty tough, but relatively short. This new trail flows well and has multiple banked berms and small jumps that wind down the mountainside. You can find everyone out here having fun from people in body armor and downhill bikes to families testing their kids limits to xc racer types riding intervals. From the young (or not so young) beginner, to the downhill pro, a flow trail delivers smiles for riders of all ages and skill level. Do not ride when wet and not if you are not a skilled rider.

Drop in off a shallow rock slab and then whip through a few tight berms. This created a reroute of the single track. A few wet spots, but almost non-existent mud. It packs in a lot of excitement in a short amount of time. You'll need somebody to drop you off at the start and pick you up at the end. This is the third downhill only trail on the north side trail network. Two wheel drifting is likely if you have speed but are not riding the top few inches of the berms. Some wet/muddy creek crossings, but otherwise dry. You'll need somebody to drop you off at the start and pick you up at the end.