The Laurel Mountain Trail runs through a remote section of the Pisgah National Forest that is far enough off the beaten path that seemingly few mountain bikers make the effort to ride it. Their loss is your gain! Consider yourself informed that Laurel Mountain is one of the very best mountain bike rides in Pisgah, if you can handle brutal climbs and an endless sea of boulders during a double black diamond descent.

Dupont State Forest is a massive 10,400-acre forest just outside of Brevard, North Carolina that has become one of the most popular and highly-acclaimed trail systems in the United States. Dupont is probably best-known for two things: its gorgeous waterfalls and the iconic slickrock balds with views of the entire region, which this route visits.

Dupont State Forest is a massive 10,400-acre forest just outside of Brevard, North Carolina that has become one of the most popular and highly-acclaimed trail systems in the United States. With a seemingly endless array of trails and dirt roads in this area, the options are endless—and this epic route is one of the best ways to survey the entire forest.

When mountain bikers try to explain the style of riding found in the Pisgah National Forest, Black Mountain is the first trail they'll point to as a marquee ride that showcases everything that is good and challenging about riding in the Pisgah.

While the Pisgah National Forest is known for its gnar, the Fletcher Creek/Trace Ridge area is very approachable for intermediate riders. Some sections are even excellent for beginners. According to Timm Muth in an article on Singletracks.com, the lower portion of Spencer Branch is "surprisingly smooth, with plenty of small rooty hops and creek crossings to keep it interesting."