Bicycle Trails in North Carolina Have Something for Everyone

North Carolina's biking season is relatively long because it's a southern state and the winters there are short. The state offers trails for family bike outings over gentle terrain, but it also offers challenging and rugged trails for mountain biking. North Carolina is a beautiful state for bikers no matter what time of the year it is, but spring outings are especially appealing because the local flowers and trees are blooming. Here's a look at some of the great bike trails North Carolina offers to biking enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Even beginners and young riders can get out and enjoy the great outdoors in North Carolina as there are trails suitable for this skill level. One of them is the Canal Trail near Roanoke Rapids. This trail is fourteen miles long and is mostly flat with some gently rolling hills that pose no problem for beginning bikers.

Greensboro's County Park Trail is also geared toward novice bikers. It's most flat but there are a few small climbs that will help beginners hone their skills. The trail probably does not present enough challenges for more experienced bikers, unless their goals are pacing and speed.

Greensboro's Hagan Stone Park offers a great trail for beginning bikers. It's not excessively challenging, but it does offer some pleasant uphill and downhill sections along with some mud pits to ride past. For bikers ready to move up to terrain that's more difficult, one section of the trail offers roots, stream crossings and rocky climbs.

Camp Lejeune, near Jacksonville, offers Big Trail. This is a loop path that's 5.2 miles long and features a lot of variety along the way. Maintained by a cycling club, new paths are regularly cut. Included in its variety of terrains are sand, mud, jumps and fast straights.

Meetinghouse Trail is located near Bryson City. Its several trails are 16 miles long. A long, gradual riser rewards successful climbers with stunning views of the Smoky Mountains and a thrilling downhill. The Tsaili Trails, which have something for bikers of every skill level, are nearby. The forty miles of the Tsaili Trails form a loop over terrain with gently rolling hills. They are among the most popular biking trails in the state and offer great descents, moderate uphill climbs, panoramic views, rocks, mud and a few technical sections.

Black Mountain Claw Hammer Trail, located near Asheville, is a very popular trail among experienced North Carolina bikers. It rewards you with stunning panoramic views after completing some of the area's highest climbs. This trail provides a true wilderness mountain biking experience, including some threatening local wildlife such as rattlesnakes.

Cove Creek in Brevard is a rugged hiking trail that is open occasionally to bikes. There are a lot of roots here and some creek crossings that require a lot of skill to navigate. The nearby Out and Back Trail is not as extreme yet provides plenty of challenges with its river crossings and jumps.

These are just some of the wonderful biking trails North Carolina offers. No matter which part of the state you're in, you won't be far from a trail that's suitable for your skill level. Whether you want an outing with your children or you want to do sport biking, North Carolina's biking trails are ready for your pedals.