Mountain Bike Trails
Please pardon our progress as we re-route the mountain bike trails by the multi-use asphalt trail. We are ensuring the safety and convenience for all park users.
Trail 1
Starting Point
The trailhead is best accessed at the gravel parking lot just before the Katherine
Crosby Bridge crosses the Yadkin on U.S. 158. Go past the metal gate, toward the
concert shell. The path goes into the woods twenty to thirty feet from the road.
Distance
2 miles
Terrain
Rolling, but no hills; rough terrain
Recommendations
This is the best Tanglewood trail for beginning mountain bikers, but make sure you
know how to handle the bike. The trail uses as much of the land as possible. There
are a lot of tight turns, roots and small logs. You will need to be able to pick
up your front wheel to ride over the roots and logs comfortably. After traveling
1.75 miles, the trail comes out on the horse trail. Proceed across a small bridge.
The bike trail turns immediately into the woods. After 0.25 mile, this section comes
out on the gravel road about 100 yards below the trailhead. Turn right out of the
woods onto the gravel road to return to the parking lot.
Trail 2
Starting Point
There is no parking area at the trailhead, so you should park at the welcome center
or near the soccer fields and ride on the road to the trailhead. To get to the trailhead
from the Welcome Center, take the main park road back toward the U.S. 158 entrance.
About 200 feet before the park road intersects with U.S. 158, take a right onto
the horse trail.
Distance
1 mile
Terrain
Some hills, rough terrain
Recommendations
Compared to the other two trails, this trail has a moderate level of difficulty.
Be sure to yield to walkers and horses on this trail. From the trialhead at the
horse trail, travel 100 feet to a path that goes off to the right. Turn right and
follow the winding path. This section is more difficult than Trail 1 because it
has short, steep climbs and more objects to overcome. You will cross the horse trail
at least 2 times. Always remember to go straight across these intersections. The
trail ends at the horse trail, which is located just across the park road from the
brown ranger's house. This house is located between the soccer fields and the welcome
center.
Trail 3
Starting Point
The parking areas are between the Welcome Center, campgrounds and Shelter #2. The
easiest access to the trail is through the field across from the soccer field or
from the horse trail that runs beside the brown ranger's house, located near the
soccer field.
Distance
4.6 miles
Terrain
Hilly, with rough terrain
Recommendations
This trail is best for moderate-to-experienced mountain bikers. This is the longest
and most difficult of Tanglewood's mountain-bike trails. After entering the trailhead
on the horse trail, go about 100 feet. You will see the mountain-bike path off to
your right. This trail goes through the woods behind the Welcome Center and meanders
over creeks and up small hills behind Shelter #2 before turning back and passing
the former campground area. It eventually comes out at the trailhead across from
the soccer fields. You can get lost if you do not always go straight across when
intersecting horse trails. You may often encounter detours on this trail as volunteers
work to combat erosion and make trail improvements. Because volunteers maintain
the trail there is no structure to changes that are made. Riders should realize
that dangerous sections could occur at any point, so you need to dismount your bike
and walk whenever you feel your skill level may not be up to the challenge.