| Cycling | |  
| There are a myriad of reasons why people live in and visit The High Country, one of the fastest growing reasons is the sport of Cycling. American cycling icon Lance Armstrong raced in the Tour Dupont through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the late 90’s. Lance must have taken a break from smoking the competition long enough to look around because he declared Boone and the surrounding area “…the best area for training in the whole of the United States.” Lance has returned since to train in the small pocket of cycling paradise we know as The High Country. So bold a statement could have only been taken straight from the mouth of a six-time Tour De France champion.
There truly is something for everyone in The High Country and cycling is no exception. The sport of road cycling has experienced exponential growth in the past few years. There is no better place to ride over the hills and through the woods on a mountain bike than the wilderness surrounding Boone. Everyone from the casual rider, the bulging leg muscle roadie, or the gear head mountain biker will be able to find their own form of cycling Zen here in The High Country.
Road cycling has gained so much popularity that a visiting rider can almost always find someone to ride with. Magic Cycles and Boone Bike and Touring both offer riders forums on their websites so visiting cyclist can jump right in on the popular local rides. The staff at both bike shops wants nothing more than to know people are enjoying our Blue Ridge cycling paradise.
Mountain biking has expanded in The High Country to include the new Dark Mountain trail system in North Wilkesboro. The casual rider looking for a scenic ride that’s not too long or strenuous should look into the numerous packed gravel roads in the area. The Virginia Creeper Trail, Railroad Grade Road in Todd, River Road in Valle Crucis or simply the Greenway Trail in Boone are great places to go at your own pace and observe the Mountain Scenery.
Boone is a cyclist friendly town but there is a common sense law on the books that will earn you a $50 fine. That common sense law is a helmet law and everyone riding must have one. The DOT reports that helmets can reduce the chance of head injury by 85 percent. Use your head, wear a helmet.
Happy trails and enjoy The High Country.
Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain’s biking trails are open from May through October. There are miles of technical single track riding as well as open service road riding. Saturdays and Sunday from July 2 through October Sugar will operate their yellow chairlift to the top of the Mountain. Hikers and mountain bikers alike can enjoy the scenic ride to the top of Sugar Mountain.
Be sure to check out the Showdown at Sugar June 8-11. With three days of fun and competition. The downhill racecourse features a technical start winding down and across the mountain ending with a fast wide open finish. The cross-country course winds all over Sugar with steep ascents, tight singletrack and fast descents.
The Greenway
The greenway trail in the heart of Boone is a great place to escape for a quick ride. The paved Greenway trail is approximately 7 miles long and relatively flat. The most convenient places to access the Green Way Trail is at the Watauga Parks and Recreation complex off of State Farm Rd. or off of Daniel Boone Dr. extension near the Watauga Humane Society. There are many short trails for the adventurous type just look for the trailheads off of the paved greenway path. The 3-5 miles of trails in the hills around the Greenway vary from wide-open fire road type to tight technical single track with log crossings and winding descents.
Wilson’s Creek
The Wilson’s Creek Proposed National Wilderness area is a part of Pisgah National Forest and is a haven for outdoor activities. Wilson’s has miles of trails for biking hiking and equestrian use. The trails available in Wilson’s creek are a must ride anyone who mountain bike will have a great day full of leg pumping climbs and fast downhills with rolling water bars. The best way to find Wilson’s Creek is to go to Boone Bike and Touring or Magic Cycles and pick up a map and some directions. Remember, Wilson’s Creek is also open to hikers and equestrian use, share the trail!
Dark Mountain Trails North Wilkesboro
The Brushy Mountain Cyclist Club has worked very hard to develop a network of trails at the dam on Kerr Scott Reservoir. The BMCC has worked with the Army Core of Engineers to make the trails accessible to hikers and mountain bikers. The trails are well labeled and maps of the entire trail network are available at Magic Cycles and Boone Bike as well as the BMCC’s website http://brushymtncyclists.tripod.com/index.htm. The Dark Mountain Trails are easily accessible from Boone and only about 45 minutes away. To get there, take Highway 421 South toward Wilkesboro, take a right on Highway 268 to its end, take a right and go over the dam to park. |
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