6 Most Bike-Friendly Towns in North Carolina
Without a doubt, North Carolina loves cyclists. The state is home to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST)—a 1,175-mile route stretching from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks—and hundreds of miles of other great trails. From the strenuous Blue Ridge Parkway to the relaxed Boone Greenway Trail, North Carolina is a cyclist’s dream with varied landscapes, charming towns, and vibrant biking communities. Whether cyclists are craving the adrenaline-pumping singletrack trails in Brevard or slow scenic rides along Wrightsville Beach, each city offers its own unique flavor of adventure. So pack up the bikes, pick a route, and hit the trails in 2024.
Brevard
Welcome to the “Cycling Capital of the South.” In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard has over 300 miles of “singletrack” trails perfect for mountain biking. For the uninitiated, singletrack trails in mountain biking are popular because they require skillful navigation and an exciting, often technical, ride. As a result of the growing popularity of singletrack biking, Brevard has a reputation for being a bicycle boom town with lots of shops celebrating all things two wheels like Squatch Bikes & Brews, Earth Mountain Bicycle, and the Hub and Pisgah Tavern—a bike shop and beer garden at the entrance to the Pisgah National Forest.
Singletrack fever has definitely taken hold in the Pisgah National Forest and the Dupont State Recreational Forest, with miles of windy road riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway. If cyclists are new to the area, Red Wolf Mountain Bike Tours can guide groups on the trails and recommend the best post-ride spots in Brevard for re-charging, like the Square Root and the Morning Social. The most popular routes include the Headwaters Loop or the 25-mile Little River Roundabout. Still, regardless of what trails riders choose, the scenery is spectacular, with the area around Brevard renowned for its breathtaking waterfalls, such as Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and Moore Cove Falls.
Wrightsville Beach
Although the small coastal town of Wrightsville Beach is a favorite beach destination with its crystal blue waters, the town is also a very bicycle-friendly community, making cycling on the island in designated bike lanes, shareable roadways, and trails a pleasure. Riders can always hop off their bikes and enjoy surfing, paddle boarding, swimming, and kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the Banks Channel. To get the best of both worlds, rent a paddleboard and a beach cruiser at Wrightsville SUP or the South End Surf Shop.
The River to Sea Bikeway is an 11-mile route along the Historic Beach Car Line, a trolley route that used to carry vacationers from Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach. The bikeway starts at Wilmington’s Riverwalk, a 1.75-mile boardwalk full of restaurants and boutiques with pretty views of Cape Fear River and its historic landmark, the USS North Carolina Battleship. The route takes riders to Wrightsville Beach’s Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier. The pier was the first concrete fishing pier in North Carolina and extends more than 1,200 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. Wander down the dock, watch the anglers, and fuel up at the classic diner for the ride back.
Black Mountain
Black Mountain is an outdoorsy town tucked in Swannanoa Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stop by the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center housed in the former 1912 Black Mountain Firehouse in downtown Black Mountain to learn all about the area or participate in one of the historic guided hikes they offer. Explore downtown and order a Witch’s Cold Brew from Dripolator’s Fall menu, buy some gear at Take A Hike Outfitters, or stop for a pint of cider at Black Mountain Cider + Mead, which crafts dry cider and session mead from local apples and honey in an old furniture factory.
Located near Asheville, Black Mountain offers access to various mountain biking trails in the nearby Pisgah National Forest. The 7.2-mile round-trip Point Lookout Trail is considered one of the best-paved greenways near Asheville, barricaded to motorized vehicles at both ends, as it winds its way through the woods with stunning views of the mountains.
Elkin
Elkin is a small town of less than 5,000 residents in the Yadkin Valley wine region. In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Stone Mountain State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenic country roads are perfect for renting a mountain e-bike from Elkin e-Bikes & Stuff, buying an artisanal packed lunch from the Barking Coyote Kitchen and hitting the trails. Other notable trails in the area include the Overmountain Victory Trail, the Yadkin River Trail Blueway, and the Elkin & Alleghany (E&A) Rail Trail. Take a bike break and visit any of Elkin’s wineries, like Christian Paul Vineyards, Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery, or Elkin Creek Vineyard, where cyclists can stay overnight in the Cabins at Elkin Creek—creek-side, rustic cabins equipped with modern amenities.
Back in town, explore the town’s live music scene at the Reeves Theater & Café or Angry Troll Brewing. Stop at the Mount Airy Cyclery & Bike Museum to see its collection of over 70 historical bikes dating back to World War II and vintage road and mountain bikes. Return to Elkin for the Reevestock Music Festival on October 11 & 12, 2024.
Boone
Boone is also a cyclist’s paradise in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with easy access to routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway. The town itself is very bike-friendly. Every year, the city hosts Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG)—a premier cycling event that features scenic views, epic climbs, and two challenging routes, including the grueling 95-mile climb up Snake Mountain.
For riders with a more relaxed agenda, the 4-mile car-free Boone Greenway Trail follows the course of the New River. It runs under roadways and meanders along rivers and meadows full of wildflowers, earning the greenway the reputation as Boone’s “hidden gem.” The trail features the historic ruins of the early 1900's first hydroelectric generation station in the northwestern mountains. Check out Boone Bike & Touring for bikes, trail maps, and repairs. Finally, at the end of a day discovering Boone’s extensive network of trails, stop by for a well-deserved brew at one of the town’s popular breweries like Appalachian Mountain Brewery, the Lost Province Brewing Company, or the Booneshine Brewing Company.
Blowing Rock
The picturesque mountain town of Blowing Rock is a designated “Outdoor NC Trail Town” that offers access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and a variety of other scenic routes. Home to more than 50 miles of trails, plus many more paths to explore in the surrounding area, there’s a trail experience for everyone. Check out Rhoddie Bicycle Outfitters or Magic Cycles to get geared up for a great ride through Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, a designated National Recreational Trail System featuring 10 miles of progression-based trails and skill areas, a pump track, and a picnic area.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park includes a 23-room Colonial Revival mansion, two artificial lakes, and apple orchards. It was also a country estate during the 1890s and 1900s. While cyclists can’t bike through the estate, the park is an ideal biking-to-hiking destination with over 25 miles of historic carriage roads and trails. Today, the manor is home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the second-oldest craft organization in the United States. Visitors can explore the manor and see craft demonstrations annually from April to November. The Moses H. Cone Park and nearby Julian Price Memorial Park comprise the largest developed recreation area on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Exploring these six North Carolina towns by bike is a terrific way for riders to see stunning natural landscapes and discover local culture and history. Never mind the thrill of adventure, getting outside and exercising also has numerous health benefits, from boosting cardiovascular fitness to reducing stress. So get outside in any of these picturesque towns, get the wheels spinning, and most of all, enjoy the ride.
