Dupont MTN 9 mile w/ 3 downhills (Rocky Ridge/Hooker/Hickory Mtn)
Dupont State Forest is best known for it’s mountain biking trails and waterfalls. It is truly a unique place offering 6 spectacular waterfalls and over 90 miles of multi-use trails (mountain bikers, hikers, horses). Today we will focus on our favorite adventure in Dupont…mountain biking!
One of the best-known downhills in Dupont State Forest is the Ridgeline trail (2 miles of pure downhill fun!). I would agree, the Ridgeline trail is a must-ride in Dupont, but there are also a few more noteworthy downhills which top our list: Rocky Ridge, Hooker and Hickory Mountain. And here is a 9-mile ride which hits all of these fun downhills along with some good climbing in between….because you know you must earn your downhills 😊
We start and end this route from the parking lot at Guion Farms. This is a good parking lot because it is typically less crowded and easy to access. Being only 6.7 miles from us, if you are an early riser, you can sneak this ride in and be back before breakfast. (we have directions from our park to the Guion Farms parking lot at the very end)
Stats:
Dupont State Forest Mountain Bike Ride
9.15 miles total
1,200 feet of climbing total
1 hour 30 minutes of ride time
Turn by Turn directions:
Park at the Guion Farms parking lot off of Sky Valley Road.
- Take a right from the parking lot onto Sky Valley Rd. This is a gravel road climb with a few switchbacks, great for warming up your legs (2 miles, 550 feet of elevation)
- Take a left onto Frank Street trail (look for the mailbox, it will be approx. 200 feet after the top of the climb, after a brief downhill)
- Take a left onto Switchback Trail (fun flow trail with rollers at the end). At the bottom of the flow section bare left to remain on Switchback Trail.
- Take a hard right onto Rocky Ridge Trail. Get ready for your first fun downhill 😊 (1.5 mile downhill with 500ft of descent, similar to Ridgeline but with more technical sections and a lot less people)
- Take a left onto old CCC Road and look across the street for the entrance of Ruffed Grouse trail.
- Take Ruffed Grouse trail, this is a moderate climb and make sure to stay left to continue on the Ruffed Grouse climb. Ruffed Grouse will also cross over Hickory Mountain Road but continue on Ruffed Grouse until the end of the trail.
- Take a right onto Hooker Creek trail. Downhill #2….wooohooo! Stay off your brakes and enjoy this fun, fast downhill with some nice rolling singles all the way down. You will now begin climbing back up the other side of Hooker.
- Take a right onto Ridgeline
- Take a left onto the SECOND Hickory Mountain Loop trail (make sure you do not turn at the first left onto Hickory Mountain or you will ride this fun downhill backwards). The first half of this trail is the climb. There is a nice resting area at the top where you can regroup and catch your breath before beginning the downhill section. Then off you go on this moderately technical downhill with some fun rocks, roots and turns.
- Take a left and ride .9 miles back to the Guion Parking lot
We hope you enjoy this ride as much as we do!
Directions from Pisgah Forest RV Park & Campground to Guion Farms parking lot:
From our entrance, turn right onto Crab Creek Road
Drive 4.2 miles before turning right onto Dupont Road
Drive .8 miles before turning left onto Staton Road
Drive 1.6 miles to veer onto Sky Valley Road (gravel)
Continue approximately a mile before turning right into Guion Farms parking lot
