Derek Diluzio DuPont State Forest, North Carolina
Hendersonville, NC lies on the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains, a 40-minute drive down the congested I-26 from Asheville.
Many of the commuters are topped with kayaks or inner tubes bound for the rapids and pools of the famous Green River. There are few mountain bikes in the red glare of brake lights. To the west side of the interstate is Dupont State Forest; to the east is the Green River Game Lands. Mention these two places to bikers, and you’ll find that very few have ridden Green River, and just about everyone has ridden Dupont.
Loaded with accessible terrain and breathtaking waterfalls, Dupont’s popularity is well deserved, and it is a hub for tourists and locals alike. But just beyond those white curtains of water is some of the most unique riding in the South East. The Cedar Mountain and Big Rock trails are easily the most popular destination for bikers, both incredible on their own. Combined into a loop, the route is best known for its views out across Pisgah National Forest but is, in general, a mountain biker’s playground, perfect for finding creative ways to ride between the petrified moss, crater-like slick rock, and chunky rock drops. Adding to the mix is Hickory Mountain Trail, a mile-and-a-half of fast straights, flowy berms, and tacky dirt, broken up by the occasional playful tech section.
To the southwest, however, is the area’s dark horse: the Green River Game Lands, a huge chunk of land set aside for wildlife preservation and split through the middle by the Green River Gorge. As well as boasting world-class kayaking, the game lands are also lauded as some of the best hunting, trapping, and fishing grounds in the area. The entrance to the gorge is a crooked, switch-backing road just off of I-26 that climbs steeply to the trailheads below.
On the Bluff Trail’s initial climb, low-hanging spider webs are a threat to any rider’s sanity, but the downhill is worth the arachnid-caused dousing. The remote trail is littered with boulder sections, single track, and pounding roots ending at a particularly calm section of the Green River—there are few better ways to end a mid-summer ride than a leisurely inner tube float. Just be careful with the beverages. The popular spot attracts numerous park rangers, who are very generous with their drinking in public tickets.
Pulling into town after a river trip, Hendersonville’s historic streets and buildings are a sharp contrast to the strip malls lining the interstate—many date back over a century and speak to classic Appalachia architecture and culture. These days, however, there is new to match the old. Like much of western North Carolina, the town of Hendersonville itself is growing as fast as its reputation for incredible biking. Frequent bluegrass shows fill the streets with music, and the lively microbrew and restaurant scene handily services the town’s 14,000 residents—or the increasing number of thirsty bikers looking for post-ride refreshments. Sierra Nevada recently built a brewery just north of town, a massive, castle-esque compound that’s a testament to the area’s increasingly progressive demographic.
As for the motivators behind this growth, people will give you a whole spectrum of reasons. Some say it’s the beer, the landscapes, the rivers, or even the legendary trails. Ask me, and I’ll tell you it’s the people. The town’s bike culture is as strong as its riding, exemplified by the friends who participated in the project: Evan Voss, Dan Ennis, Brandon Blakely, Walker Shaw, Joey Ennis, and Michael ‘Mangler’ McQueen.
Depending on the time of day, the trip back to Asheville is equally as stop-and-go. As many cars are strapped with watercraft as during the trip south, and during hunting season, there are plenty of back-window gun racks and drivers clad in Mossy Oak and blaze orange. But each year, more and more mountain bikes populate that crowded commute. The word is out, and whether you’re talking about hot spots like Dupont State Forest or unknowns like the Green River Game Lands, it’s worth the drive.
