Fletcher Creek Best Ride

• Difficulty: More Difficult
• Total Length: 8.4 mi
• Trail Tread Condition: Very Rough
• Climb: Climbs Steeply
• Total Elevation Gain: 1200 ft
• Trails/Roads Used: Trace Ridge trail; Spencer Branch trail; Fletcher Creek Road (FR 5097); Fletcher Creek trail; Hendersonville Reservoir Road
• Ride Configuration: Loop
• Starting point: Trace Ridge trailhead
• How to Get There: From Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east. Take Asheville Airport exit (exit 9) and go south (right) on NC 280. Just past intersection with NC 191, make a right at the stoplight onto North Mills River Road and follow signs to the North Mills River Recreation area. Just past North Mills River Recreation Area parking lot, make a right onto Wash Creek Road, which is now paved for the first 1/4 mile or so. Follow this for several miles; this is FR 479 although a sign at the beginning used to say "1000". Turn left onto the first un-gated gravel road which has a concrete low-water bridge, and follow this 0.5 mile to the Trace Ridge trailhead and parking lot.

After starting out by riding over several large bulldozer-induced lumps, the Trace Ridge trail will level out onto an old roadbed. But it soon veers steeply uphill to begin the climb up the ridge. The next 2.3 miles are mostly climbing with 4 long, steep, technical sections. Loose rocks will cause your tires to slip in some places, while windblown piles of leaves hamper your climb in others. The climbs are interspersed with short level or slightly downhill sections, as the trail gains the ridgeline. Large water turnouts were bulldozed into the trail in April 2001, making it more uneven. The trail will pass over a large rock slab and top out at about 3480' elevation.

After the top of the ridge, it begins a loose rocky downhill, through the ridgeline pine-oak forest, and mountain laurel shrubs. At the bottom of this is the intersection with the Spencer Branch trail, where you'll turn left. This trail plunges straight off the side of the ridge. It's an extremely steep, technical downhill; it is riddled with loose rocks, waterbars, earthen water turn-outs, and drop offs. This section requires well honed technical skill: remember to keep your weight far back to avoid a trip over the handlebars! Don't attempt to ride this section unless you feel comfortable with it, it's short enough to easily walk. It is followed by a fun, moderately steep/technical downhill through a lush forest of hardwoods, with a few creek crossings.

At the next intersection you'll turn right and begin following Fletcher Creek Road, a gravel cruiser. This is also known as the Neverending Road because it seems to go on forever. Don't worry: you'll only ride a mile long section that will climb and then descend gently to an intersection with the Fletcher Creek trail.

Turning left here, you'll begin a great downhill. It's not very steep, but it's fast with enough rocky, rooty, and wet sections to spice it up. The singletrack is tight in places, and it passes through some interesting fields on its way. In recent years, some erosion problems and mud holes have cropped up along this section of trail. You'll emerge at the intersection with the Middle Fork trail, and the creek, which you should cross. You can either ride across here or go downstream a few hundred feet on a fern-lined trail, turn left, and take the log bridge. Note: this log bridge was washed away during the floods of September, 2004. Do not expect it to be replaced!

Pick back up on the Fletcher Creek trail again on the other side. The Fletcher Creek trail continues with a short, moderate uphill. Then it tops out and becomes a rocky, fast, thrilling downhill with lots of earthen waterbars and a few good jumps. This trail will shoot you out at high speed onto the Hendersonville Reservoir Road, going in the correct direction to finish the ride. If you would like, however, you can head right on the gravel road a few hundred feet to see the Hendersonville Reservoir and dam (a nice little diversion). To return to the starting point without seeing the dam, make a "left" (basically straight) at this intersection. This fun gravel road will undulate up and down and terminate in the parking lot after a short but tedious climb.