Mountain Biking Trails Around Pittsboro

Julie Roland writes the kind of posts that I should be writing more of.  She highlights the fun things to do in this area including the many wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities on offer. So, with permission, I'm reposting her great article on her favorite Mountain Biking spots around the Pittsboro area.  Be sure to visit her excellent blog. 

Enough prelude. . . her post follows:

Pittsboro, NC – I love being outdoors and recently spent a wonderful weekend mountain biking around Chatham County. Here are some of my favorite trails for a great off-road experience, all just a few miles from my home in Pittsboro, NC.

Briar Chapel

Recently I went mountain biking in Briar Chapel and it was fabulous. Briar Chapel is a 1,589 acre mixed-use development and is the Triangle’s largest green community.

Mountain bike enthusiasts will get their fix on this competitive mountain bike trail. This 15 mile biking trail has been developed in partnership with The Triangle Off-road Cyclists. It winds around around the community, and is a sustainable 18-inch wide single-track mountain bike trail.

The off-road mountain bike trails opened in 2008 and since then TORC has regularly held trail building and riding events in the community.

I’ve only been out here a few times. The mountain bike trails can be quite technical for some non-experienced riders.  They are tight and twisty, with lots of rocks and roots.  The trail itself, when you are on it is not difficult to follow.  You can park in the neighborhood itself where there is a marquee.

The Trails At Harris Lake

Harris Lake has a mountain biking trail for beginners, an intermediate trail and a favorite of mine is their advanced trail. Each Trail has a great view of the lake!

A stacked loop system, the trails offer more obstacles and longer trails the further away from the parking lot you get. All technical trail features have bypass trails. Trails are clearly marked and arrows indicate the fastest way to the parking lot from the advanced trails.

Harris Lake is one of the best places for beginner mountain bikers to increase their skill level. Marked by a blue trailhead, the beginners loop is .7 miles long and is one of the smoothest trails in the Triangle.

The more advanced riders will enjoy the yellow and red loops. They are designed to keep heart rates up. The yellow loop is narrow and has more changes in elevation, long jumps and is 2 miles in length.

The Red Loop offers the longest ride at 5 miles. This trail is made up of a series of loops that are more challenging for skilled riders.

Lake Crabtree – Cary

Lake Crabtree sported the first mountain bike trails in the Triangle. It very popular because of it’s proximity to RTP and great for beginner riders. This trail can get a bit crowded.

Highland Trail consists of a series of loops marked in yellow, with connectors marked by red blazes.  These trail loops, designed for the beginning to intermediate bike rider, are used by mountain bikers, joggers and walkers, each of whom shares responsibility for the safety of the other.

In addition to accessing the Highland Trail from it’s trailhead within the park, this trail can also be reached from the Town of Cary’s Black Creek Greenway or Willliam B. Umstead State Park by using the section of the Lake Trail near Interstate-40.

Ride on friends!