On one of my many drives home from Cherokee I decided to stop and play in the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest. This ride was the perfect after work stop because it was about 5 minutes off of I-40. This meant I wouldn't put extra miles on a company truck and after waking at 4am, driving three hours, working a full day, and driving home, a quick easy ride was all I needed.
Thankfully my worries about sunlight disappeared as I saw others gearing up at 6pm when I rolled in. As you leave the parking lot the first 100 yards are flat along the interstate, then you climb nearly 500 vertical feet before you even finish one mile. This occurs over 14 switchbacks which are all doable, I walked the first one or two because of the SS, but the rest was smooth fun climbing. You'll get some views before the top looking back at the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Continue up and follow Young's Ridge (Kitsuma) for your white knuckle descent. Dropping off the ridge may be the most technical part of this ride. You wind down fast just after a sharp left turn. You end up at a picnic area where you'll bang a left onto a paved road and go until you have to pedal around a gate for the easy uphill home. The Point Lookout Greenway is an old road so its still paved and offers spectacular views. A nice grade helps you gain 1500 feet of elevation you lost in the approximately four miles of ridgeline fun. You'll go around the other gate, hang a left onto a road that can be well traveled, and go until you hang a left back to the lot. Make sure to swing into Black Mountain, a cool WNC town and go to the Trailhead Restaurant and Bar. The food is great and locally sourced and they serve good beer, including Pisgah Brewing (a few miles up the road). | The word on the street is this short ridge ride followed by an easy greenway is a classic of the Pisgah region. Situated outside of Black Mountain, NC it makes a good quick ride for those traveling on I-40. I was warned about the infamous switchbacks which open right out of the gate, but, lacking precious time to warm up decided I had to live with it. Well, to be honest there is one or two more ups before the all downward brake fest begins. The ridge is beautiful and not nearly as dangerous as some folks tried to make it out to me. I saw no real exposure and it was not overly technical. Plenty of roots as you wind down the ridge, some nice steep pitches to gain speed, and just a hoot of a good time. |