Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Gamewell, North Carolina

Trail 1B is a well-maintained 2.5-mile UTV trail in Pisgah National Forest, offering a gradual 600-foot descent from north to south. Suitable for vehicles 65" wide or less, the trail is wide and smooth, featuring cinderblock paths, water bars, and occasional embedded rock slabs--some flush with the ...
Learn more about Trail 1B

Ned's Knob is a directional, north-to-south singletrack trail offering a 1.4-mile gradual descent through tight, wooded terrain. The narrow path winds between small trees, with sections deeply troughed from wear. Riders can expect small roots, a few overhanging logs requiring ducking, and embedded b...
Learn more about Trail 5 Ned's Knob

Trail 6 descends from west to east, with the eastern section being the steepest. Open to vehicles 65" wide or less and allowing two-way travel, the trail offers a generally wide path that can feel narrow in spots due to encroaching bushes and low branches. Riders should be prepared for tight corners...
Learn more about Trail 6 Miller Circle

This Forest Service road through Pisgah National Forest offers access to stunning views, Table Rock, and the North Carolina Outward Bound School. The trail begins in a small town, passing through some private property before transitioning into a narrow shelf road with hard-packed gravel. Along the w...
Learn more about Roses Creek - FS 210

Brown Mountain Beech Road is a smaller section of a town road that goes through Pisgah National Forest and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. The road follows Wilson Creek and offers views of the river and evidence of damage caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024. This damage includes dest...
Learn more about Brown Mountain Beech Road

Raven Cliff is a scenic Forest Service road that follows Upper Creek, offering stunning views of the water along the way. The trail features sandy beaches, small rocky waterfalls, and rapids, with numerous walking paths leading to the river's edge for swimming, rock climbing, fishing, and playing in...
Learn more about Raven Cliff - FS 197

This trail is fairly well maintained with gravel over hard-packed dirt. Some sections are narrow with pull-off areas, while others are wide enough for two vehicles to pass. A single water crossing has a warning sign advising caution during heavy rain and high water. Drivers should watch for narrow s...
Learn more about Steeles Creek - FS 228

This Forest Service road follows Upper Creek and Craig Creek, with sections that also touch Wilson Creek. While there are some views of the surrounding forest, the most notable scenery comes from the creeks below. The trail also features several scenic single-lane bridges, adding a unique element co...
Learn more about Mortimer Piedmont - FS 982

This dirt road is a scenic drive in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest. It is open year-round and can be traveled in either direction. Gravel bikes and mountain bikes are popular on this road. There are 2 mountain bike trails that either start or finish on this road. There are some c...
Learn more about Maple Sally

School House Ridge is a narrower, more overgrown double-track trail that winds through a secluded area of the forest. It is slightly more challenging than other nearby roads due to less frequent maintenance, its narrow width, and the presence of occasional ruts and muddy spots. The trail surface is ...
Learn more about School House Ridge - FS 4068

This short trail leads to two small campsites and a hiking trail. It offers a fun drive with a few mildly technical sections that require moderate ground clearance. The trail begins with a narrow, winding path that leads to the first campsite--suitable for up to two vehicles--and the first hiking tr...
Learn more about Fox Camp - FS 954

Back Irish Creek is a scenic Forest Service Road that travels along private property and leads into the Pisgah National Forest. It is well maintained and spacious pull offs for bypassing vehicles, but recent storm damage is present toward the beginning of the trail where an obstructed tree has been ...
Learn more about Back Irish Creek - FS 118

Roseboro Road is a Forest Service road in Pisgah National Forest, primarily composed of gravel and hard-packed surfaces. Some ruts caused by storm runoff from Hurricane Helene in 2024 can be found along the route. The trail follows several creeks, with Rockhouse Creek being the most prominent, and c...
Learn more about Roseboro Road - FS 981

The Watauga Turnpike is a longer forest service road connecting the towns of Gragg and Edgemont. The road is relatively easy to travel, with the most difficult sections consisting of a few ruts, bumps, and narrow portions. It is generally accessible for most vehicles with moderate ground clearance, ...
Learn more about Watauga Turnpike - FS 45

This Forest Service road is a well-maintained gravel route over hard-packed dirt with occasional small washes, typically less than a foot deep. It features multiple switchbacks bordered by scenic gorges on both sides and may have light water flow after rainfall. Some areas show signs of past washout...
Learn more about FS 496

This trail branches off from Rich Cove Road and provides access to the North Carolina Outward Bound School, which offers experiential learning for those interested in forestry and outdoor leadership. The school features activities such as backpacking, rock climbing, and canoeing, helping participant...
Learn more about North Carolina Outward Bound School Road

This Forest Service road runs through Pisgah National Forest as an extension of Roses Creek Road, providing access to Table Rock and the North Carolina Outward Bound School. The trail is primarily composed of gravel and hard-packed surfaces, with the final few hundred feet paved as it transitions in...
Learn more about Rich Cove - FS 270B

Wolf Pit Road is a maintained gravel road that leads to the scenic Wolf Pit Trailhead, which hikers use to venture up Shortoff Mountain. The right of way passes through multiple private properties, which are located close to the road, and residents urge travelers to pass by slowly and to respect the...
Learn more about Wolf Pit Road - FS 117

Located within Pisgah National Forest, Lost Cove (Forest Service Road 464A) is a gravel-over-dirt road that is generally well maintained. It is an out-and-back route about one mile long and leads to the hiking-only Lost Cove Trail, which connects to Upper and Lower Little Lost Cove Falls. A small wa...
Learn more about Lost Cove - FS 464A

Thunderhole is a small offshoot of Edgemont Road that features a narrower and slightly rougher trail. The majority of the route is well-maintained gravel, though a few ruts and small muddy sections are scattered throughout. While the trail is accessible to most vehicles, some ground clearance is rec...
Learn more about Thunderhole - FS 4071

Trail 1B is a well-maintained 2.5-mile UTV trail in Pisgah National Forest, offering a gradual 600-foot descent from north to south. Suitable for vehicles 65" wide or less, the trail is wide and smooth, featuring cinderblock paths, water bars, and occasional embedded rock slabs--some flush with the ...
Learn more about Trail 1B

Trail 6 descends from west to east, with the eastern section being the steepest. Open to vehicles 65" wide or less and allowing two-way travel, the trail offers a generally wide path that can feel narrow in spots due to encroaching bushes and low branches. Riders should be prepared for tight corners...
Learn more about Trail 6 Miller Circle

This dirt road is a scenic drive in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest. It is open year-round and can be traveled in either direction. Gravel bikes and mountain bikes are popular on this road. There are 2 mountain bike trails that either start or finish on this road. There are some c...
Learn more about Maple Sally

This Forest Service road is a well-maintained gravel route over hard-packed dirt with occasional small washes, typically less than a foot deep. It features multiple switchbacks bordered by scenic gorges on both sides and may have light water flow after rainfall. Some areas show signs of past washout...
Learn more about FS 496

Trail 1B is a well-maintained 2.5-mile UTV trail in Pisgah National Forest, offering a gradual 600-foot descent from north to south. Suitable for vehicles 65" wide or less, the trail is wide and smooth, featuring cinderblock paths, water bars, and occasional embedded rock slabs--some flush with the ...
Learn more about Trail 1B

Trail 6 descends from west to east, with the eastern section being the steepest. Open to vehicles 65" wide or less and allowing two-way travel, the trail offers a generally wide path that can feel narrow in spots due to encroaching bushes and low branches. Riders should be prepared for tight corners...
Learn more about Trail 6 Miller Circle

This trail is fairly well maintained with gravel over hard-packed dirt. Some sections are narrow with pull-off areas, while others are wide enough for two vehicles to pass. A single water crossing has a warning sign advising caution during heavy rain and high water. Drivers should watch for narrow s...
Learn more about Steeles Creek - FS 228

This dirt road is a scenic drive in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest. It is open year-round and can be traveled in either direction. Gravel bikes and mountain bikes are popular on this road. There are 2 mountain bike trails that either start or finish on this road. There are some c...
Learn more about Maple Sally