Pisgah Stage Race - Stage 4

Race - Apr 17, 2020

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This was the 4th stage in the 2014 pisgah stage race! It is one of my favorite rides in Pisgah. You get to spend some time on Squirrel Gap and then you make your way to Laurel Mountain to Pilot Rock. With a pedal back out on yellow gap road.

This ride is not for the faint of heart. It starts with a kick in the teeth known as Club Gap, and the kicks keep on coming with the Black Mountain. Black Mountain has plenty of technical riding. There are loads of rocks, small drops, and some eroded areas.

At a four-way intersection, turn left onto Buckhorn Gap and descend to South Mills River Trail (#133). Both Buckhorn Gap and South Mills are a wider singletrack that will give you a little rest until you reach Squirrel Gap Trail (#147) Squirrel Gap winds into and out of several gaps, such as Mullinax Gap, Laurel Gap, Horse Cove Gap and Squirrel Gap.

At about mile 14.5, turn Left onto Laurel Creek Trail (#348). Descend this trail steeply at first and then fore gradually to a creek crossing. On the other side of the creek you'll pop out into a clearing where you'll turn left (briefly on Bradley Creek Trail (#351)) and then you'll turn right onto Bradley Creek Road (FS 5015). Pedal up the somewhat boring road and enjoy the scenery as you go.

Turn left onto Yellow Gap Road, and then take a right onto Laurel Mountain which is a gradual climb with some technical sections. Turn left onto Laurel Mountain Connector. Then you take a left onto the gem of the ride - Pilot Rock. This is one of the best downhills in all the land!

At the bottom of Pilot Rock, turn right onto Yellow Gap Road and follow it back to US276. And that is all folks!