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A gravel road climb to a collection of fun technical descents.


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Map Key

12.0

Miles

19.3

KM

65%

Singletrack

3,845' 1,172 m

High

2,941' 896 m

Low

1,216' 371 m

Up

1,227' 374 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

26%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

This loop opens with a four-mile road climb (most of which is gated off to cars) to reach some fun technical descents on Horse Cove Gap Trail #325 before continuing on the more gradual Squirrel Gap Trail (#147).

The loop is less difficult than other other Pisgah descents, but still works in some challenging sections without forcing riders off big drops or jumps. It's a little more secluded and has many pretty views of the Parkway, Looking Glass Rock, and South Mills River.

Need to Know

The area is frequently wet and doesn't dry out as quickly as other trails in Pisgah.

Description

Park at the campsites at the end of 476/Wolf Ford Road, the entrance to South Mills River Trail is here. Backtrack on the road you drove in on for about a mile to locate the start of FSR #5018 on the right.

Take 5018 until it dead ends, keep an eye out to your right and behind you there are some great views of the Parkway and Looking Glass Rock along the way. Horse Cove Gap Trail #325 will be on your right when the road dead ends at about mile four.

Take Horse Cove Gap Trail #325 down until it dead ends at the Squirrel Gap Trail #147 intersection. Take a right on Squirrel Gap Trail #147 and follow it all the way down until you hit South Mills River where there is a suspension bridge to get across. Make a right on South Mills River Trail #133 and take it all the way back to the parking lot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Travis Williams with improvements by Trevor Smela

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 14 votes

#2671

Overall
  3.6 from 14 votes
5 Star
21%
4 Star
36%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
14%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#118

in North Carolina

#2,671

Overall
20 Views Last Month
4,263 Since Sep 26, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
8%
8%
23%
62%
0%

Photos

Walking Bridge across creek
Sep 8, 2017 near Brevard, NC
View from FS 5018
Sep 26, 2017 near Brevard, NC
Bridge still out at bottom of Squirrel Gap 3/23
Mar 26, 2023 near Brevard, NC
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 6, 2023
Melanie Carviou
Mar 26, 2023
Nick Wagner
Took Pink Beds loop in after a brief rain. Wet roots made it more challenging. Bridge still out at bottom of Squirrel Gap. 18mi — 3h 30m
Jun 16, 2022
charles scarlett
Bridge out. Had to ford the river downstream a bit.
May 31, 2021
Adam L
11.6mi
Oct 24, 2019
Darrin Purcell
your classic brutal Pisgah pounding 14.4mi — 3h 30m
Jul 31, 2019
J. Matt
Started from Pink Beds and intended to add on Buckhorn, Avery, and 477 but got rained out on the addition. Still a great ride. 20mi — 2h 20m
Jun 29, 2019
Charly Aurelia
Did opposite of described direction
Jul 9, 2018
Bo Adams
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