MTB Project Logo

Turkeypen Gap Trail (#322)

 4.3 (7)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. …Pisgah National Forest
  5. South Mills River
Google Map
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.4 Miles 8.8 Kilometers


Singletrack

503' 153 m

Ascent

-1,921' -586 m

Descent

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

33%

Max Grade (18°)

4,103' 1,251 m

High

2,685' 818 m

Low

Shared By Logan Watts

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“A fast and tough up-and-down through the forest with some advanced technical descents.”

— Logan Watts
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Leashed

Features -none-

Description

Turkeypen is one of those must-ride trails in order to connect the Black Mountain trail with the South Mills and Turkeypen area. It's also a must-ride trail because it's rough, out-there and extremely fun. Coming from the Black Mountain Trail is definitely the preferred route (if you can talk yourself out of going down Black Mountain) and although there are four tough climbs in this direction, you still descend over 2,000 ft.

Be warned, however, unless you are an advanced rider familiar with Pisgah riding, you'll be walking a few of these technical descents.

Contacts

Local Club: Pisgah Area SORBA

Jan 10, 2019: Update on Trail Crew Leader and Sawyer Training

Dec 28, 2018: PAS Adopt a Trail Program

Dec 28, 2018: Trailside in #thePisgah, with Charly

Land Manager: USFS - Pisgah National Forest, Pisgah Ranger District

You & This Trail


Rate Quality


   Clear Rating

Rate Difficulty

Share This Trail

Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

none

Stewarded By

Stewarded by Pisgah Area SORBA
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 7 votes

#5

in South Mills River

#4555

Overall
  4.3 from 7 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
14%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#5

in South Mills River

#148

in North Carolina

#4,555

Overall
23 Views Last Month
2,122 Since May 23, 2013
Difficult Difficult
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

A legendary downhill.
A legendary downhill.
 6
Stopping off just after coming down upper black, about to hit middle followed by lower!
Stopping off just after coming down upper black…
 3
A somewhat shrouded Entrance up the Vinyard Gap trail.
A somewhat shrouded Entrance up the Vinyard Gap…
 3

3 Comments

Sort by: Oldest
Newest Oldest Popular
Max2 Alas
Max2 Alas  
This trail is super rad and not a lot of people ride it compared to the nearby trails but that's probably because it is overgrown but still very rideable in the summer and you will get plastered by hundreds of spider webs. The last downhill from sharpy mountain is so sketchy it's awesome. Aug 17, 2017
Stephen deaconwillis@gmail.com
Stephen deaconwillis@gmail.com  
I love this trail from Black down to the parking lot. Big fun descents with 4 quick climbs thrown in. DO NOT ride it from TP Parking lot towards black. I mean you can, but it's a ton of walking and you'll probably bail at Wagon Gap. Oct 25, 2017
Chris Moseman
Chris Moseman  
Looking for a challenge, ride from Turkey Pen parking to Black Mountain overlook and back. You’ll feel so strong after you quit feeling so broken. Dec 24, 2017

Nearby Rides

The last section of lower black with Christopher Langley!
70.8 mi 113.9 km
Pisgah 111K
 2
Brevard, NC
View from FS 5018
23.4 mi 37.7 km
The Great Eight
 3
Mills River, NC
Tim Koerber Ripper, photographer and follow cam filmer for this Trail Boss episode, showing me how it's done!
11.3 mi 18.3 km
Gravel Grind to Farlow G…
 2
Brevard, NC
Creek crossing on Best of DuPont Ride.
14.0 mi 22.6 km
Lake Imaging
 3
Brevard, NC

MTB Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Mountain Bike

MTB Project is supported by

Support Your Local IMBA Chapter