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black Turkeypen Gap Trail (#322)

  4.3 ( 7 ) Favorite
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. …Pisgah National Forest
  5. South Mills River
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Trail

5.4 mile 8.8 kilometer point to point
Singletrack
Difficult

Elevation

Ascent: 503' 153 m
Descent: -1,921' -586 m
High: 4,103' 1,251 m
Low: 2,685' 818 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 8% (5°)
Max Grade: 33% (18°)

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Trail shared by Logan Watts

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

— Logan Watts
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E-Bikes Unknown

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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

Apr 21, 2019: Cognative MTB Gear Deal for Members

Apr 4, 2019: Join Pisgah Area SORBA and get 25% off WEEVIL

Apr 2, 2019: Pisgah Area SORBA introduces “Volunteer to Win with Industry Nine”

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

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Stewarded By

Stewarded by Pisgah Area SORBA
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 7 votes

#5

in South Mills River

#4761

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

#171

in North Carolina

#4,761

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2,321 Since May 23, 2013
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Photos

A legendary downhill.
A legendary downhill.
 7
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

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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

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