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Daniel Ridge Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult
 4.1 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. …Brevard
  5. Davidson River
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“A great, classic little Pisgah loop. ”

Logan Watts
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Map Key

4.3

Miles

7.0

KM

95%

Singletrack

3,416' 1,041 m

High

2,664' 812 m

Low

782' 238 m

Up

779' 238 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

A great moderately technical Pisgah loop in a scenic forest with rocks, roots and a great downhill. A bit of a climb up, but the downhill on the other side is well worth the effort.

Description

This is a classic, short Pisgah loop. It's moderately technical most of the way with a couple of trickier sections. Most people prefer to approach it counter-clockwise, but it can be ridden either way.

Follow the gravel road up from the parking area on 475. Cross the Davidson River over the wooden bridge and go right. Daniel Ridge Trail will split off hard left up a steep embankment near a beautiful, large waterfall. Follow the trail up a beautiful forested climb through some root switchbacks to a cleanable, but steep and rocky, doubletrack climb.

Now it's downhill for a while... great rocky downhill roller coaster that is technical enough to command your attention. Then you'll make a sharp left at some log steps where it intersects Farlow Gap trail. The descent mellows out at some forested track that brings you back to the river.

Contacts

Local Club: Pisgah Area SORBA

Aug 1, 2023: Butter Gap Trail Project – Q&A

Jul 6, 2023: Announcing the Butter Gap Contractor and Field Inspector 

Jun 30, 2023: USFS Proposed Fee FAQ

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

Shared By:

Logan Watts with improvements by Trevor Smela
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 29 votes

#1

in Davidson River

#743

Overall
  4.1 from 29 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
59%
3 Star
7%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Davidson River

#46

in North Carolina

#743

Overall
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Photos

Haulin' down the rootiest root section of Daniel Ridge
Mar 15, 2019 near Brevard, NC
Dustin coming down Daniels in the rain...
Jun 13, 2013 near Brevard, NC
Daniel Ridge
May 16, 2019 near Brevard, NC
Pisgah - Daniels Ridge - Cove Creek | WE GOT LOST
Mar 8, 2021 near Brevard, NC
Waterfalls everywhere
Nov 17, 2017 near Brevard, NC
One of the smooth sections along the Daniel Ridge Trail.
Jun 4, 2017 near Brevard, NC

5 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 96 days ago
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Check-Ins

Jun 24, 2023
Kaleb Ealahan
Wet but fun 9.2mi — 11h 45m
Nov 7, 2021
Sean Christopher
Pretty gnarly descent. Don't know how anyone would do loop in clockwise direction, tons of rocks you'd have to walk unless you were incredibly skilled 4.3mi
Mar 8, 2021
Mark Deering
Amazing trail! Lots of climb but fun down! WE DID GET LOST, SEE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/jv2hUiQ0meY 10mi — 1h 45m
May 15, 2019
Al B
Forest road climb followed by technical downhill. 6.8mi — 1h 25m
Nov 23, 2018
Nicholas Feliciano
Just as good as lower black rock
Oct 31, 2018
Sam Burns
counter clockwise = hike a bike 2.9 mi 4.3mi
Sep 1, 2018
Lawrence Hall
Some mud. Climbs were slippery in places. Some drops with roots and rocks after them. A challenge in places up and down. 5mi
Sep 1, 2018
Amy White
The western half of this is much more fun than the eastern - western is rocky, eastern is rooty winding through creeks, lots of bridges, bad if wet.

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