Description:

While many riders are now shuttle Farlow Gap Trail, this loop is my favorite way to hit Farlow and lets me run it solo. This loop can be epic–make sure you’re prepared with food, water, first aid kit, and repair supplies! If you’re intimated by steep rocky drops, avoid this ride or walk the first 1.25 miles of Farlow Gap Trail… The loop measure 13.69 miles by my bike computer

Getting there:

Zero your trip odometer at the Pisgah Forest, NC, intersection of US-64, US-276, and NC-280, and enter the District via US-276N (toward Waynesville). At 1.6 miles pass the ranger station on your right. At 2.2 miles pass FS477 on R. At 4.9 miles pass Coontree Picnic Area on L. At 5.4 miles turn L onto FS475. At 6.8 miles pass the Hatchery on L. At 7.0 miles pass FS475B on R. At 8.6 pavement ends, continue on gravel. At 9.3 miles, turn R into Daniel Ridge parking lot.

The Ride:

0.00 R out of parking lot onto FS475

0.46 L onto FS5095 (Searcy Crk Rd)

1.74 R onto Long Branch Tr

2.54 Stream crossing

2.58 R to stay on Long Branch Tr

2.71 Stream crossing

2.73 L to stay on Long Branch Tr

3.31 Stream crossing

3.58 L onto FS475

4.22 R onto FS229 (visit granny!)

6.85 FS229 ends; Straight onto jeep road

7.17 Bear R to stay on jeep road

7.22 Straight (shelter to L)

7.46 Straight (campsite on R)

7.75 Straight (campsite on R)

8.15 Straight (Art Loeb Tr crosses)

8.30 R to pick up Farlow Gap Tr

8.74 Old mica mine area?

8.78 Stream crossing

8.97 Stream crossing

9.38 Stream crossing

9.57 Climb through campsite

10.24 Stream crossings

10.45 Steps

11.66 Stream crossing

11.71 R to pick up Daniel Ridge Tr

12.33 Straight (old bridge on R)

12.98 Straight to stay on Daniel Ridge Tr

13.55 R onto FS5046

13.69 Around gate to parking lot

Note: If you use the instructions and find an error or an opportunity to improve the instructions, please contact me! Similarly, should you use these instructions and really enjoy your ride, I’d like to hear that, too!

Thanks–TZ