Level: Advanced
Length: 2.6 mi (4.2 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +44/399 ft
Total: 86 riders
Mountain Biking Bennett Gap / 138
#11 of 538 mountain bike trails in North Carolina
#146 in the world
This trail is 3 miles in one direction. Again, another gnarly Pisgah-area trail! This trail has several awesome views off the top of the ridge of Looking Glass mountain. Absolutely incredible--be sure to bring your camera! The awesome views go hand-in-hand with the first section of "Satan's Staircase," a steep hike-a-bike that will require you to shoulder your rig. I would NOT want to ride down it, so I recommend riding this trail Southeast to Northwest. Also, there is a meadow on top of the ridge that has almost completely overgrown the trail. Not so much fun having to gingerly pick your way through all of the thorn bushes.
First added by Greg Heil on Sep 10, 2010. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Asheville, head south on I-26E. Take the exit for Hwy. 280, and follow that Southwest towards Brevard. Hang a right on Hwy. 276, and that will take you into the heart of Pisgah.
Access this trail from the Coontree Trail or FS 477
Featured in
- The Gnarliest Technical MTB Trails in Pisgah National Forest
- How to Mountain Bike Car-Free in Pisgah with Pilot Cove
- Five2Ride: 5 of the Best Mountain Bike Trails in North Carolina, According to the Pros
SO GOOD!!!!! I am a beginner-intermediate rider, so i had to hike a lot of the crazy features on this trail. The viewing area right before the trail gets super gnarly is just awesome.
| Thankthe MUST RIDE trail of Pisgah. crazy views, crazy riding.
| ThankThe climb up the road isn't too bad, and the views from the ridge are excellent. Plenty of variety along this short trail, from big rock moves up top to fast, bombing descents and tricky roots toward the bottom. Dense rhododendron tunnels at the top and open forest down low.
| ThankA major part of this track as shown is the Art Loeb. not a MtB trail... and this is not what we the locals call Bennett Gap
| ThankSuch an awesome trail! It is seasonal so you can only ride it between Oct 15- April 15. Ride it from the top down starting at the forest road/end of buckwheat knob. It has two or three big rocky drops that I usually walk but if you have balls and suspension you can probably clean them. The rest of the downhill is pretty fast. It also has the best view of looking glass rock in all of pisgah.
| ThankIf you were crazy enough to do it, riding down Satan's Staircase would be a double black diamond.
| Thank