Mountain biking

Brevard, North Carolina

THE ONLY THING BETTER than Brevard’s riding is its all-inclusive vibe. No need to be a badass shredder to earn a nod from the cycling-obsessed populace in this chummy, 8,000-resident mountain town. Brevard’s portfolio includes plenty of fast, flowy trails and buttery dirt climbs with sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain vistas. The Lake Imaging loop and Ridgeline trail are among the smoother paths at Dupont State Forest—riders roll across vast slabs of granite reminiscent of Moab’s famous slickrock sandstone. Cedar Rock and Big Rock trails both feature panoramas from open slabs and treeless balds. Suds and Cycle: On Fridays, Squatch Bikes & Brews owner James Mattey leads social rides for anyone wanting to check out the 400+ miles of singletrack winding through the Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest. His eight regional draft beer taps at Squatch also vary in lineup.

GOAL-ORIENTED “If only there were a place to grab a beer afterward.” In Brevard, you’re in luck. And in range of some of North Carolina’s best brews.