Words and Photos by: Kristian Jackson
It used to be that in the mountains we rode mountain bikes—not “all-mountain bikes,” not “trail bikes,” or “cross-country bikes,” or “downhill bikes.” Just: mountain bikes.
But over the years, bikes and trails have evolved dramatically to suit different styles. And these days, the categories of bikes and trails often cause divides in our sport. But a movement is afoot in trail building and riding that seeks to bridge those gaps in our styles. Perhaps one of the best examples of this lies in the terrain surrounding the Army Corps of Engineer’s Kerr Scott Reservoir just outside of Wilkesboro, N.C. The trails here are emerging as modern masterpieces, attracting hoards of riders, and supporting some of the most exciting mountain bike racing in the southeast.
With its backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the reservoir draws flocks of riders to its banks. The impoundment was built in 1963 in response to two tremendous floods that nearly erased Wilkesboro from the map. Through a partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Brushy Mountain Cyclists Club (BMCC), the reservoir’s adjacent forested hills are now home to three distinct trail systems: the Dark Mountain Trail, the Overmountain Victory Trail (OVT), and the Warrior Creek Trail, totaling more than 35 miles of hard-packed, fast-ripping, sustainable trails. Any given weekend will see the parking lots teaming, but because of the design and length of the trail system, the singletrack retains a feeling of solitude. These qualities earned it an “Epic” designation by IMBA.
In 2002, the BMCC worked with IMBA to host a trail design and construction clinic. The effort led to the Dark Mountain Trail and the first partnership between IMBA and the Army Corps of Engineers.
These early trails were textbook-worthy ribbons of singletrack: They followed the contours, reversed grades, and shed water in an eco-friendly way. Volunteers from the community traded sweat for a chance to have great trails in their backyard and have contributed more than 6,000 hours building the trail.
But two factors transformed these trails from textbook classics into works of art: Trail Boss Jim Horton and his Ditch Witch.
A veteran volunteer-turned-manager, Horton set out to revolutionize the trail experience with his machine, and started with Dark Mountain.
When they’d completed the Dark Mountain system, he and his crew decided they liked the flowy sections they’d just built and used them as a model for OVT. “It’s been an evolutionary process,” Horton says. Because OVT offered more space to work with, “we took it to the next level,” he says. They started carving in berms, and as the trail progressed, they got increasingly psyched.
Shiner’s Run took it all even further. Then did Warrior Creek. “We said let’s try to create a really unique, fun experience—a roller coaster for mountain bikes,” Horton says. Today, Warrior Creek may have more berms per mile than any other trail in the southeast. “We’ve definitely got berms down to science now,” Horton says.
Taken in succession, these three main trails document Horton’s development as a trail builder. Ride Dark Mountain and you get a glimpse of old-school sensibility. Move on to OVT, and you experience his early flirtations with flow. It’s Warrior Creek though that reveals where mountain biking is headed. “Warrior Creek is about going fast,” says Boone Bike and Touring’s Joseph Grimes. “Not fast with pedal strokes but fast by staying off the brakes.”
On Warrior Creek, the rhythm fosters a relationship with the land as you fall in synch with the contours and with gravity. “These are trails, every rider will enjoy,” Grimes says. “Single speeders, rigids, 29ers, and DHers on their trail bike—all will clip in and have a good time.”
Warrior Creek might be the jewel of the reservoir, appealing to everyone and every style, but Horton has more plans—“to push the limits of sustainable trail building,” he says. His latest creation is the Headwaters Loop. “We always try to come up with a kind of theme or difficulty level for each trail before we even start designing,” Horton says. “We go out and find all the cool spots we want to take the trail through and then try to design the most fun, aesthetic way through them.” At Headwaters, Horton is creating a snarl of rock chutes, stacked berms, boulders, and jumps that few people will be able to clean on the first attempt. The terrain itself is rocky but the team has imported truckloads of boulders to add difficulty to the experience. “The Corps has given us almost free reign,” he says.
The trail’s popularity reaches a critical mass in the spring race season. Each year, the Reservoir hosts two of the most popular mountain bike races in the southeast: the 24 Hour Burn and the Six Hours of Warrior Creek.
“There are few better venues to host a mountain bike race, especially the 24 Hour Burn,” says Boone Bike and Touring’s Shaw Brown. “The facilities are great; there’s a flat field for camping, and it’s a flat-out party,” he says. You’ll need bike-handling skills to be competitive, especially when the aliens—yes, aliens, trust me—bring the dew at 2 a.m. According to Burn Duo Champs Dave and Beth Fry, the race is “fun in a masochistic way that makes 24-hour racers tingle.”
On Warrior Creek, the Six Hours race was started by Paul Stahlschmindt and Jason Bumgarner to expose people to this “kick ass trail.” The race sells out in hours and the competition is stout. Be ready to rub shoulders with some of the fastest riders in the southeast on the 12-mile laps.
Both races cap off with barbecues, prizes and partying—something that every mountain biker—regardless of style—can enjoy.
The Trails
The 7.5-mile Dark Mountain Trail is nearest the dam. The trail climbs from the shore to catch the ridge, then rips down various watersheds for creekside riding. Hard clay in mixed pine and hardwood forest characterizes the trail. Numerous rooty sections and a few rock gardens keep your attention, as does the famous Super D descent back to the lake. “This is a pretty rough and pitchy trail,” says Horton. It also has a section of jumps for freeriders.
The OVT is the easiest of the trails. The 6 miles (plus the Shiner’s Run optional 2.5-mile side loop) flow incredibly well, allowing riders to feel the rhythm of land. Swooping berms and gentle climbs make this trail great for beginners.
Warrior Creek is where flow reigns supreme. This 12-mile trail is the most progressive trail at Kerr Scott. It’s the closest thing to a linear pump track in North Carolina. Every ounce of energy a rider puts in is rewarded two-fold. No matter what kind of rider you call yourself, this trail delivers a smile: berms, rollers, G-outs, rock gardens, blindingly fast ridges—all on hardpack.
Trailheads
From U.S. 421 north in Wilkesboro:
Take the N.C. 268 exit (exit 286B) in Wilkesboro.
Turn left at the traffic light at the bottom of the exit ramp.
Look for the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir sign.
To access the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Visitor Center, drive west on N.C. 268 for 3 miles. Turn right onto Reservoir Road at the “W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir” sign. Proceed 0.4 mile and turn left at the Visitor Assistance Center sign.
To access Dark Mountain, drive west on N.C. 268 3 miles. Turn right onto Reservoir Road at the “W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir” sign. Proceed 0.8 mile. Cross the dam and turn left at the flagpole to reach the parking area and trailhead.
To access Warrior Creek, drive west on N.C. 268 approximately 8 miles. Turn right at the campground sign and follow the access road to the campground.
The Overmountain Victory
In 1780, legions of American patriots marched through the Appalachian Mountains to face Loyalist forces near Kings Mountain, N.C. The force of more than 1,000 “Over-mountain Men” dealt a decisive blow to the Loyalists. This victory bolstered patriot morale and forced the British to abandon a planned invasion of North Carolina. Now the Overmountain Men’s mettle is blazed as the Overmountain Victory Trail, a National Historic Trail. The section at Kerr Scott is a branch of the trail where men from the northwest piedmont of North Carolina marched to meet their brethren from the mountains of Tennessee and Virginia.
More Adventure
Head up the mountain to Wilson’s Creek for rugged, demanding backcountry riding. You won’t find directions or maps. Stop by Boone Bike and Touring or Magic Cycles in Boone to get advice or hooked up for a ride. While in the college town, fill up your mug at Bald Guy Brew on the 105 Bypass, and your belly at Black Cat Burritos across from Magic Cycles in downtown.
