Blue Ridge Ramble Mixed Terrain Tour

If you are flying in for this tour, book flights to Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). Lizard Head provides a Day 0 late afternoon shuttle from Fletcher, North Carolina/Asheville Regional Airport to the Night 0 hotel in Morganton, North Carolina and then a post-tour shuttle on the last day of the tour back to Fletcher, North Carolina/Asheville Regional Airport.

If you are you driving to this tour, you can leave your car at long-term parking at Asheville Regional Airport. At the end of the tour we will shuttle you back to Asheville Regional Airport.

Please refer to your tour confirmation documents for detailed logistics and meeting hotel information.

Suggestion: We recommend that guests either arrive a few days early or stay a few days after the tour in the Asheville area to explore this beautiful region.

42 miles with up to 4,835 feet of climbing (50% paved/50% gravel)

The tour begins early morning from the small town of Morganton, North Carolina, located in the Catawba River valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The first day’s route proceeds north along mostly gravel roads within Pisgah National Forest. The first 36 miles remain relatively flat along rolling terrain, then comes the final 5 mile ascent climbing Elk Ridge up to Blowing Rock, North Carolina where we spend our first night and where post-ride libations await at Blowing Rock Brewing.

52 miles with up to 5,575 feet of climbing (30% paved/70% gravel)

The second day of the tour offers a more back country experience along mostly gravel Appalachian roads. Starting from Blowing Rock, the first few miles offer a blistering descent down through Boyd Gap. The gravel comes early in the ride and ascends for the next 20 miles past Little Lost Cove Cliffs and Big Lost Cove Ridge. Passing through the small village of Jonas Ridge and into Pisgah National Forest, we enter the Linville Gorge Wilderness and enjoy a 14 mile mostly downhill gravel descent along Old Highway 105.

With the last few miles along paved roads, we reach the end of the ride at Fonta Flora Brewery to sample the local brews. Following this we shuttle a short distance back up the Appalachian Ridge to the small town of Little Switzerland, North Carolina for this evening’s lodging. Tonight guests are on-their-own for dinner in the pub or on-site restaurant.

63 miles with up to 7,645 feet of climbing (100% paved)

Even though we hit no gravel, today will be the most challenging of the tour with a net gain of 5,100 feet of elevation in the first 25 miles – that’s nearly a mile! From Little Switzerland we set out along the Blue Ridge Parkway for most of the riding today and at around 22 miles get to the base of Mount Mitchell which at 6,684 feet is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in mainland eastern North America.

From the peak of Mount Mitchell, the view is spectacular! But from here it is quite literally all downhill with a net loss of over 6,000 feet over the final 33 miles! The last miles of descending is along a local’s favorite road – Town Mountain Road – a beautiful road with multiple twists and turns that deposits riders into the downtown district of Asheville where we end the epic day at Wicked Weed Brewing.

With multiple breweries, pubs, and restaurants in the downtown area, guests are free to enjoy a casual and relaxing evening on the town on-their-own.

60 miles with up to 5,900 feet of climbing (50% paved/50% gravel)

The adventure continues today as we say goodbye to Asheville and depart on bike from downtown, through Biltmore Village, then through Biltmore Forest for a short jaunt along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Soon turning off the parkway, we make our way back onto gravel roads along Bent Creek Trail up to Bent Creek Gap where we rejoin the Blue Ridge Parkway for the next dozen miles. From here we descend down Pisgah Highway and then divert onto Headwater Road, a gravel forest road passing through Cave Ridge Gap and Gumstand Gap.

The final few miles are along more dual-track forest roads making our way into Brevard, North Carolina and eventually ending at the Oskar Blues Brewery Taproom. After a celebratory brew, we shuttle a short distance south into the heart of downtown Brevard for our lodging and to enjoy the local dining scene with a final group dinner.

36 miles with up to 3,060 feet of climbing (43% paved/57% gravel)

On this final day, the morning riding starts from Brevard and diverts back onto the Art Loeb Trail. Taking a turn onto Avery Creek Road and then onto Yellow Gap Road, the route turns to dual-track gravel for (mostly) the next 20 miles. After reaching Yellow Gap, the remainder of the ride is a descent through the North Mills River Recreation Area where we meander the final miles to end our day, and the tour, at the Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant.

After lunch and a well deserved brew, we shuttle a few short miles back to where we began in Fletcher, North Carolina and Asheville Regional Airport.

Suggestion: We recommend that guests either arrive a few days early or stay a few days after the tour in the Asheville area to explore this beautiful region.