Bike the Beech

Beech Mountain Resort will host the 2012 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships, Jul 18 - 22 2012.

In 2009, Beech Mountain Resort built a brand new mountain biking downhill trail between White Lightning and Southern Star. Riders ate it up! In 2012 Beech Mountain Resort was named host to the 2012 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships. The Summer of 2012 will be a big year for further construction of the course adding even more trails to our landscape.

The Three-Year Vision

MIssion Statement

The mission of the Beech Mountain Resort Bike Park is to provide users with a unique, diverse system of sustainably safe trails for recreational and competitive mountain bike use.

The focus in 2011 will be on the construction and planning of a unique facility and the implementation of bike trays to the high-speed detachable quad. Working closely with Christopher Herndon, the resort will produce a sustainable trail system for advanced riders, but will have a strong focus on a beginner trail system for the new riders. An aggressive marketing approach with local, regional, and national media outlets will be the primary focus of the resort staff, leading up to the soft opening of the facility; which will correlate with USAC Mountain Bike gravity nationals.

With the success from 2011, the bike park will provide more operating dates. Beech Mountain Resort will reintroduce its race series leading into USAC nationals, as well as free-ride dates to showcase the product. The resort will work with trail builders to provide a continued expansion of a unique trail system. Beech Mountain Resort will offer an unmatchable product that will surpass its competitors.

Park Operation will operate on a set schedule. A rental fleet and opening of a bike shop will compliment the park as well as providing a more inviting atmosphere to beginner enthusiasts. Beech Mountain Resort will expand their race series and continue to offer unique events and unmatchable terrain.

Emerald Outback

Map of Emerald Outback

Meanwhile, the Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park officially opened its Emerald Outback section on May 1 2011. The 8-plus miles of Emerald Outback trails range in elevation from 4,700 to 5,400 feet, giving the park the distinction of being among the highest such venues on the East Coast.

The park features a combination of single track, double track and gravel road trails traversing the mountaintop, all accessible from a trail head in the town of Beech Mountain.

The Emerald Outback is the first phase of the Beech Mountain Adventure Trail Park, which will grow to three phases encompassing 25 miles of trails. It was designed by mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners to meet the recreational demands of serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Credit for building the park goes to Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department. Fitness and wellness coordinator Daniel Scagnelli conceived the idea in 2009 and spearheaded a trail-building effort of mostly volunteer labor. The town of Beech Mountain has constructed the Emerald Outback Trail System