Road cycling near Hot Springs, NC

[Jose Perez]

Hi everyone,
My wife and I will be vacationing in Hot Springs, NC the first week in December and were looking for advice on riding in the area. Just general info as far as safety (roads too narrow, aggressive drivers, that sort of thing), good routes to try, and any worthwhile places to look into when we're there.

Thanks in advance.

- Jose

[wanders]

Depending on the amount of mileage you want to put in, the Blue Ridge Parkway is not to far from where you will be. If it is during "leaf season" the traffic will be very heavy. You can also head in any direction from Hotsprings and find alot of scenic roads, routes. It is in the mountains so gear accordingly. Have fun and take pictures to post.

[jskinner73]

Don't know how you'll get there but... If you happen to go by the Welcome to NC Visitors center along I-26 they have some great maps of the trails and roads in the area as well as very helpful staff. Last year while passing through the area, I stopped and got directions to a terrific hiking(it was labeled for MTBs but you better be real good) trail along the Laurel River to an abandoned railroad town. It's only about a 7 mile rounder but is a great trail right along the river. Also passed some bikers on RTE 209 but be sure and have some mountain gearing for that. I gues it's safe to say you need mountain gearing anywhere in the area!

Can be pretty chilly there in Dec. so be prepared.

[cnickgo]

Depending on the amount of mileage you want to put in, the Blue Ridge Parkway is not to far from where you will be. If it is during "leaf season" the traffic will be very heavy. You can also head in any direction from Hotsprings and find alot of scenic roads, routes. It is in the mountains so gear accordingly. Have fun and take pictures to post.


The leaf season is indeed in. The floridians are packing by the minute. Not to discourage riding on the brp, but traffic was bad just driving on it yesterday. Won't hurt anything to bring your bike and at least drive up to the parkway and decide if you want to ride then.

[piper_chuck]

By the first week of Dec, the time Jose OP said he would be there, leaf season should be long gone.

[Jose Perez]

Thanks for all the good info guys. I also got a bunch of useful info including cue sheets for some rides from the blue ridge bike club's website.

Thanks again

[cooperwx]

The BRBC is the best around. You could make a loop out of the northern half of their Hot Springs fat burner by crossing the river at Marshall. Take 25/70 into Marshall, across the river, then catch the printed route back around to 209. I'd say that would be about 60 miles.

Hot Springs is so isolated that 25/70 and 209 are about the only roads around. In December, you won't have traffic issues on either of these roads. But they've got some serious hills, especially 209.