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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Inadequate
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Ridden
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
Max Vehicle Width
inches
Radar Time
x
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months.
- mountain biking recent
- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public skilogs from the past 12 months.
- Downhill Ski
- Backcountry Ski
- Nordic Ski
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where riders jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with NO bikes.
Save the current map location and zoom level as your default home location whenever this page is loaded.
SaveTsali is a great trail system with trails that mix up flowy fun with some technical challenges. Be sure to check the trail use schedule before you head out. Mouse & Thompson and Right & Left Loop are open to mountain bikers and horses on alternating days so please respect the schedule Bathrooms and water are available at the parking area. There is a $2 day use fee and camping is available.
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
eBikes Allowed:
Yes
Land Status: National Forest
Land Manager: Nantahala NF, Cheoah Ranger District

Disclaimer:
Jan./Feb./March/April/June/Sept./Nov./Dec.
Right Loop and Left Loop:
Horses – Tuesday , Thursday, & Saturday
Mountain Bikes –Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:
Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
May/July/August/October
Right Loop and Left Loop:
Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:
Horses – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Mountain Bikes – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
There is a per-person day use fee for trail use. Fees can be paid at either the Tsali Bike or Horse Trailheads.
Hiking: open every day
Right Loop and Left Loop:
Horses – Tuesday , Thursday, & Saturday
Mountain Bikes –Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:
Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
May/July/August/October
Right Loop and Left Loop:
Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:
Horses – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Mountain Bikes – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday
There is a per-person day use fee for trail use. Fees can be paid at either the Tsali Bike or Horse Trailheads.
Hiking: open every day
Links
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
16 trails
- Hike
16 trails
- Trail Running
16 trails
- Horse
16 trails
Region Details
- 4
- 3
- 9
Region Status
Caution as of Oct 12, 2020Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 16
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 16
- Trails Hike
- 16
- Trails Trail Running
- 16
- Trails Horse
- 16
- Total Distance
- 42 miles
- Total Descent Distance
- 18 miles
- Total Descent
- 4,220 ft
- Total Vertical
- 1,759 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 3,463 ft
- Reports
- 147
- Photos
- 50
- Ridden Counter
- 4,856
Popular Tsali Recreation Area Mountain Biking Trails
Tsali Recreation Area Mountain Bike Routes
title | rating | distance |
---|---|---|
Tsali (IMBA Epic) | 24 miles |
Photos of Tsali Recreation Area Mountain Bike
trail: Thompson Loop
50 |
Dec 7, 2021 @ 3:45pm
Dec 7, 2021
trail: Left Loop
63 |
Dec 4, 2021 @ 7:12am
Dec 4, 2021
trail: Mouse Branch Overlook Loop
25 |
Oct 20, 2021 @ 11:23am
Oct 20, 2021
trail: Mouse Branch Overlook Loop
26 |
Oct 20, 2021 @ 11:23am
Oct 20, 2021
trail: Mouse Branch Overlook Loop
25 |
Oct 20, 2021 @ 11:23am
Oct 20, 2021
trail: Mouse Branch Overlook Loop
29 |
Oct 20, 2021 @ 11:22am
Oct 20, 2021
trail: Left Loop
115 |
May 11, 2021 @ 6:58pm
May 11, 2021Recent Trail Reports
status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thompson Loop Access | Apr 23, 2022 @ 11:20am Apr 23, 2022 | Ideal | eonmellitz | ||
Thompson Loop | Apr 23, 2022 @ 11:20am Apr 23, 2022 | Ideal | eonmellitz | ||
Mouse Branch Loop | Dec 5, 2021 @ 9:34am Dec 5, 2021 | Variable | Chemmech | ||
Right Loop | Nov 1, 2021 @ 12:48pm Nov 1, 2021 | Ideal | Jeremy122776 EBCI | ||
Overlook Trail | Nov 1, 2021 @ 12:48pm Nov 1, 2021 | Ideal | Jeremy122776 EBCI | ||
Overlook Loop | Nov 1, 2021 @ 12:48pm Nov 1, 2021 | Ideal | Jeremy122776 EBCI | ||
Left Loop | Oct 17, 2021 @ 6:46pm Oct 17, 2021 | Ideal | mikegehard Chattanooga | ||
Overlook Loop Access | Sep 12, 2021 @ 7:55am Sep 12, 2021 | Ideal | PineappleDouche | ||
County Line Road | Sep 12, 2021 @ 7:55am Sep 12, 2021 | Ideal | PineappleDouche | ||
Parking Lot | Sep 12, 2021 @ 7:55am Sep 12, 2021 | Ideal | PineappleDouche |
Activity Feed
username | action | type | title | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | GDOGMTB727 | wishlist | trail | Left Loop | Jun 30, 2022 @ 3:52am 19 mins |
![]() | mleosu | wishlist | route | Tsali (IMBA Epic) | Jun 26, 2022 @ 10:49pm Jun 26, 2022 |
![]() | Ma11hewjdavison | wishlist | trail | Left Loop | Jun 23, 2022 @ 6:27pm Jun 23, 2022 |
![]() | Skrigler | wishlist | trail | Left Loop | Jun 12, 2022 @ 7:25pm Jun 12, 2022 |
![]() | MattThomas08 | wishlist | route | Tsali (IMBA Epic) | Jun 8, 2022 @ 4:57pm Jun 8, 2022 |
Recent Comments
username | type | title | comment | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | report | Made one cut through a pine tree blocking the... | Jul 4, 2021 @ 2:06pm Jul 4, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | This was a really nice Loop. Unfortunately... | May 24, 2021 @ 5:17am May 24, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | Lots of trail work done on Right and Left... | Apr 25, 2021 @ 4:24pm Apr 25, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | They have done SO much work on Right and Left... | Apr 25, 2021 @ 2:44pm Apr 25, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | Finally - a nice flowing trail with minimal... | Jul 12, 2020 @ 12:29pm Jul 12, 2020 |
Nearby Areas
name | distance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nantahala Outdoor Center | 3 | 5.7 km | |||
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - West NC | 1 | 1 | 7.7 km | ||
Fontana Village Trails | 1 | 6 | 13.5 km | ||
Central Nantahala National Forest | 15.4 km | ||||
Fire Mountain Trails | 4 | 5 | 15.6 km |
Activity Type Stats
activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | ridelogs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Bike | 16 | 42 miles | 4,219 ft | 18 miles | 1,759 ft | #1,784 | #949 | 36 | 147 | 1 | 2,332 | |
Hike | 16 | 42 miles | 4,219 ft | 18 miles | 1,759 ft | #1,399 | #845 | 9 | 147 | 41 | ||
Trail Running | 16 | 42 miles | 4,219 ft | 18 miles | 1,759 ft | #1,404 | #843 | 147 | 25 | |||
Horse | 16 | 42 miles | 4,219 ft | 18 miles | 1,759 ft | #73 | #60 | 36 | 1 |
- By markholloway
Trailforks & contributors
- Admins: NA-SORBA
- #11123 - 10,313 views
- tsali recreation area activity log | embed map of Tsali Recreation Area mountain bike trails | tsali recreation area mountain biking points of interest
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