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4,167 ft
Distance
135 ft
Climb
-160 ft
Descent
00:09:53
Avg time
-25 ft
Altitude change
2,415 ft
Altitude min
2,576 ft
Altitude max
2,440 ft
Altitude start
2,415 ft
Altitude end
-0.6%
Grade
-28.4%
Grade max
20.3%
Grade min
1,545 ft
Distance climb
2,392 ft
Distance down
230 ft
Distance flat
00:09:53
Avg time
Explorer Loop Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaBent Creek Experimental Forest
Bent Creek, North Carolina -
Ref Number#337
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Difficulty Rating
-
Local Popularity50 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 40 in Trail Running
- 50 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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State Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT2 Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeMixed
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land Owner
No community description for Explorer Loop trail has been added yet!
AI Generated Description
Explorer Loop is a highly rated 4,167 ft moderately popular blue difficulty mixed trail located near Bent Creek North Carolina. This multi-use trail can be used downhill primary and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 135 ft blue climb. Trail visibility is always easy to follow. On average it takes 9 minutes to complete this trail.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 3 rides
- 16 miles average
6 Months
- 70 rides
- 12 miles avg distance
All
- 626 rides
- Last: Oct 7, 2026
Explorer Loop Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Used
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- < 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
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- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs 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 activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
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BC Backroad Status
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Directions to explorer-loop-28478 trailhead
(35.465800, -82.643940)
Photos
4 more »
Videos
1 more »
mtb
8:13 |
392 |
Jun 14, 2019 , Bent Creek
Trail Lists
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All of Pisgah area check list 2022205 trails -
Pisgah Area SORBA Regions - All Trails
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Pisgah Area SORBA - All Maintained Trails
61 trails
Routes with this trail
11 miles • 1,586 ft • 7 • Loop •
Starting from Ledford Parking / Wesley Branch Trailhead parking. You will be heading up to the highest...
48 miles • 7,432 ft • 22 • Loop •
North Mills route attempting to hit the north east black trails avoiding roads and back tracking.
4 Reviews & Comments
Tllb34
Tough initial rooty uphill but good downhill +/-
Tllb34
Narrow fun downhill, very nice looking area
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Nearby Trails
- 479h 0 ft
- Explorer Loop Connector 1,329 ft
- Explorer Loop 1,329 ft
- Chestnut Cove 1,335 ft
- Chestnut Cove Lower 1,490 ft
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
- By blowmyfuse
& contributors - #28478 - 2,180 views
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