4.5 miles
Distance
648 ft
Climb
-1,733 ft
Descent
00:51:37
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Kitsuma Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Kitsuma Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Kitsuma Peak
    Old Fort, North Carolina
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (4 votes)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Season
    Year Round
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Roller Coaster
  • Global Ranking
    #1022 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #84260 in Trail Running
    • #37638 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 30 in Trail Running
    • 45 in Hiking
  • Land Owner
    Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger Station

Kitsuma is a point to point singletrack trail that has a machine groomed tread in most parts. A steep, punchy switchback filled climb follows a set of spines from Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC to the parking lot of Old Fort Picnic area. It can be accessed from the base at Old Fort Picnic Grounds or the base of the upper climb.

Access Info

Two parking areas - Kitsuma parking lot via Royal Gorge Rd or Old Fort Picnic Area. The climb from Old Fort picnic area can be either up Old Hwy 70/ Point Lookout Trail (USFS gated paved greenway next to Piney Grove Church) or Mill Creek Road (paved then turns to grave) for a longer climb.

Disclaimer

KITSUMA PINNACLE & steep chute(the only left hand fork) IS OFF LIMITS TO BIKES. HIKERS ONLY.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Kitsuma multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,086 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,641 ft
  • Altitude max
    3,145 ft
  • Altitude start
    2,726 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,640 ft
  • Grade
    -4.6%
  • Grade max
    -48.5%
  • Grade min
    56.3%
  • Distance climb
    1 mile
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    1,270 ft
  • Avg time
    00:51:37
  • Avg reverse time
    01:09:16
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Mar 2, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 4.52 (54 votes)
Your vote: 0

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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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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
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  • > 6 months
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  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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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
  • Snowmobile
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      Directions to kitsuma trailhead (35.621080, -82.268090)
      update trails status or condition

      Kitsuma Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Mar 2, 2025 @ 1:02pm
      Mar 2, 2025
      Feb 8, 2025 @ 6:43pm
      Feb 8, 2025
      Nov 23, 2024 @ 12:14pm
      Nov 23, 2024
      		 Trail is open!
      Nov 21, 2024 @ 7:23am
      Nov 21, 2024
      		 Closed due to Helene
      Oct 23, 2024 @ 4:54pm
      Oct 23, 2024
      		 Perfect condition after hurricane Helene. All fallen trees is cutted and removed. Leaves, sticks and branches removed. Only one place need the...
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 2 rides
      • 15 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 10 rides
      • 14 miles avg distance
      All
      • 467 rides
      • Last: Mar 23, 2025

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Photos

      more »
      44 |
      Jun 30, 2024 @ 11:04am
      Jun 30, 2024
      157 |
      Oct 1, 2023 @ 12:44pm
      Oct 1, 2023
      121 |
      Jun 10, 2023 @ 5:01pm
      Jun 10, 2023
      97 |
      Jun 10, 2023 @ 5:00pm
      Jun 10, 2023

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Kitsuma9 miles
      Kitsuma Shuttle Run5 miles
      Heartbreak-Kitsuma Shuttle16 miles
      Pisgah Enduro 2023 Day 2 race27 miles

      20 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Exploring The South East! Pisgah Flow and...
      16:06 | 1239 | Oct 3, 2018 , Old Fort
      youtuber Mountain Biking Kitsuma, First Ride In Pisgah
      10:23 | 962 | Oct 23, 2018 , Old Fort
      youtuber Heartbreak Ridge Breaks Me?
      15:37 | 733 | Nov 6, 2018 , Old Fort
      youtuber Kitsuma is STILL one of the best trails...
      22:42 | 233 | Sep 3, 2023 , Old Fort

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