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1.3 miles
Distance
-289 ft
Descent
00:10:09
Avg time
-291 ft
Altitude change
2,265 ft
Altitude min
2,557 ft
Altitude max
2,556 ft
Altitude start
2,267 ft
Altitude end
-4.2%
Grade
-33.6%
Grade max
1.5%
Grade min
282 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
1,020 ft
Distance flat
00:10:09
Avg time
Trail Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Horse
- Hike
- Trail Running
-
Riding AreaNorth Mills River
Mills River, North Carolina -
Difficulty Rating
-
Local Popularity85 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 70 in Trail Running
- 60 in Hiking
- 5 in Horseback
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Global Ranking
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State Ranking#492 in Mountain Biking · North Carolina [+]
- #1,253 in Trail Running
- #1,696 in Hiking
- #137 in Horseback
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular Direction Shown
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Dogs AllowedYes
-
eBike Allowed
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Land OwnerU.S. Forest Service
The section from Wash Creek Trail to where Trace Ridge Trail intersects with North Mills River Trail was rerouted in 2015 to aid in the erosion prevention and make more sustainable trails.
Trail Supporters
USFSLand Manager
Local Trail Association
-
-
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
- 4 rides
- 13 miles average
6 Months
- 127 rides
- 15 miles avg distance
All
- 689 rides
- Last: Nov 8, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Trace Ridge... 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
Trailforks scans activity logs 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.
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- Photos
- Description & Photos
- 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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- popular
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Activity Recordings
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Activity Recordings
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Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
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Slope Aspect
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Directions to trace-ridge-trail-lower trailhead
(35.420340, -82.656860)
Photos
3 more »
Videos
3 more »
mtb
18:01 |
285 |
Jul 29, 2023 , Mills River
mtb
12:57 |
433 |
Sep 17, 2019 , Mills River
Trail Lists
-
NC trail checkoff list150 trails -
All of Pisgah area check list 2022205 trails -
Pisgah Area SORBA Regions - All Trails
103 trails
Routes with this trail
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★ 4.7 • 8 miles • 1,148 ft • 8 • Loop •
If you like steep techy downhills this is the route for you. Climb up wash creek road to Spencer Gap....
★ 4.0 • 11 miles • 1,364 ft • 16 •
Pisgah Lite. Climb up wash creek from Horse camp until Spencer Gap. Tough climbing on Spencer gap and...
★ 5.0 • 12 miles • 1,530 ft • 6 • Loop •
Typical North River Mills Blue loop. - Spencer Gap (Upper) - Spencer Branch (Upper) - Spencer Gap (Lower)...
EllenWpNvaN
Sick trail at the top with speed and a jump or two and then a fun techy little cross country trail once you pass wash creek trail
906Yooper906
Descending from the Trace Ridge Trail Head to North Mills River Trail can be fun if its not wet. There are some minor rock drops/jumps. Ascending this trail from North Mills River Trail to Wash Creek Trail is not that difficult and provides for some moderately technical features to climb over vs going up the gravel roads. I would not second guess in my future rides to use this as an up hill connection.
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Nearby Trails
- Fletcher Creek Road 0 ft
- Wash Creek Trail 1,900 ft
- North Mills River Trail 2,972 ft
- Moore Cove Road 3,117 ft
- Seniard Mountain Road 3,570 ft
- By blowmyfuse
& contributors - #35524 - 3,723 views
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