more stats
5.5 miles
Distance
631 ft
Climb
-637 ft
Descent
00:45:07
Avg time
-5 ft
Altitude change
1,707 ft
Altitude min
1,959 ft
Altitude max
1,837 ft
Altitude start
1,831 ft
Altitude end
-20.1%
Grade max
22.6%
Grade min
2 miles
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
1 mile
Distance flat
00:45:07
Avg time

Mouse Branch Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Tsali Recreation Area
    Bryson City, North Carolina
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 95 in Trail Running
    • 55 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #47744 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #19896 in Trail Running
    • #50527 in Hiking
    • #755 in Horseback
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    Nantahala NF, Cheoah Ranger District

Has one long, fast singletrack downhill, with a gradual climb up to it. Good views. Trail passes over neat clearcut hills. In one spot, you can see the trail snaking over on the next ridge. Watch how quickly the forest can change as you go in and out of coves and along ridges.

Trail Supporters
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 5 rides
  • 15 miles average
6 Months
  • 50 rides
  • 15 miles avg distance
All
  • 371 rides
  • Last: Sep 26, 2026
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update trails status or condition

Mouse Branch Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 20, 2026 @ 8:55am (America/New_York)
Jul 20, 2026
 Perfect conditions even after sporadic but consistent days of rain during past week or so. Great sticky dirt, very little mud.
Jul 16, 2026 @ 10:25am (America/Kentucky/Monticello)
Jul 16, 2026
Not approved
Huge trees down @ MP 4.8 and 5.2 - we were hiking and made it through, but packing a bike around these 2 trees would be awful!
Aug 22, 2025 @ 11:08am
Aug 22, 2025
Mar 29, 2025 @ 10:44am
Mar 29, 2025
Oct 17, 2024 @ 6:53am
Oct 17, 2024
more »
Status:
on Jul 20, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.94 (11 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to mouse-branch-loop trailhead (35.407580, -83.593940)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      12 more »
      mtb
      357 |
      Jul 2, 2019 @ 4:12am
      Jul 2, 2019
      mtb
      296 |
      Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:30pm
      Jul 1, 2019
      mtb
      332 |
      Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:24pm
      Jul 1, 2019
      mtb
      334 |
      Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:13pm
      Jul 1, 2019

      Videos

      1 more »
      youtuber Mouse Loop at Tsali - Fall Colors
      mtb
      7:04 | 460 | Nov 8, 2022 , Bryson City
      3.9 ★★★★★
      11 Ratings
      5 ★ 27%
      4 ★ 45%
      3 ★ 18%
      2 ★ 9%
      1 ★

      7 Reviews & Comments

      Dieselgrace
      Large tree down across trail about a mile in
      Wmackattack
      I wish I hadn't held off riding this loop. It might be my new favorite tsali loop. Plenty of climbs ans descends and the overlook loop is fun too.
      etasber
      Mouse Branch & Overlook: 50% singletrack. A lot of road. Some of the road had a thin ride line on it, but I dont really consider that "singletrack". Much of the true singletrack serves as a drainage channel so it is littered with a lot of natural debris (leaves, sticks & some loose rock). These aren't so much "mountainbike trails" as they are trails you're allowed to mountainbike on. Sone nice views, but actual trails are mediocre at best.

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      Nearby Trails

      Tsali Recreation Area

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Mouse Branch Loop located?
      Mouse Branch Loop is located in Tsali Recreation Area, Bryson City, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Tsali Recreation Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.40758, -83.59394.
      ▼ How hard is Mouse Branch Loop?
      Mouse Branch Loop is rated as Blue difficulty.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Mouse Branch Loop?
      Mouse Branch Loop has 631 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 637 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,707 ft to 1,959 ft.
      ▼ Is Mouse Branch Loop a point to point trail?
      Mouse Branch Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Mouse Branch Loop?
      Mouse Branch Loop is 5.5 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Mouse Branch Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Mouse Branch Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Mouse Branch Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Mouse Branch Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Mouse Branch Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 49 minutes to ride Mouse Branch Loop. The trail is 5.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Mouse Branch Loop?
      Mouse Branch Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 1,403 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,591 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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