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 [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 80 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

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 35 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 351 rides
  • Last: Aug 7, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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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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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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        Directions to mouse-branch-loop trailhead (35.407580, -83.593940)

        Photos

        12 more »
        mtb
        351 |
        Jul 2, 2019 @ 4:12am
        Jul 2, 2019
        mtb
        293 |
        Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:30pm
        Jul 1, 2019
        mtb
        328 |
        Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:24pm
        Jul 1, 2019
        mtb
        331 |
        Jul 1, 2019 @ 1:13pm
        Jul 1, 2019

        Videos

        1 more »
        youtuber Mouse Loop at Tsali - Fall Colors
        mtb
        7:04 | 445 | Nov 8, 2022 , Bryson City

        7 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        Tsali Recreation Area

        Frequently Asked Questions About Mouse Branch Loop

        ▼ 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.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Mouse Branch Loop?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Mouse Branch Loop are:
        • July (42 activities)
        • October (26 activities)
        • May (21 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ 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 1,364 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,550 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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