6.9 miles
Distance
724 ft
Climb
-707 ft
Descent
00:54:23
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Thompson Loop Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Thompson Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Horse
  • Riding Area
    Tsali Recreation Area
    Bryson City, North Carolina
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Global Ranking
    #40561 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #82337 in Trail Running
    • #20636 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Manager
    Nantahala NF, Cheoah Ranger District

Some stream crossings and old logging roads. Mixed pine and hardwood forests at Tsali are easily recognized on this trail. Some old homesites. Neat part of forest with tall hemlocks and rhododendron, not typical of the heavily logged areas at Tsali. More great lakeshore singletrack riding with long, gradual hills. Some really great fast gravel road sections.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Thompson Loop mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    17 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,729 ft
  • Altitude max
    2,087 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,757 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,775 ft
  • Grade max
    -25.6%
  • Grade min
    33.1%
  • Distance climb
    3 miles
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    3,950 ft
  • Avg time
    00:54:23
  • Avg reverse time
    01:08:39
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Apr 23, 2022
Ideal
Avg: 4 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
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  • Both Directions
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  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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  • Videos
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Radar Time
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  • mountain biking recent
  • mountain biking (>6 month)
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  • moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
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      Directions to thompson-loop trailhead (35.405560, -83.586990)
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      Thompson Loop Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Apr 23, 2022 @ 11:20am
      Apr 23, 2022
      Jul 5, 2021 @ 4:59am
      Jul 5, 2021
      		 Two large trees down. First one around 3.75 miles - 8"-10" diameter. Second one around 4.75 miles - 12"-14" dia.
      Mar 30, 2021 @ 12:56pm
      Mar 30, 2021
      		 Several large trees down and need to be cut to remove. Muddy in very few spots. It rained heavy 2 days ago but it looked in great shape today!
      Feb 9, 2021 @ 7:57am
      Feb 9, 2021
      		 Mud pits in the usual places, otherwise ideal
      Oct 18, 2020 @ 8:56am
      Oct 18, 2020
      		 3 large trees down on the trail, 2 of which require hike-a-bike over, the last one on the final descent can be bunnyhopped (12" off the ground).
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 11 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 137 rides
      • 15 miles avg distance
      All
      • 554 rides
      • Last: Aug 3, 2022

      Photos

      more »
      57 |
      Dec 7, 2021 @ 3:45pm
      Dec 7, 2021
      213 |
      Oct 28, 2017 @ 3:45am
      Oct 28, 2017
      279 |
      Nov 21, 2016 @ 11:14am
      Nov 21, 2016

      1 Review & Comments

      • + 0
      sehuffman (Oct 9, 2017 at 16:22)
      Medium sized downed tree in the last mile of this loop as of 9 October 2017. Also the National Forest service recommends riding this loop in the opposite direction than is shown here.
      [Reply]





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      Nearby Trails

      Tsali Recreation Area

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