more stats
7.0 miles
Distance
833 ft
Climb
-826 ft
Descent
00:52:16
Avg time
7 ft
Altitude change
1,725 ft
Altitude min
2,094 ft
Altitude max
1,763 ft
Altitude start
1,772 ft
Altitude end
-24.7%
Grade max
20.9%
Grade min
3 miles
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
2 miles
Distance flat
00:52:16
Avg time

Thompson Loop-CCW Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Tsali Recreation Area
    Bryson City, North Carolina
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 55 in Trail Running
    • 45 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #60993 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #22084 in Trail Running
    • #51778 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    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.

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 46 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 309 rides
  • Last: Sep 6, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jun 18, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.05 (11 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to thompson-loopccw trailhead (35.405530, -83.586940)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      5 more »
      mtb
      106 |
      Sep 30, 2024 @ 7:12pm
      Sep 30, 2024
      mtb
      237 |
      Dec 7, 2021 @ 3:45pm
      Dec 7, 2021
      mtb
      336 |
      Oct 28, 2017 @ 3:45am
      Oct 28, 2017
      mtb
      427 |
      Nov 21, 2016 @ 11:14am
      Nov 21, 2016

      Videos

      1 more »
      youtuber Biking the Thompson Loop at Tsali in the Fall!
      mtb
      6:21 | 555 | Nov 5, 2022 , Bryson City
      4.1 ★★★★★
      11 Ratings
      5 ★ 36%
      4 ★ 45%
      3 ★ 9%
      2 ★ 9%
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments

      smokeymountain
      Probably one of the best kept secrets, Thompson Loop is a fun trail, steady climb up to the top and fast descend Fri the top. I thoroughly enjoyed even more than than Mouse Branch. Left/Right Loops are gold too. Do take suggest direction and go CCW.
      sehuffman sehuffman
      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.

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      Nearby Trails

      Tsali Recreation Area

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Thompson Loop-CCW located?
      Thompson Loop-CCW 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 35.40553, -83.58694.
      ▼ How hard is Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Thompson Loop-CCW is rated as Blue difficulty.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Thompson Loop-CCW has 833 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 826 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,725 ft to 2,094 ft.
      ▼ How long is Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Thompson Loop-CCW is 7.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Thompson Loop-CCW. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Thompson Loop-CCW? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Thompson Loop-CCW are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 59 minutes to ride Thompson Loop-CCW. The trail is 7.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Thompson Loop-CCW?
      Thompson Loop-CCW is a very popular trail. There have been 1,316 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,656 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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