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Tsali Mouse Branch Loop Mountain Bike Trail
Bryson City, North Carolina
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
18 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 10/31/10 by mtbgreg1 |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 7 miles | Global Rank: #Not yet ranked. |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 217 | Wishlist: 72 |
| Avg. Speed: 7.28 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 29min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,803/-1,824 ft |
Description: Mouse Branch and Thompson Loops are the more technical of the Tsali trails, nonetheless, these trails are equally fun and fast. There is also significantly more elevation change on Mouse Branch Loop. There are some gradual uphills that tend to be near the top of the mountains in full exposure to the sun, but the views of Lake Fontana make it worth all the sweat and work. A really great trail when combined with the Thompson Loop.
Find out about camping at Tsali.
added in 2003 by guest 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Wild Turkey in Greensboro
Overmountain Victory Trail (Kerr Scott Reservoir) in Wilkesboro
Dupont State Forest in Brevard
Tsali Thompson Loop in Bryson City
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by jfigel76 on October 25, 2011
Great loop. Directional, no dabs or dismounts. Only ride on certain days and that is fine with me. Can be made an multi day epic with all the other 3 trails in the area. Campground in area is cool.
reviewed by jhbrown on July 5, 2011
I rode Mouse branch and the Left loop on consecutive evenings and found both to be fast and fun rides. Neither were very technical but there are some challenging climbs getting back to the center-line road as darkness fell. I would equate the Tsali trails with the Isaqueena trails in the upstate of SC.
Similar Trail: Isaqueena in Clemson, SC
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on October 31, 2010
Some new trail "maintenance" has left mouse branch with dozens of momentum-destroying and wheel-sucking waterbars. Amazing what a little funding will get you, huh?
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on August 15, 2010
Great trail like all of the other Tsali trails, but a little more technical, with more frequent and steeper climbs. Some of the downhills are steeper as well. Also, this has some of the best views in the entire trail system!
Similar Trail: All of the tsali trails, Jack Rabbit, Fats
reviewed by GoldenGoose on June 9, 2010
Fantasic trail much like the other three in the complex. This one seemed a little more technical than the others but still nothing that will give you any fits on the trail. Just more loose rocks to navigate. Not much climbing but great flow and a KILLER view at the overlook!! Bring your camera. All the biking trails at Tsali alternate days with horseback riders. No worries though, there are not many of them and the trails are in great shape. Mouse branch is only rideable by bikes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek (Dwelling and South loop) Thompson Loop
reviewed by Hannadog on August 17, 2009
Nice parking area. $2.00 fee is on the honor system. Trails alternate use and days with horse riders. Rode this trail for the first time counter-clockwise. Flows nice but might be better ridden clockwise base on other reviews. Trail is narrow and follows coves of lake. CAUTION: Since trail can be riden either way and due to limited line of sight, this can result in sudden head-on encounter with another rider. Trails are marked both directions with yellow blazes. Wet areas on trail have not been "armored" and will continue to erode and wallow-out. If you're in this area and want to MTB ride, I'd highly recommend. I would not drive to Tsali from my location just to ride the trails. Just my opinion, there are other trails and areas closer to me that are better.
Similar Trail: NE Georgia or Dupont SP in Brevard, NC.
reviewed by JSurratt on July 4, 2009
This trail has some uphill climbs with some rewarding downhill runs on difficult terrain....while riding this trail a young rider wiped out and broke his arm. Can be a dangerous ride if not careful.
Similar Trail: Tsali Tompson Loop
reviewed by pedrotyler on January 10, 2009
awesome trail The end is the best part, there are difficult climbs but it is worth it to get to the over look
reviewed by natedogg on November 12, 2008
Another Sweet Loop to do at Tsali. Mouse probably flows the best of all the loops I've ridden there. Similar to the other loops there, not very technical, but super fun. Overlook loop drops down, fast, somewhat rocky, super sweet, and like anything else, the more you ride it the faster you wana push it!! .... So my suggestion is to ride it twice, and then hit Thompson to finish with a solid climb at the end, followed by probably the fastest downhill at Tsali.
reviewed by jhckelman on August 3, 2008
Mouse is fun, if short. Best ridden clockwise, the first half is somewhat uninteresting, consisting mostly of narrowed, old forest road and lacking much in the way of scenery. The second half is much more fun, as it's fast and flowy. As is the case with all Tsali trail, there are numerous mud holes that would be easy to fix with a little maintenance (which I wouldn't comment on if the Forest Service didn't charge a user fee).
Similar Trail: Left Loop
reviewed by gcarlson on June 17, 2008
super sweet riding, flowy and allthat. great trail to just get in the groove on
reviewed by Reserverockhopper on December 29, 2007
I think this is my favorite Tsali trail. It is a hard choice, because we love them all.
reviewed by videl_majin_cold45 on September 4, 2007
I rode this trail on a Labor Day trip this year. I wasn't sure if we were going down the recomended direction. We started by going about halfway counter-clockwise and then turned aroud and rode it clockwise. Very fast sections proved to be lots of fun. Great scenery.
Similar Trail: Tsali Right Loop
reviewed by ositoking on July 7, 2007
This trail has some good climbs and some fast downhill. The overlook loop adds a little more than two miles to the trip. The decent from the overlook can get a little hairy if you are not careful. Good trail to enjoy the veiws and get a good workout.
* Review edited 7/7/2007
reviewed by squirl58 on May 1, 2007
Great trail. The overlook trail, which branches off the Mouse is in my opinion the best part. It is Extremely fast and thrilling. Between the Mouse and thompson, i think the thompson is better.
Similar Trail: Tsali Thomson loop
reviewed by yellowXtrek on June 26, 2005
This trail has some good climbs and some fast downhill. The overlook loop adds a little more than two miles to the trip. The decent from the overlook can get a little hairy if you are not careful. Good trail to enjoy the veiws and get a good workout. I would say it is harder than Thompson Loop but not as difficult as the Left Loop.
Similar Trail: Thompson Loop
reviewed by Wyoming on April 1, 2005
Tough technical trail. I think the toughest of the 4 in the Tsali park. Has great overlooks at top, but steep rocky climbs and descents. Great work out for mind and body.
Similar Trail: Tsali left and right loop.
reviewed by dalmasp on March 1, 2004
Super fun trail. You can add distance, a great downhill and views by including the Overlook loop to the ride. This loop will add about 2.5 miles, thus making the ride around 9 miles. Some of the climbs are tough and for the purist, there are places where if you are not careful, you can break some bones. The only disappoint to the day at Tsali was that the cafe in the Nantahala Gorge is not open in February. This cafe makes a great spot to eat, have a few drinks, watch the rafters float by and reflect on a great day on the famous Tsali trails.
Similar Trail: Bent Creek
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