|
|
|
|
|
||
Tsali Recreation Area Mountain Bike Trail
Bryson City, North Carolina
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
22 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 11/11/11 by Wesley456 |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 30 miles | Global Rank: #3 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 413 | Wishlist: 263 |
| Avg. Speed: 7.22 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 31min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +6,797/-6,625 ft (based on partial GPS data) | IMBA Epic Trail |
 2 trail check-ins |
Mountain Bike Trails in the Tsali Recreation Area Trail System
Directions:
To view directions to Tsali Recreation Area mountain bike trail, please login. If
you don't have an account, sign up now: it's free, only takes a minute, and gives you access to tons of other rad features.
Description: Tsali features four singletrack loops that hug the banks of Fontana Lake. Super fast and flowy singletrack with mostly moderate climbs and amazing scenery
Daily usage alternates between horses and bikes so you don't have to worry about running into spooked riders (check local park maps and signage). The trailhead features a bike wash station and there's also a nice campground with showers and flush toilets. Tsali is an IMBA Epic and with good reason!
added on July 21, 2010 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Brevard-area Pisgah National Forest in Brevard
Tsali Left Loop in Bryson City
Tsali Thompson Loop in Bryson City
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by schwim on January 30, 2012
This whole trail system is a real treat. A few spots that will have all but the supermen and women among us walking our bikes to the top and some incredibly brisk downhills as a reward. Each day has a pair of trails open that will give you about 20 miles of peddling.
Similar Trail: Tanasi
reviewed by jeffrey_j on December 31, 2011
Agree with the review below. Good trail, but not the best I've ridden (FATS is #1 to me). We went up here last summer and rode about half the trails here one day and all of JackRabbits another day. Solid, well groomed/marked trails that seem to get a bit long at times. Some of the climbs were long and fun, but no real flowy sections like FATS or JackRabbits.
* Review edited 12/31/2011
reviewed by inbody06 on November 28, 2011
Every one i meet says this trail is the best. I think they could be better. As narrow as some of these trails are along the lake edge they should be rotation direction not bidiectional. They do rotate trails for horse and bike use . Whatever? trails are marked well, flow good , great views at overlooks, tend to get bored as each trail is long with little change up. dont mind the miles just when they all look the same and ride the same. Jack Rabbit trails are more fun than this one . if you want to ride all the trails here plan 2 days as they are on a rotation with horse use 4 trails total 2 avaliable every other day. Bottom line if you are in the area go ride here ,just dont make a pilgramage here expecting bliss
reviewed by bboehman on October 30, 2011
Great trail and one of my favorite IMBA Epics I have ridden. I have been there several times from Indiana and it doesn't get old. Great views, climbs and downhills. It is a must do for anyone.
reviewed by jfigel76 on October 25, 2011
See reviews for the 4 individual trails there. Left, right loop. Thompson and Mouse Branch loops. Ride different loops on different days. Campground on site to bike to trails. $2 entrance fee per day. Money goes to trails. Epic, multi day trip.
reviewed by Loonytik on October 13, 2011
Rode the right and left loops on 10/7/11 and ticked 20 miles exactly. The trails were in great shape. I always prefer the Thomson and Mouse days though. Spent Saturday taking a flat bottom canoe down the Natahala with a buddy. Mtn biking and the reevur....good times.
reviewed by Loonytik on October 6, 2011
Riding Tsali this weekend and the Mouse Branch and Thompson Loops rode well today. The flow worked well and we ticked 20.1 miles after riding both trails plus the overlook. My gauge is prolly off since i got new rims though.
reviewed by trentb1 on September 19, 2011
Fun and Flowy, pretty easy stuff....Great scenery and a camp ground with showers. I was hooked on this place for a few weeks....
Similar Trail: Brush Creek (near Tanasi)
reviewed by Casey_Anderson on September 2, 2011
My son and I rode both the right and left loops as Tsali back-to-back. This trail system is not especially technical, but is challenging to ride mainly because of the steady climbing to reach the overlook areas and the overall length of the loops when ridden in one day. We had a great time and would recommend it highly, but I think Raystown Lake in Pennsylvania is a better example of the same general concept -- long, flowy trails at a destination mountain bike network.
Similar Trail: Raystown Lake, PA
reviewed by Fishy29er on August 27, 2011
What can i say, this trail lived up to the hype. The views, trail condition and overlook are all top notch. Definitely worth the 2.5 hour trip.
Similar Trail: Dupont State Forest
reviewed by tyonkers on August 1, 2011
Spent three days up there in May. What a great trip wish I could have stayed longer. Not very technical but fun and fast. The climbs were a little tough for a florida boy, but the downhill was worth it! Did I mention fast! Great veiws great trails will be going back for sure.
reviewed by jcotton on July 18, 2011
Trails are in great shape, the Nantahala Area Sorba club will be working with Forest Service to make these the best trails around. Please,please obey the alternate day rules. Happy Trails!
Similar Trail: Jackrabbit
reviewed by jerrygkey on June 30, 2011
These trails are simply great. No man made obstacles but I can do those in my back yard. A beautiful wilderness area. Fast tracks. I can't believe the nerds complaining about limbs and brush. If mountain biking is not considered a contact sport, it should be. Go bowling or man up.
reviewed by delphinide on June 11, 2011
This is truly on of the quinessential east coast trail systems, which is great in the summer because it does not get quite as balmy here as it does in other parts of the south. There are a lot of good trail reviews (see below) but I want to reiterate that you cannot ride all 4 loops in one day because of alternating with horse traffic. Also, after it rains, there are a lot of holes on the trail that fill with water; be cautious because some of those puddles have rocks and roots in them. I busted it hard last year when it started storming...it is easy to get use to flowing, non technical trails for miles, bombing down a hill doing 25mph, then bam: big fat rock garden and a busted bike. I love Tsali, though, and find myself comparing many trails I ride to its simplicity and design.
Similar Trail: FATS
reviewed by Billh71 on June 8, 2011
Great trail, but wish there was less doubletrack and some more slow technical sections.
Similar Trail: none
reviewed by 4everriding on June 1, 2011
Fun, fast, and flowy! These trails are fun for the experienced rider and still rideable by the novice. Don't expect to be challenged by the technical just enjoy the flow.
reviewed by rallyvette on May 5, 2011
fast and flowy not very technical. Lots of great scenery but similiar throughout.
Similar Trail: Lake Norman State Park
reviewed by gdehart on April 28, 2011
All 4 trails are great with variable difficulty but I have one major complaint shared by many riders and the topic is not on your questionaire. CUT THE WEEDS, BRIARS, POISON IVY, TREE LIMBS ETC. FROM THE TRAILS....I MEAN THEY ARE GROWING ACROSS THE TRAILS IN SOME PLACES. THAT IS NOT AN EXPENSIVE THING TO DO.* Review edited 4/28/2011
* Review edited 4/28/2011
Similar Trail: US National Whitewater, Charlotte
reviewed by JackPompanoBeach on September 14, 2010
These trails alternate horse/bike every other day , so you can only ride one side of the park on a given day. Tuesday, Thursday and Sat are Mousetail and Thompson which I think kicked total butt. Killer technical downhills on fast single track, nice short steep climbs. Excellent. The right and left are different but still fun and will wear you out as it winds around the lake twisting and turning. Really great trails, but you do need to spend 2 days here to get it all!
Similar Trail: Chicopee, but Tsali is tough on beginners...
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on August 15, 2010
What can be said that hasn't already? Well let me say this: these trails live up to the hype: there is no let-down here! The most Colorado-esque trails I've ridden east of the rockies.
Similar Trail: FATS, Jack Rabbit
reviewed by GoldenGoose on July 21, 2010
Another trail system well deserving of the IMBA Epic status. As Trek7k said, even the parking lot is top notch! The trails don't seem very technical but they will leave you smiling and ready to come back. Trails are closed to bikes and used by horses on alternating days but, unlike another IMBA Epic (Bull Mt), very few signs of their presence exist. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are bike days for the Left and Right loops. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are bike days for the shorter and somewhat more technical Thompson and Mouse Branch loops. this is a great area for camping or hanging out on the lake as and it's pretty close the Great Smkoy Mountains National Park as well.
Similar Trail: Forks Area Trail System
reviewed by trek7k on July 21, 2010
Tsali has great singletrack that's fast and flowy without a ton of climbing required. One of the best parts is the campground at the trailhead: hot showers, flush toilets, and clean sites.
* Review edited 7/21/2010
Similar Trail: Tanasi in Tennessee has a similar feel, though with a bit more climbing.
More 