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MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating:	15 trail reviews
Status: Wet / Sketchy updated 6/9/10 by GoldenGoose Closed Open Wet / Sketchy	Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 7 miles	Global Rank: #59
Tread: Singletrack	Configuration: Loop
Ridden: 188	Wishlist: 78
Avg. Speed: 7.01 mph	Avg. Time: 1hr 3min

 

Wild Turkey in Greensboro

 

Overmountain Victory Trail (Kerr Scott Reservoir) in Wilkesboro

 

Tsali Left Loop in Bryson City

 

Tsali Right Loop in Bryson City

 

  
reviewed by GoldenGoose on June 9, 2010

Knocked out Thompson and Mouse branch today and can't wait to go back on another day and hit the Right and Left loops. The flow at Thompson almost rivaled some of the loops down at F.A.T.S. in South Carolina. Maybe it was the adrenaline but I felt like the first 3-4 miles absolutely flew by. Other than a few roots and a couple of loose rocks, the trail was pretty smooth. There were, however, several puddles on the trail that seem to be slow to drain. A little trail maintenance could easily get them to properly drain. Be sure to ride through them rather than around them so you don't make the trail grow. Trail is used by horses on alternating days but there are VERY few signs of them. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays are your days to enjoy this one.

Similar Trail: Mouse Branch Blankets Creek (Dwelling and South loop)

  
reviewed by scout_about on November 23, 2009

I liked this trail a lot. In fact I like it more than Right Loop. It is shorter but more fun and I found it to be more techical. I think the climbs of Right Loop were much harder, but that doesn't make a trail to me . I like flow and techincal challenge more. I am not saying any of Tsali's trails are what I would classify as technical, but Thompson had more than Right Loop does. I liked this trail a lot. I know people are going to say I am crazy but I preferred Thompson and Mouse over Right. And not because they are shorter or that their climbs are as long or as hard, but because of the other things I mentioned.

Similar Trail: Right and Left Loop, Mouse Branch

  
reviewed by RidingPastor on July 25, 2009

Rode this with rising 7th graders from Youth group. It was tough at first (rode counterclockwise) but then it flowed real well. went back and rode clockwise some of the sections. it was a lot of fun and very fast.

  
reviewed by Graylin_King on July 12, 2009

Great trail a must do if your on the east coast

  
reviewed by JSurratt on July 4, 2009

Wow.....this was a rewarding sweet singletrack that had some uphill climbs with some fast downhill runs.....the last half mile was the fastest downhill I have ridden......was a blast while on weekend getaway.

Similar Trail: Tsali Mouse Branch Loop

  
reviewed by FiveDogCycling on July 1, 2009

Lots of fun, take the fire road up past the first entrance to end the trail with a fun descent. The Mouse and Thompson system at Tsali is by far the better system in my opinion. Not as publicized and therefore not as wide and a lot more fun. Tsali Left and Right by far have the better views but Mouse and Thompson hands down are the better trail to me

Similar Trail: Flint Ridge (after the first mile of Flint)

  
reviewed by jjacobs543 on October 29, 2008

Great trail with really really good flow. It is lots of fun either direction but I have to say bombing the tail end of it counterclockwise is tough to beat. I would pick this trail over Mouse but both are very solid.

  
reviewed by Reserverockhopper on December 29, 2007

Love it. Just one of 4 trails to do in the Tsali recreation area.

  
reviewed by ositoking on July 8, 2007

Tsali is just a beautiful place to ride with great views that cant be beat. Most of the riding is gradual climbing and dropping along contour line trails just off and above the lakes edge.

  
reviewed by squirl58 on May 1, 2007

WOW!!! Amazing trail with a extremely fast finish. Fun creek crossings. Great views of lake too. not very challenging, but fast paced. I dont know what that trey person is talking about. He must of been walking the trail or something.

* Review edited 5/1/2007

Similar Trail: Tsali Mouse Branch

  
reviewed by scubasteven on July 24, 2006

In my opinion, this is the best loop in the Tsali system. It is 7.5 miles of great cruising. There are some cool creek crossings. Definitely ride the Thompson counter-clockwise. When riding CC, you are rewarded with a 1.5 mile downhill to finish the loop. The last downhill is definitely worth the little bit of pain required to climb to the top. Per the Park Service, this trail is only supposed to be ridden on Thursday, Saturday, Monday, so plan accordingly becuase you do not want to visit Tsali and not ride this trail at least a couple of times!

Similar Trail: Tasli Left Loop

  
reviewed by xtrsmith on April 10, 2006

a must do trail system!

  
reviewed by yellowXtrek on June 26, 2005

A very fast trail with a great flow. Not very technical. A few little climbs but nothing bad. There are about 4-5 little creek crossings. The best part of the trail is the last mile with a fast downhill. What a great trail.

Similar Trail: Mouse Branch

  
reviewed by Wyoming on April 1, 2005

My favorite of the Tsali trails. It is not that difficult, but has great downhills and woops. The fastest in my opinion. Look forward to riding this again.

Similar Trail: Mouse but not as technical.

  
reviewed by mudhunny on October 25, 2004

Rode it counter-clockwise and it had the least painful climbs of the Tsali trails. Going the otherway up the fireroad might have been a tad steeper but faster. Either way you can go top speed through the singletrack!

Similar Trail: Mouse Branch

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