Forget the back 40, Foothills Watershed is building out the “Back 80.” Phase two of trail development at this privately-owned bike park Old Fort, North Carolina, is officially underway, and it’s bringing a dramatic increase in mileage and trail difficulty.
This North Carolina bike park is a riverside hangout, skills park, and foodie destination all in one
The Foothills Watershed opened in summer 2025, and it’s much more than your typical bike park: it’s a riverside destination where mountain biking, food culture, and family hangout space converge. Created by Casey and Amanda McKissick, the couple behind Foothills Butcher Shop and Foothills Grange, the park launched with 10 purpose-built trails totaling 2.75 miles across 32 acres, featuring everything from beginner flow to gnarly tech sections, plus big features like step-ups, step-downs, and hip jumps.
“Foothills Watershed is the space we always wished existed for our own family — a spot to relax, eat well, and let the kids run wild,” Casey told Singletracks. Beyond the trails, the 117-acre property boasts a 10,000-square-foot dirt pump track, intermediate and advanced dirt jumps, a skills area with a 62-foot red oak skinny, 1,600 feet of river frontage, and a collaboration between Culinary Director Eric Morris and Oaxacan chef Luis Martinez serving up bold Mexican flavors alongside Grange classics.
Phase two adds over 80 acres and more challenging trails
The second phase of development will add an additional five miles of singletrack, marking an almost 200% increase in trail mileage. The new development will bring more vertical drop and more technically challenging trails on steeper pitches, providing an overall greater variety in the Foothills Watershed.
Nine new trails are currently planned, which “will take riders deep and high into the mountains, with a bike-only climb trail that ascends the high ridge just below Wildcat Knob, offering sweeping views of Hickory Nut Mountain in the south and north clear through Yancey County with views of Mt Mitchell, Greybeard and Bernard Mountain,” according to a press release. Total vert will grow to 525 feet at the end of phase two, but that’s still a long way short of the eventual high point in phase three, which will offer 1,085 feet of drop.
“Our intention is to round out Old Fort’s vast offerings as a mountain bike destination with a true gravity park with giant features for all levels of rider, as well as steep, expert-only terrain that escalates the sensation of the classic steep and loamy lines of Pisgah,” said Casey. “Being a bike park on private land, that is surrounded by Pisgah, we can offer riders unique terrain that you won’t find in the National Forest, and welcome e-bikes to make the climbing more fun. Combine that with a top-notch brewery, food, jump lines, live music, and a family-friendly riverfront, we think you’re going to love where we’re going with this.”
A taste of what’s to come
The first of the new trails is expected to open by Thanksgiving 2025. This newest offering will be “a true downhill flow trail for beginning bike park riders, offering an exciting mix of natural, less-developed sections and smooth, wide turns that help riders build confidence and control needed to progress to more advanced trails,” according to the release.
The rest of the trails will be completed by fall 2026. There will be several black-diamond downhill trails, and even a double black line.
The planned double black, known as upper “Purple,” “will offer a mix of raw loam and catch-berms in critical spots,” according to Peter Mills of Elevated Trail Design. “This raw/bike park mixed style is not something commonly found in most trail systems. Taking advantage of the steep terrain, this trail will offer a fun challenge for aggressive riders. This rough and rowdy trail will evolve over time and become even rowdier.” This is a step up from the planned “Yellow” trail, which offers a similar ride style.
In addition to steep tech lines, ETD will be building a set of bike-park style jump trails ranging from green to black. On the upper end, the black jump trail, known as “Pink,” “will be a full-blown bike park jump trail,” according to Mills. “It takes advantage of the old logging road for some mega berm turns as it gets started. Utilizing the terrain to our advantage, we anticipate large step-ups and step-downs with good sightlines. This is going to be a non-stop, action-packed trail with feature after feature as it winds its way back and forth through the forest.”
Foothills is hiring a new builder for phase two
Phase one was designed and built by the Watershed team, McDowell Tech Trail School, and Trase Sowell from Geosculpt Trail Design. Foothills is bringing in fresh blood for phase two by hiring renowned local trail building company, Elevated Trail Design (ETD), based in nearby Asheville.
Founded by Peter Mills, ETD has built numerous trails across the region, including the highly acclaimed Greenslick rebuild, trails at Chestnut Mountain, Hatley Pointe, and Rattlesnake Bike Park. Beyond North Carolina, ETD has built trails in Colorado, New Mexico, West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, New York, Virginia, and South Carolina.
Now brewing beer
You’ve asked, and Foothills has delivered: the Watershed “is now serving beer in partnership with Outsider Brewing, and will be brewing their own beer on site once the construction of their in-house brewery concludes in early November,” according to the press release. With new jump trails, challenging tech lines, and locally-brewed beer, Foothills Watershed is delivering everything that mountain bikers crave.
If you want to be one of the first riders to sample the newest trails, Foothills Watershed is hosting an outdoor gear swap and ride day to celebrate the opening of the first phase two trail. Mark your calendars for November 29th, and get ready to rip!
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