The Watershed Bike Park has opened with 10 purpose-built trails totaling 2.75 miles on 32 acres of terrain with 180 feet of vertical drop. The bike park has been designed to maximize progression and sessionability, with features that encourage repeat runs and skill building. Riders will find everything from beginner flow to rocky technical sections and more advanced features like big step-ups, step-downs, shark fins, and hip jumps. A rake-and-ride zone with root-filled loamers has also been incorporated into the bike park, though smooth green and blue flow lines are still plentiful thanks to the hardpacked clay.
Beyond the trail network, the Watershed offers a 10,000ft² dirt pump track, a tot track for balance bikes, intermediate and advanced dirt jumps, a natural river-fed pond, and 1,600ft of shady river frontage along the Catawba River. A skills area with rock drops, rock gardens, and a 62-foot-long red oak skinny is under construction for private lessons and clinics. The park also aims to be a hub for coaching, events, and family hangouts.
Phase two will expand onto a neighboring 80-acre ridge with views of the Black Mountains and Mount Mitchell, adding another five to seven miles of singletrack. That expansion is currently under construction and will feature a seriously steep (50%+) back bowl with technical terrain. While phase three is still conceptual, it could potentially connect to the 2,000+ acre Catawba Headwaters Preserve, creating a continuous trail experience all the way to Catawba Falls in Pisgah National Forest.
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