Western North Carolina has long been a mountain bike mecca, with iconic trail systems in Pisgah, DuPont, and Bent Creek drawing riders from around the country. But now, the region is leveling up. Just outside Asheville, a brand-new lift-served bike park is set to open in spring 2026, promising a fresh, gravity-focused riding experience.
Lift-served mountain biking in North Carolina
Bike parks certainly aren’t a new thing in North Carolina. Parks like Ride Kanuga and Berm Park bring tens of thousands of visitors to their trails every year. While bike parks like Ride Kanuga don’t offer shuttle services (but allow e-bikes), other North Carolina bike parks, like Ride Rock Creek, have shuttles available daily.
When it comes to lift-served bike parks in the state, only two options exist, neither of which is very close to the popular mountain bike destination of Asheville. Sugar Mountain Resort is approximately a two-hour drive from the city, while Beech Mountain is even further away, at roughly two and a half hours.
That’s about to change. Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort, which launched its ski operations just last year, is gearing up to bring lift-served mountain biking to the region by 2026.
“Hatley Pointe is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina, just outside the charming town of Mars Hill,” Deb Hatley told us. “Asheville is our closest major city — about 35 minutes away — which makes us incredibly accessible while still feeling like a true escape into the mountains.”
Hatley is the owner and CEO of Hatley Pointe. She has her fingerprints on just about everything that happens at the resort, from the overall strategic direction to guest experiences and resort development. Hatley and her team aim to create an environment where families and adventurers can connect with nature year-round, regardless of the avenue they choose to explore — skiing, biking, hiking, or simply enjoying the mountain atmosphere.
Hatley and her husband purchased the resort in 2023. The property was originally known as the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, a local ski hill established in 1969. Like many smaller ski resorts with that particular character and charm, Wolf Ridge went through its own ups and downs before being acquired by the Hatleys. They intend to revitalize the aging resort, get lifts operational, and build a new legacy.
The Hatleys’ goal is to expand beyond a traditional ski destination and transform the property into a boutique mountain resort that thrives year-round. From the trails to the lodge to the food and beverage offerings, the team at Hatley Pointe has worked hard to create a new experience for their patrons.
To fulfill the year-round resort vision, a bike park was included in the plans from the outset. “With the incredible elevation and natural terrain, it became clear that we had all the right ingredients for a world-class mountain bike park,” Hatley told us. “Once we started talking to riders and industry experts, the enthusiasm was overwhelming — it was a natural next step.”
Elevated Trail Design is building 9 trails at Hatley Pointe
Elevated Trail Design (ETD), a trail building company established by Peter Mills in 2011, will build the trails at Hatley Point. While the company is headquartered in North Carolina, ETD has built trails throughout the country, from Colorado and New Mexico to Maryland and New York.
For Mills, having grown up in the Asheville area, Hatley Pointe will be a special project. He and ETD have been involved nearly from the beginning.
“[Mills] had reached out to us, and it just made sense. He grew up here, and his team is all local. They bring deep expertise in building trails that respect the land while maximizing rider enjoyment,” Hatley said.
Riders can expect a diverse network of trails at Hatley Pointe, from beginner-friendly greens to advanced black diamond trails. ETD plans to balance flow and technical trails, providing options for all riding styles and preferences. They also plan to incorporate as many of the natural features as possible.
“The terrain here is steep, forested, and beautifully varied, with an elevation drop of roughly 700 feet,” Mills told us. “That gives us a lot of room to build trails that are both thrilling and sustainable.”
ETD will start with nine trails for the first phase of the Hatley Pointe Bike Park. Of those nine, there will be three primary downhill trails, each at a different skill level — a green, blue, and a black.
The other six trails in phase one will branch off the three main routes, allowing riders to link between the main routes as they descend. Different features such as road gaps, rock spines, wooden drops, and a cannon will be sprinkled among these nine trails.
The next phase of the bike park is still in the planning stages.
Hatley Pointe plans to open the bike park in phases, with the first trails slated to debut in spring 2026. Hately said they will announce an opening date closer to that time.
“Our goal is to welcome riders next spring and continue building momentum from this coming ski season into the new year and beyond,” she concluded.
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