The Adventure Collective 2019 Asheville Guide Sample | Page 60

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Ride Elk Mountain To Mount Mitchell (Asheville)
The quintessential road ride for Asheville cyclists is the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway and it definitely packs a punch. This
challenging ride begins with a steep, leg-crushing climb up Elk Mountain Scenic Highway before mellowing out as the road
passes through a beautiful pastoral area with great views of the valley below. Take a break at Buzzard Rock before heading
south on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Town Mountain Rd. for a fast descent and complete the loop by catching Charlotte
St. north to Kimberly.
More ambitious riders looking to tack on additional miles and thousands of feet of additional climbing can head north on
the Blue Ridge Parkway for an out and back toward Mount Mitchell. Along the way, cyclists can take in incredible views of
the Black Mountain Range with a nice end point coming nearly halfway to Mount Mitchell at the Craggy Gardens Visitor
Center. Keep in mind that due to the higher elevation and steep topography the weather on the Parkway at higher ele-
vations can be drastically different than the lower elevations of Asheville. Extra clothing, food and lights are required for
this challenging road ride.
Directions from Asheville: From downtown take Merrimon Ave. N 2 miles. Turn right on Beaverdam Rd at Ingles grocery
store and head out Beaverdam Rd. for 1 mile to Elk Mountain Scenic Highway on the left.