RIDE KANUGA BIKE PARK REVIEW

July 8, 2026

Ride Kanuga opened to the public in July of 2020, founded by Neko Mullay and Dave LaMond. They wanted to create a network of trails that offered something new and different from the types of trails found in the area. They wanted to make the park easily approachable for beginner riders, while still catering to advanced-level riders. The park is just 30 minutes from Asheville, NC, located on privately owned land in partnership with Stay Kanuga. Neko and Dave worked closely with the team at Stay Kanuga to secure access to the land the park was built on.

We’d like to extend a huge thanks to those who made this series possible. Thank you to series sponsors Fox Racing and Michelin Tires, who not only provided financial support to get us from spot to spot and keep us suitably fed, but also provided gear and tires that we couldn’t have been happier to use. A big thanks also to the host destination at Stay Kanuga, and of course to our Wolfpack Members.

THE DETAILS OF RIDE KANUGA

Ride Kanuga has a total of 14 trails with four greens, six blues, two blacks, and two double blacks. There is 525’ of elevation on tap, but don’t let that fool you; every foot is packed full of top-tier trail building, making the most of what they have. There are two ways up to the top of the hill: the first being the High Rocks Climb Trail – a winding green singletrack that is 2 miles long; and the other being a more direct route up a service road at just under 1 mile in length. On e-bikes, the latter is the quickest way to the top, and while you can pedal this on an analog bike, it will be a bit more of a punch compared to the dedicated singletrack climbing trail.

WHAT AMENITIES DOES THE PARK OFFER

Upon entering the parking lot, you are greeted with a large, sprawling lot with plenty of space for people traveling with a large trailer. On-site, there is a full-service rental and repair shop, bathrooms, and a selection of riding gear and parts to keep you rolling. At the time of our visit, there is no dedicated food option permanently located at the park, so be sure to pack a lunch. If you are traveling through without bikes, Ride Kanuga has a large fleet of Specialized Levo 4 rental bikes for $149. They also have both half-shell and full-face helmets available for rent to keep you safe.

OUR FAVORITE TRAILS AT RIDE KANUGA

Hands down, our favorite trail at Ride Kanuga is Hemlock Epoch. This is a “flow” trail but is rated black due to the abundance of available gaps, jumps, and drops. There are over 30 expertly crafted berms, which encourage you to let off the brakes and attack. While the trail is rated black, you can roll through the entire trail with ease thanks to the marked ride-arounds. If you are comfortable on blues, this will be a great step up in level at an approachable pace. One thing we really like about this trail is that the berms end late, meaning you can really lean in and commit to the corners. When we visited, there was not a single braking bump to be found! This trail is in my all-time top 5 most enjoyable trails to ride; it is one of those you can lap all day and still find new lines.

For the tech lovers out there, our top pick was Paint It Black, a very natural hand-cut trail with loads of line options, high speeds, and roots all over. There is only one extremely difficult section, which occurs higher up on the trail. There is no ride around, so if you do not feel comfortable, you would need to walk. With that said, the trail crew has done a great job of delivering a track that can be ridden and raced by the best riders in the country, while still being fun for us normies. There are a handful of steep sections mixed in with long off-cambers that really push you to trust that front wheel. This for sure needs to be on your hit list!

Lastly, the upper section of Southern Style really got the blood pumping. This is an easily repeatable section of very large gap jumps, like properly big! By our non-scientific measurements, the gap was around 45’. The trail speed leading you into the biggest of the jumps is dang near perfect depending on how well you execute the corner before the setup drop. The lip is very predictable with a long radius; however, this is a jump that will push you up into the air a bit more than a normal tabletop, so expect to log some air miles.

LODGING OPTIONS FOR RIDE KANUGA

We secured a guest house at Stay Kanuga. Big thanks to them for hosting us! The resort is just a three-minute drive from the park, and is the perfect place to stay during your trip. There is a variety of housing options, depending on the size of your group. The guest house we stayed in had 3 bedrooms, each with its own shower, which was a nice bonus. Each morning and evening, we were greeted with hot buffet-style meals waiting for us. This was a huge time saver and made the start and end of the day just a bit more peaceful. And the coffee was quite good as well!

The property spans over 1,500 acres, and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for non-riders to enjoy while you are at the park. While the resort is over 100 years old, they are still growing and expanding its offerings for guests.

OFF-BIKE ACTIVITIES

The resort and park are about a 12-minute drive from downtown Hendersonville, a decent-sized town with all your common amenities. Our favorite was the strip on Main Street, where you can find many different locally owned places to eat and shop.

If you want to venture a bit further, you can be in the heart of Asheville in just about 30 minutes. Our recommendation is to reserve some time at the end of your trip to Kanuga to explore the city and ride the local trails, before departing home.

BAKERY OF CHOICE (VERY IMPORTANT)

We stumbled upon McFarlan Bakery on our first day of the trip, and of course, were repeat customers throughout our stay! This local bakery has loads of traditional and unique baked goods to help you carb up before a big day on the trails.

THE WOLF’S LAST WORD

Ride Kanuga is not your typical bike park; there is no-pressure, just a laid-back atmosphere that is centered around rider progression and fun, rather than racing the clock. The only line you might find is the one waiting to pet the shop cats. This park feels much more like your local trailhead, and we like it. Neko and the team of builders have done a great job building trails that are fun and accessible for beginner and novice riders, while still giving advanced riders terrain that can push their skill levels. The lodging at Stay Kanuga is exactly what we wanted after a long day on the trails, especially the delicious buffet dinners waiting for us each night.

If you are looking to ride some of the best berms in the country, Ride Kanuga should be high on your list of parks to visit, and the tech does not disappoint either!

Ticket Pricing:
Youth Day Pass – $19
Adult Day Pass – $29
Youth Monthly Pass – $29
Adult Monthly Pass – $50

Website: RideKanuga.com

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