THE DETAILS OF RIDE ROCK CREEK
Ride Rock Creek has a total of 12 trails, with two green, four Blue, four black, and two double blacks. With just over 700 feet (220m) of elevation, the Pisgah Trail Company packed more than enough features and trail styles to keep everyone stoked behind the bars. Currently, there is no dedicated climb trail at the park. To get up the hill, Ride Rock Creek runs shuttles out of a dedicated roundabout a few steps from the trail exits. The shuttle road is under a mile long and is fully paved, which gives you just enough time to catch your breath for another lap.
WHAT AMENITIES DOES THE PARK OFFER
Ride Rock Creek is a Bike Park through and through; there are no zip lines or mountain coasters found here. We are ok with that, we are here to ride! On site, there is a full-service shop offering full rebuilds or quick tune-ups before a day on the hill. The shop also has a large inventory of riding gear and apparel if you are looking to freshen up that gear bag with the new goodies from Fox. If you are traveling here without a bike, there are two different rental bike options: a Specialized Demo DH bike or Neko’s Frameworks Enduro, which is the bike I was riding for this trip (P.S it was excellent!). While there are no meals onsite, there are fridges packed with some quick bites and cold drinks to help you pack your calories in.
Outside of the race weekend events, Ride Rock Creek also offers private lessons and group camps and riding clinics. This is something we always recommend trying if you have never done it before; you will undoubtedly become a more confident rider with some one-on-one time with a professional instructor.
OUR FAVORITE TRAILS AT RIDE ROCK CREEK
We would love to say that Stampede – the double black tech trail – was our favorite, but sadly, we were not able to get tires on that during our trip, due to the race that was taking place. We did get to put our eyes on some incredibly fast riders that made the track look like a piece of cake. Watching professionals ride in a race setting is almost like watching a different sport; the speeds they go are absolutely insane. We know that it would demand some respect and attention from us more normal riders, serving as a worth trail to test a downhill bike.
Our go-to tech trail for full pulls was Slingshot, a single black trail dropping in right next to the shuttle turnaround. This trail had a super fun mix of high-speed sections, technical off-cambers, and some decent-sized gaps. The vibe here is very much hand-cut and raw, just how we like it! This had all the aspects of a trail that Kyle and I both enjoy. Kyle got his tech, and I got some technical jumps. Overall, it was a great mix of terrain, and was a trail we rode every day of our trip. The runner-up would be Strange Beast, which is a short section of Blue Tech mid-mountain that you connect into. If you get comfortable here, Slingshot is a great natural step up.
When it comes to jumps, our top pick was High Noon. This is a black level jump trail with berms crafted so well the g-forces want to rip your hands off the bars. In particular, there are a few step downs into bowl corners that just beg you to let off the brakes, which are so much fun. There are also some sneaky roller gaps if you have the pace – or balls – for them. This was a trail that took a few times to get the hang of and remember what was coming up. There were no weird lips or unexpected moments, but be sure to pre-ride as there are a few drops up top that might catch you by surprise. Big applause to the trail crew on this one!
LODGING OPTIONS FOR ROCK CREEK
For our trip to both Ride Kanuga and Ride Rock Creek, we partnered with Stay Kanuga, a sprawling resort with activities for the entire family to enjoy. Big thanks to them for hosting us! The resort is just under a 30-minute drive from Ride Rock Creek, making it an easy home base to visit both bike parks. 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.
If you are looking for more of a city vibe, the town of Hendersonville is about 15 minutes from the park and offers a variety of accommodation options.
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 pedal-fed trails before departing home.
BAKERY OF CHOICE (VERY IMPORTANT)
We stumbled upon McFarlan Bakery on our first day of the trip, which was simply delicious. Of course, were repeat customers! Yes, you may have already read this in the Ride Kanuga article, but is it worth mentioning again. 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 Rock Creek offers riders of all skill levels access to incredible trail building with easy laps. While there are more advanced level trails here than beginner trails, don’t let that stop you from pushing into some new terrain. The staff members are all riders, and are super helpful when it comes to bike setup and trail suggestions. Ride Rock Creek is definitely a park I hope to make it back to. I mean, we gotta come back just to ride Stampede!
We’ve been fortunate enough to get some very gracious sponsors for our trip, and they’re helping us achieve this dream of reviewing bike parks for our fans. They have helped us cover expenses like gas and meals along the way. A BIG thanks goes out to Fox, Michelin Tires, and Stay Kanuga. These trips would not be possible without the support from awesome brands. 
Ticket Pricing:
Youth Day Pass – $50
Adult Day Pass – $55
Monthly Pass – $90
Adult Monthly Pass – $95
Website: Riderockcreek.com
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THIS SEASON’S SPONSORS
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