Maps

One of the things you should not be without on your ride is a good map. Maps let you orient yourself to the terrain before heading out, and can help you stay on the path once you hit the trails. MTB WNC provides a variety of maps that can be viewed, downloaded, printed, or purchased before your ride. Choose a type of map below to get started.

MTB WNC's Maps

Interactive Overview Map

Start with a Western North Carolina Area Overview Map, showing the locations of major trailheads in the region.

Interactive Maps with GPS Data

Choose this option to start with a Western North Carolina Area Overview Map, showing the locations of major trailheads. Choose a trailhead to zoom in and see trail data, link to the Trailhead information, Best Rides in that area, and download GPS data, all on a familar Google map interface with roads, mountains, and topo map layers.

Third Party Maps

Pisgah Map Company - WNC Trail Guides

Pisgah Map Company has released an exciting new series of maps under the title "Western North Carolina Trail Guide". Right now, there are two maps in the series: South Pisgah Ranger District and DuPont State Forest. The award-winning South Pisgah Ranger District map is a worthy competitor to the more established Trails Illustrated maps (such as #780 for the Pisgah Ranger District). It won first place in the Single Map Product - Large Format - Press Copy category at ESRI's International User Conference - a testament to the greatness of this map. (ESRI is the international leader of digital mapping and GIS software).

Compared to the Trails Illustrated maps, Pisgah Map Company's maps have more detail, more accuracy, are more up-to-date, and have some great extra guide information as well. Included are several great mountain bike ride descriptions and elevation profiles.

Read our review of the Pisgah map on the blog, and be sure to pick up a copy before your next ride in Pisgah or DuPont. These are highly recommended!

National Geographic - Trails Illustrated Maps

National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" series of maps, covering much of Western North Carolina's best mountain biking areas, are still one of the best options mountain bikers have for a printed recreational map. Find information on these waterproof, detailed topographic maps as well as links to purchase them online.

USGS Quadrangle Maps

This page contains information on the topographic maps published by the US Government, how they are used on this site, and how you can obtain them online for free and in paper form as well. The USGS is publishing a new, digital quadrangle map format called US Topo as well - and these are downloadable PDF files.

Dupont State Recreational Forest Map

Friends of DuPont Forest publishes a good Recreation Guide map of all of Dupont State Recreational Forest. Profits from map sales are used to support conservation, education, and recreational activities in DuPont State Recreational Forest. The large, folded 17" x 22" maps are printed on waterproof PolyArt synthetic stock. They feature shaded relief, marked major water crossings, a trail rating system with distances, driving directions from regional cities, and a summary and directions to major attractions.

Map of the Panthertown Valley

Slickrock Expeditions publishes an excellent, large-scale trail map of the Panthertown Valley area. You can purchase a map from their web site for $12.

Most of these printed maps can be picked up on your way to the trails by stopping by one of WNC's fine area bike shops!