If you haven't given DuPont a whirl, do yourself a favor and give it a go. Its about an hour from home for me but worth the drive. The forest is a nicely marked system of single track and forest service trails. There is an unusually high density of vistas and nice falls. Beautiful lakes with crystal clear water are thrown in here and there for good measure. Its a GREAT place to explore on bike and do a little bikepacking.
I did a 20 mile, 2,000 ft elevation ride yesterday morning. Here are the views:
Map of the ride. I recommend taking the
Western North Carolina Trail Guide: DuPont State Recreational Forest Map
Covered bridge just above high falls
High Falls
Lush
Picture perfect lakes
Lunch break. Love my Trail Designs Fissure and Trapper's Mug
Moss
Still smiling
