Regional News & Interest

Popular for a wealth of activities, shopping, food and adventures,  Asheville area is the place to live and work to experience it all.  Bent Creek Preserve is conveniently located close to local events and festivals as well as within an easy drive to happenings throughout surrounding areas of Asheville.  The following is a sampling of upcoming events in the area.

Coming up at the North Carolina Arboretum

Forest Trails Walk
Tuesday & Saturday at 1 p.m

Enjoy a one- to three-hour guided walk on the Arboretum’s forest trails - adjusted to visitors’ interests and abilities. Depending on the individual trail guide’s specialty and weather conditions, the walks may explore various areas of natural history and can include interpretive information on trees, wildflowers, native plants, birds, insects, and culture. Click here to see a slide presentation of trail highlights prepared by Trail Guide Jeff Smith!  Walks begin at the Baker Exhibit Center and occur year-round rain or shine or snow, unless lightning, weather or trail conditions are dangerous. Free with the parking fee $6 per personal vehicle. Parking is always free for members.

"Building Small: American Folk Art Houses and Structures"
November 14 through January 3, 2010

Feature Exhibit:  A magical display of American folk art buildings from the largest collection in the country transports visitors to the Arboretum this fall back in time and into a whimsical world of place in miniature. These small and visually rich pieces reveal clever craftsmanship and reverence for community, imagination, and cultural history. At The Baker Exhibit Center. Free with parking fee. Parking is always free for members.

Mountain Biking at Bent Creek Experimental Forest

Located in the northern tip of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, the Bent Creek Reasearch and Demonstration Forest encompasses Bent Creek's watershed, and contains a collection of trails that is well suited to beginning and intermediate mountain bikers, families, and groups. With some trails containing large climbs and technical sections, more advanced riders will can fun here as well.

Bent Creek is popular for after-dinner rides, because it is just a few minutes' drive from Western North Carolina's largest city, Asheville. A campground, mountain lake, and family recreation area make this area very popular with tourists. Due to the crowds, this area is patrolled nearly every summer weekend by members of Southeastern Mountain Bike Patrol.

This trail network can be connected with others in Pisgah National Forest via the unimproved Bent Creek Gap Road to make long, epic type rides. This area is also a perfect place to begin your day trips if you plan on spending several days in Pisgah.

Though less advanced riders may find them difficult, none of the trails in the Bent Creek trail system are considered extremely technical - especially since most have been re-graded in the last few months. Most trails follow old road or railroad beds and have only a few areas that require significant technical skill, with steeps, rocks, roots, mud, and creek crossings. Fast, hardpacked sections of trail lie between these obstacles.