Spearfinger at Fire Mountain Trails
Clip: Special | 2m 27sVideo has Closed Captions
The Spearfinger Trail offers fun and flowy downhill mountain biking for all riding levels.
High atop Fire Mountain Trails, a vast network of multi-use trails in Cherokee, lies Spearfinger, one of the fastest downhill mountain biking experiences in North Carolina. Longtime trail-riding friends Laura Blythe and Jeremy Hyatt, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, lead the way down the mountain.
Ten to Try is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
The series was produced in partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition for the NC Year of the Trail and with generous support from the SECU Foundation.
Spearfinger at Fire Mountain Trails
Clip: Special | 2m 27sVideo has Closed Captions
High atop Fire Mountain Trails, a vast network of multi-use trails in Cherokee, lies Spearfinger, one of the fastest downhill mountain biking experiences in North Carolina. Longtime trail-riding friends Laura Blythe and Jeremy Hyatt, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, lead the way down the mountain.
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[birds chirping] - [Presenter] On the southern edge of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the town of Cherokee, the ancestral home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Fire Mountain Trails, a multi-use trail system where you can hike or run, but the bike trails here are the big draw.
[upbeat music] [upbeat music continues] - [Jeremy] The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians built Fire Mountain Trails.
It is some of the best flow trails in Western North Carolina.
- [Laura] We have a entire network of not only mountain bike trails, but we also have a lot of hiking trails.
Ultimately, Fire Mountain Trails is what got me on a bike.
- [Presenter] The climb to the top is long with over 500 feet of elevation gain, but it's well worth the effort.
Ready for the long ride down?
There are several tracks to choose from, but Spearfinger, starting from Raven's Roost Lookout, offers the perfect combination of speed, flow, and scenic views.
[upbeat music] It's a purpose-built two-way single track with tree-lined straightaways and bermed turns to keep your momentum as you blaze down the trail.
[upbeat music] Named after an old Cherokee legend, Spearfinger is the perfect downhill for all levels of riders who want a fast and fun ride without all the big airs and technical features of more extreme bike trails.
At the bottom, take a rest at Overlook Lounge and soak in views of the town below.
[relaxing music] [birds chirping] Ready for more?
Fire Mountain boasts 10-and-a-half miles of trails like the Rock Garden, where you can put your technical riding skills to the test.
- [Jeremy] These things are open 24 hours, seven days a week.
We're pretty much always open and accessible to anyone and everyone that wants to come.
[water splashing] [upbeat music] - [Laura] Getting out on a bike has completely changed my life to be able to be back out in nature, back out in fresh air, while having fun.
- [Presenter] And the best news?
Fire Mountain is expanding, with plans for many more hike, bike, and jog trails coming soon.
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Ten to Try is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
The series was produced in partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition for the NC Year of the Trail and with generous support from the SECU Foundation.