WCU Multi-Use Trails in Cullowhee
- padj58
- Sep 15, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2024
The Western Carolina University trails were built on WCU property and are open to the public for running, hiking, mountain biking and currently e-mountain biking.
OVERVIEW: Expect flowy, narrow trails with lots of climbs and decents. The trail running and mountain biking is moderately difficult. Overall good maintenance with dead fall, trail signs and hardening projects. Watch for other users on tight corners with low visability through the woods in Spring Summer and Fall.
SAFETY TIPS and ROUTES at the WCU TRAIL SYSTEM
In the event of an emergency, call 911 or WCU Campus Police at 828.227.8911.
Like most regional trails, if the weather is nice and it's a weekend, expect to see more users.
Bikers yield to hikers and runners. Anticipate other users, even when the parking is empty.
Follow the posted rules.
The best parking for loops on Gribble Gap (orange trail) and Lower (blue trail) and Upper Long Branch (red trail) is on the side of Little Savannah Rd. in the hairpin corner. The area of the yellow dotted circle on the map above. Watch for cars in the road.
If you just want a taste of what the trails are like here - check out the Gribble Gap loop counter clockwise.
You can run a shuttle leaving a vehicle on Little Savannah Road and another in the WCU parking lot below NCCAT tunnel. Start on Little Savannah. You'll likely get the longest downhill ride.
The "Figure 8" is just under 5 miles and hits the highlights of this trail area. Start on Lower Long Branch @ Little Savannah Rd. Take Upper Long Branch back to Little Savannah Rd. Cross the road and ride up Gribble Gap Counter clockwise. Take a right at the first option after the first short climb. Finish back at the parking on Little Savannah road.
ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR WCU TRAILS
You can download the full WCU Trail Map here.
Comments