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Post by stumpbumper on Dec 13, 2010 13:29:03 GMT -5
DuPont State Forest with its 80 miles of trails is one of my favorite places to ride. It is located about an hour's drive from Greenville, SC, just beyond Caesars Head. All trails are signed and with map in hand you'd really have to try hard to become lost, even if you've never been there before. More information on DuPont is available at their website, www.dupontforest.com You can copy the map from there but even better is to purchase the larger map (17x22 inches) which is waterproof. The map also ranks each trail---easy, moderate or difficult. Corn Mill Shoals Parking Area. Don't forget to drop a couple of dollars into the donation box. All trails are well marked with wooden signs Cedar Rock Trail is marked with cairns (small stacks of rocks). Some trails like Cedar Rock here are easy and you don't have to go all the way to Moab to ride slickrock. Other trails can be a bit more difficult. Some choose to wade across Corn Mill Shoals Others ride it Hooker is one of seven waterfalls at DuPont. The wonderful scenery is why scenes from the movie "Last of The Mohicans" were filmed at DuPont, including the scene where the good guys were hiding behind Bridal Veil Falls as the bad guys with torches searched for them. Covered bridge above High Falls High Falls (covered bridge is at upper-right corner of falls.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 13, 2010 13:55:05 GMT -5
Cedar Rock Trail is marked with cairns (small stacks of rocks) Looks like it was cold that day, still some ice in the puddle! Thanks for sharing the pics. I've heard lots of good things about DuPont, I need to get up there one day.
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 13, 2010 16:49:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the pictures and the reminder. DuPont has been one of our favorite spots to ride for many years. That is a great place to spend a week or weekend with friends. On numerous occasions, groups of us from SORBA/CSRA have headed that way. Perhaps we'll do it again this spring! Their signage is outstanding, and they are continually rerouting and maintaining the many miles of trails. We enjoy camping at Blackforest Campground ( www.blackforestcampground.com/ ). The staff there is wonderful, and they are very involved with Friends of DuPont Forest, an organization that is very open to both cyclist and hikers, and one that we subscribe to annually www.dupontforest.com/fodf.asp . Anyway, thanks again for the pictures. MD
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Post by stumpbumper on Dec 13, 2010 18:05:26 GMT -5
Happy you enjoyed the photos.
For the benefit of those who have never ridden at DuPont I will add that a great way to get to know the area is to participate in "Save The Trails Challenge" which is held each year by the Pisgah chapter of SORBA. It is a fully supported ride with refreshment stops every few miles. They issue a route sheet but each turn on the route is is marked so well I have never taken it out of my pocket. Distance options are 25 and 50 miles.
It's just like a fully-supported road bike ride except through the woods and no automobile traffic. Don't believe they have set a date for the 2011 ride but once they do it will be on their website. The start point is usually at Guion Farm which is shown on the map as the northern-most parking area.
I missed the 2010 ride but rode the one in 2009 which was held shortly after one of the biggest monsoons ever in the area. Both routes crossed Corn Mill Shoals which I show in a couple of the above photos but it was just about crotch deep and flowing quite rapidly. They stretched a rope across the river between two trees and we had to hang onto it with one hand while carrying our bike over the other shoulder. As a last-ditch precaution, a second rope was stretched across the river about 40 yards downstream. The pucker factor rated about an 8 out of 10.
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Post by Angela on Dec 13, 2010 18:15:16 GMT -5
A group of us generally reserve a cabin and go up there at least once a year and have a great weekend! It is particularly good if you have folks with you that don't mountain bike because there are some awesome waterfalls in Dupont State Forest within decent walking distance of the main parking lot. If you like flow trails this area has quite a few and Dupont State Forest is really close to the Pisgah trail system so if the group is large enough and diverse enough there is plenty of great riding for everyone no matter what their preference.
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Post by Apollo on Dec 13, 2010 19:11:28 GMT -5
^ i want to go
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 13, 2010 20:25:34 GMT -5
For the benefit of those who have never ridden at DuPont I will add that a great way to get to know the area is to participate in "Save The Trails Challenge" which is held each year by the Pisgah chapter of SORBA. It is a fully supported ride with refreshment stops every few miles. They issue a route sheet but each turn on the route is is marked so well I have never taken it out of my pocket. Distance options are 25 and 40 miles. It's just like a fully-supported road bike ride except through the woods and no automobile traffic. Don't believe they have set a date for the 2011 ride but once they do it will be on their website. The start point is usually at Guion Farm which is shown on the map as the northern-most parking area. I missed the 2010 ride but rode the one in 2009 which was held shortly after one of the biggest monsoons ever in the area. Both routes crossed Corn Mill Shoals which I show in a couple of the above photos but it was just about crotch deep and flowing quite rapidly. They stretched a rope across the river between two trees and we had to hang onto it with one hand while carrying our bike over the other shoulder. As a last-ditch precaution, a second rope was stretched across the river about 40 yards downstream. The pucker factor rated about an 8 out of 10. We rode it several years ago when it was referred to as the Tobacco Free For Life Ride. Yetichick has an awesome jersey from that ride. Arguably the best sag stops I think I have ever seen! We were also signed up for the monsoon '09 ride but elected not to ride it due to the heavy rains. We were there for the start but went waterfall-hopping instead, once we heard about the water crossings. Lots of super people there. MD
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Post by brianW on Dec 13, 2010 20:44:16 GMT -5
When do they do "Save the Trails" sounds like a great way to explore these trails. Thanks for sharing the pics.
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Post by Ted S. on Dec 15, 2010 12:07:38 GMT -5
NICE! I need to get up there. thanks for the pix
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Post by stumpbumper on Apr 15, 2011 14:39:46 GMT -5
There was some discussion on this thread about a fully-supported mountain bike ride called Save The Trails Challenge at DuPont State Forest which is why I chose to post the following information here rather than under "Rides". The ride/race calendar on the Southeastern Cycling website lists June 18 as the date for the 2011 Save The Trails Challenge. Scroll down to near the end of the list to "SORBA Events" and you will see it there. In the past it has also been listed on the website of the Pisgah chapter of SORBA but it has yet to appear there. I suggest confirming the date before heading that way. www.sadlebred.com/2011/calendar2011.htmlIf you have never ridden at DuPont State Forest, this ride is a great way to get to know the trails there. Route mileage options will likely be 25 and 50 miles. Each rider is issued a route sheet but all turns are marked so well I have never had to use it. Several rest stops along the way stocked with water, energy drink, snacks, spare tubes, etc. Just like a fully-supported road bike ride except no automobile traffic to contend with.
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