‘Ride Kanuga’ mountain bike park opens in western North Carolina

Kanuga Camps & Conference Center
Posted Jul 8, 2020

World champion Neko Mulally tests the new downhill mountain biking trails at Kanuga.

If you’re a mountain biker, time to make tracks to Kanuga Camps & Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for Ride Kanuga, a brand new, top-of-the-line trail destination founded by world-champion downhill racer, Neko Mulally. With business partner and lifelong rider, investor, and entrepreneur Dave Lamond, an estimated $100,000 has gone into building the park’s development so far, at no cost to Kanuga, a 1,400-acre nonprofit Episcopal retreat center.

Ride Kanuga has 12 ‘downhill-specific trails with a variety of skill levels available by reservation for individuals and teams for practice and competition. “With thousands of competitors and leisure bikers coming to western North Carolina every year, we wanted to give riders options. The location at Kanuga gives us that flexibility. It’s the ideal setting for our new bike park and we are excited to call it home,” says Mulally. An on-site adventure center will offer bike and ebike rentals as well as a place to relax and have a craft brew. A qualified mechanic will be on staff to keep riders rolling.

Trail-side cabins and campsites are available as ride-in/ride-out. Riders may also opt to stay in one of Kanuga’s historic guest cottages or inn, a short one mile ride from the mountain bike trail entrance. The conference center’s 20 miles of hiking trails will be open to riders as well.

Kanuga’s core beliefs include a strong commitment to the conservation of its 1,400 acres, many of which are populated with Chestnut Oak and Acidic Cove forests. “We are unwavering in the practice of our core belief to treasure God’s gift of creation and commit to using and teaching sustainable models that have the least impact on our land and resources,” says Kanuga President and CEO Michael Sullivan. “Kanuga has a well-established forestry stewardship plan and all new trails on the property, including those for Ride Kanuga, are built using best practices for land preservation, including addressing water run-off and bio-diversity.”

Kanuga is located near Hendersonville, North Carolina, 32 miles from Asheville, easily accessible from major highways.

Ride Kanuga will be open year-round. The official opening is set for July 25. For more information about fees, reserving trail days and overnight accommodations, visit RideKanuga.com.

Resources

Did Neko Mulally Just Build Your Dream Trail

“It’s me in the woods, against a clock”