Fri, Jun 16
|Old Fort Picnic Area
Bernard Mountain Trail Opening Celebration
We are celebrating the opening of the Bernard Mtn. Trail Friday, June 16, and we want you to join us!
Time & Location
Jun 16, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Old Fort Picnic Area, 2415 State Rd 1400, Old Fort, NC 28762, USA
About the event
Logistics
Our team will be located at the Old Fort Picnic Area at the bottom of Kitsuma from 4-6 on Friday. Hotdogs will be provided at the picnic area by Foothills Meats. We'll also have drinks available and there will be free shuttles provided by Mountain Top Shuttles. Shuttles will begin at 4pm.
Parking
There is limited parking in this area. We're encouraging those who plan to attned to carpool as much as possible. Folks who are planning to ride are encouraged to bike to the site. There is parking for mountain bikers at the Fonta Flora Trailhead just past Camp Grier on Old US Hwy 70. There's also parking at the Upper Kitsuma Lot, the newly constructed Bernard Mountain Lot on Mill Creek Rd., and in downtown Old Fort. If you have a bike and can utilize one of these outter parking options that would be fantastic!
About the Bernard Mtn Trail
The new Bernard Mountain Trail is opening on Friday, June 16, 2023! This trail marks an important milestone in the ongoing 42-mile trail expansion project in the Old Fort area. Join the Grandfather District and the G5 Trail Collective for a grand-opening celebration from 4:00pm – 6:00pm on Friday afternoon, June 16 at the Old Fort Picnic Area. The celebration will feature free shuttles to the new upper trailhead, food, fun and high-fives. Spanning 3.16 miles, the Bernard Mountain Trail descends nearly 1,000 feet from the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, following the rocky ridge parallel to Kitsuma. From atop Bernard Mountain, hikers and bikers will enjoy rocky features, all-season views, and lush forests. While classified as intermediate, the trail is narrow single-track and features technical sections and advanced alternate lines for mountain bikers. The hike from the bottom of Point Lookout to the Bernard Mountain peak is 2-miles. The bike loop (Point Lookout to Mill Creek Rd to Bernard Mtn) is 9-miles. The realization of this trail project has been made possible through the generous funding support of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority (TDA). The trail construction was executed by the talented builders at Trail Dynamics.