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Lake Norman State Park

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.4 (72)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …Central N. Carolina
  4. …Troutman
  5. Lake Norman State Park
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“A fast, rolling, purpose-built trail system that has fantastic flow. ”

Logan Watts
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Map Key

26.8

Miles

43.2

KM

100%

Singletrack

885' 270 m

High

762' 232 m

Low

1,677' 511 m

Up

1,679' 512 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Overview

Lake Norman State Park offers a beautiful, forested trail system that winds around the lake and is full of dips, berms, bench cuts and gully runs that were built into and around its hilly river valley terrain. Most of the trails are fairly easy with the occasional steep climb up fun drainage creeks where the trail crosses.

Need to Know

On odd years, loops ride counter-clockwise and even years they ride clockwise.

Camping and swimming are park amenities.

Description

On odd years, the place to start the big ride is right out of the parking lot on the Hawk Loop of the Itusi Trail system. Off of this loop are also the Hicks Creek and Norwood Loop. Opening in 2003, the original Itusi 6.5 mile system is one of the easiest at LNSP.

The Hawk Loop dumps you back on the main state park road where you'll find the entrance to Monbo on the right after the bridge. Monbo is the fastest and arguably the most fun trail in the park. Full of many fairly dramatic rollers formed over the terrain, the downhills are fast and have an unbelievable flow.

The Laurel Loop expansion was completed in 2012 which upped the total mileage by 9.75. Laurel is by far the most challenging trail in the park, but is still intermediate at most. There are several steep climbs out of gullies that may make it slightly difficult for beginners. A large chunk of Laurel was built around an awesome ravine, so there are several beautifully built gully runs that have some nice berms.

Also completed in 2012, the Wildlife, Fallstown and Fox Loop offer 8+ more miles to the Laurel expansion. The Wildlife Loop is probably one of the fastest loops in the park, harboring several straightaways, one with some nice jumps and rollers, and one very fun bermed gully run.

Contacts

Local Club: Tarheel Trailblazers

Nov 12, 2024: Annual Meeting Recap!

Oct 28, 2024: Annual Meeting & Board Elections

Jul 24, 2024: 2024 Fisher Fest | October 25th – 27th

Land Manager: North Carolina State Parks

Shared By:

Logan Watts with improvements by Zachary Headden and 2 others
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 72 votes

#1

in Lake Norman State Park

#182

Overall
  4.4 from 72 votes
5 Star
44%
4 Star
47%
3 Star
8%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Lake Norman State Park

#10

in North Carolina

#182

Overall
153 Views Last Month
45,324 Since Jun 15, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

A gully run on Laurel.
Jun 15, 2013 near Troutman, NC
April after a controlled burn on Wildlife
Sep 6, 2018 near Troutman, NC
On Laurel Loop.
Jun 15, 2013 near Troutman, NC
Lots of pine needles at LNSP.
Jun 15, 2013 near Troutman, NC
Fern beds on Norwood Loop.
Nov 22, 2015 near Troutman, NC
Nice flow to a spring crossing on laurel.
Jun 17, 2013 near Troutman, NC

7 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Mar 17, 2024
Spencer Mauk
As a previous commenter noted call before you go out to this trail to ensure it's open.
Jul 26, 2023
Colton Apgar
May 14, 2022
Buddha Ostwalt
Nov 7, 2021
Daniel daniel.ryan.paulsen@gmail.com
Oct 21, 2021
Kevin Konoff
Had a great experience today with all trails. 23.9mi — 3h 14m
Aug 11, 2021
T.J. Boris
We'll laid out trail with nice flow! 17.4mi — 13h 20m
Jan 23, 2021
Mike Davis
12mi — 2h 00m
Mar 29, 2020
Sasha Timkovich

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