Your source for Mountain Biking in the Triangle
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill
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Your source for Mountain Biking in the Triangle Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill |
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| Category | Average Rating |
| Overall : |  4.2 / 5.0 based on 58 votes |
| Technical : | 4.2 / 5.0 based on 58 votes |
| Climbing : | 4.0 / 5.0 based on 58 votes |
| Freeride : |  2.9 / 5.0 based on 58 votes |
| Scenery/Wildlife : | 4.1 / 5.0 based on 58 votes |
| Flow : | 2.9 / 5.0 based on 52 votes |
Skill Level: All skill levels; singletrack is mostly intermediate, some advanced.This trail is a beautiful mix of tech and flow. The hilly terraine is littered with roots, rocks, logs, and dips. There are several rock gardens to hone your skills on. It follows the shore of Falls Lake and the other side of the loop flanks a couple of double tracks. They are bidirectional and ride nice either direction.
A big thank you to NRMBA for working with the State Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) to allow mountain bikers on this land. It's a shame these trails aren't open every day of the year, because they are miles and miles of the sweetest singletrack around--especially for intermediate and advanced riders. This trail was voted number one by TriangleMTB.com users in the fall of 2002. It's a real gem!
Even when there's lots of folks there, you
can ride all day in these woods and hardly see another
rider. But don't worry about getting lost, because NRMBA
volunteers have done a great job of putting "parking
lot this way" signs up at the end of every trail.
Steep and rocky hill climbs, decent
downhills, small and large gullies, tight turns, big log
rolls and beautiful views of the forest and lake await
you.
IMPORTANT RULES: According to the agreement with WRC, they will only be open on Sundays beginning September 1 each year through May 14. From May 15 through August 31, they are open everyday. Please respect these rules--the area will be closed to riders if anyone is seen riding on closed trails.
The WRC has one mission, which is to protect hunters and hunting rights. And they are immune from political pressure so if they decide to close down New Light, there is no recourse. Thanks for your cooperation.
Please leave your dog at home!! Dogs are not allowed.
Also, NRMBA does not condone night riding here.
Directions
Start at Crabtree Valley Mall.
Get on NC 50 (Creedmoor Rd) and go North.
When you get to NC 98 turn right to go East on NC 98.
You will go about 1.6 miles to the first traffic
light. Turn left at the light -- this is New Light Rd.
You will cross Falls Lake -- keep going and at about
3.35 mi (from the traffic light) you will see Old Weaver
Trail on your left.
Turn left on Old Weaver Trail. Go 0.5 mile, and you
will see a dirt road on your left with evidence of
parking on the side of the road.
You can drive down this road for a few hundred feet
and park or you can park on the side of road.
Night rides are not allowed at this trail.
You jeopardize the relationship with land
managers and cyclists by riding at night here.
UPDATE: June 27, 2006
Left Loop and Right Loop closed
The Eastern Territory consisting of both Left Loop and
Right Loop are permanently closed by order of the land
management. Please respect the closure so as not to
jeopardize access to New Light.
UPDATE: April 20, 2004
Burned Out trail closed
We have met with the Wildlife Resources Commission and whereas they are still allowing us to ride at New Light, they are concerned with the number of trails we have in the area and that we might be disrupting the wildlife. Therefore, they have asked us to shut down the Burned Out trail to provide an area for wildlife where we are not riding. So in about three weeks, we will be shutting down Burned Out…so enjoy it while you can. Also, please do not build any more trails at New Light. Wildlife is currently fine with the number of trails we will have but they do not want any more.
Finally, we will be organizing a trails day for New Light in the very near future. In general, the trails are in good shape but we do need a bit of maintenance work. Since TriangleMTB.com is the official web site for the North Raleigh Mountain Biking Association, please check here for details of the next trails day for New Light.
Thanks for your continued support
Sig Hutchinson
President
North Raleigh Mountain Biking Association
Rules, guidelines, and definitions for our TriangleMTB.com trail reviews
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I started riding New Light in 2016 and it has become one of my local favorites. Compared to Pisgah, DuPont, and all the “real” stuff in the western part of our state, NL is a mild warm up at best…but in the context of where we are, NL is more for intermediate riders and up. I would never bring a beginner or someone fresh off a road bike - Harris or Crabby are for those riders. As some sections wash out and wear, it’d be cool to see a few work days announced, but the trails are still fun in their raw state. Best time to hit it in the summer is very early in the morning, btw. NL isn’t great on a summer afternoon! | ||||||||||||||||||
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As an older rider (71 Y.O.), I really like New Light. It reminds me of how trails were in the 90's. It's got some hard up and fun downs and some rocks and logs for variety. I think that the whole loop is probably one of the most challenging rides in the Raleigh area. The parking is tight, there were at least twenty cars there when I went yesterday. This is probably because it is only open on Sundays until May 1st., then it might thin out. There apparently is a fun ride every Sun. at 9am called "Dirt Church". | ||||||||||||||||||
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Rode this trail for the first time on 7-17-21. High humidity and about 85 degrees when our group got started. I quickly found out that I should have waited for cooler weather. This trail is tough! The hills are killer and they don't stop. The down hills are awesome but are still pretty technical with small drops, rocks, and roots so even then you don't get much a of a break. Even though I had to stop a few times to keep from losing my breakfast and walk up a few hills I still really enjoyed the trail. It's by far the hardest trail in the Triangle I've ridden yet. There are a couple of gap jumps, some pretty cool features, lots of rocks, roots, and awesome scenery by the lake. The flow is good in a few spots but there really isn't much of it. This trail humbled me but I'll be back when it cools off a bit. Then I can't blame the heat on my wimpy performance. |
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Decent trail for intermediate and above skill level. Make sure your conditioning is up to par if you're doing the whole trail! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Lots love it, but I don't. I love flowy fun trails. Warrior creek is about as challenging a trail as I enjoy, so New Light isn't for me. So many rooty-rocky climbs and so much walking the bike that's it's more like cyclocross than mtbiking. Give it a shot- if you're like me, you'll enjoy telling stories about what a gnarly trail this is. I'd ride this again for no less than $1000. Not fun. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Tried this trail out yesterday for the first time. The road / parking lot is a little tricky to find but if you watch closely you'll see it - the directions are spot on but the road looks a little like a driveway so I was hesitant to pull in until a turned around and confirmed. If you go slow you'll see cars parked nose in on the side of the road, and its very accessible with good parking. The trails are a little tricky to find - the easiest way is to take the trail to the right of the main sign with the trail map - that will take you into the network. From there you can jump onto a few other trails including both short and long (think really long) loops. I road the red connector which starts right next to the trail sign to easy street and made a bit of a backtrack / loop. If I did it again I would go to the end of the parking area (there is a gate) and Easy Street starts there - there is a small mound on the side of the road. The trails are pretty challenging from my perspective - lots of smaller drops and some nice uphills - nothing a reasonably skilled MTB'r can't handle but it is a leg burner. Also, there are a few rocky creek crossings that are easily crossed, but also can be walked if needed. There were a dozen or so cars in the parking lot and I only saw a handful of folks on the trail so riders get distributed out pretty well. I also saw a few hikers on the trail. I didn't ride any of the larger loops, but they look pretty long. There is a network of fire roads so there may be bailouts on the longer loops and the fire-roads are pretty easy double track. If you ride the entire outer loop of trails it looks like its about 8 miles - i'd like to try it but won't start at 4:30 PM. I look forward to May when this trail is open more often and I can take a day to ride the full loop! Overall great trail and a great job by T-MTB is getting access and establishing the trails and bridges. Hope they publish some workdays - would love to volunteer to help. |
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I can't believe it took me this long to ride New Light. My favorite trail in the Triangle by far! Great punchy climbs, super technical rocky areas and roots galore. I would not bring a newby rider here. If someone brought me to New Light when I first started riding big bikes I would have quit, ha. | ||||||||||||||||||
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This KING KONG trial of this area IMHO; While not super technical it is a raw tough trail like in the good ole days, there is more than enough short stiff climbs with its accompanying friend the switch backs and every type tree roll overs imaginable. | ||||||||||||||||||
"You know right away in mountain biking if
you're on or not."
-Alison Sydor
